Electric Bike Tour: Divar Island from Old Goa

Pedal through centuries on an island where the Mandovi river meets Goan heritage

An electric bike tour departing from Old Goa that crosses the Mandovi river by ferry to Divar Island, where you ride through countryside dotted with Portuguese-influenced churches, temples and archaeological ruins while a trained guide shares local history, fishing techniques and island traditions. The tour lasts three hours, includes the e-bike, safety equipment and a meal at a local home, and welcomes riders aged 12 and up with a minimum height of 5 feet.

Step-by-step itinerary

E-bike tour of Divar Island and Old Goa

• Depart from Old Goa hub
• Take ferry to Divar Island
• E-bike through Goan countryside
• Visit submerged UNESCO temple
• Ride to panoramic viewpoint
• Learn about baroque church
• Explore traditional fishing methods
• Visit fisherman's hut and temple tanks

The experience

You start at the Old Goa hub and take a ferry across the Mandovi river to reach Divar Island. The crossing itself is part of the experience, giving you a first look at the water and landscape you'll be riding through. Once on the island, the e-bike handles the terrain while you focus on what's around you: lush fields, Portuguese colonial architecture, and the rhythm of village life. The guide narrates as you go, pointing out the stories embedded in the landscape and answering questions about how people here have lived for centuries.

The route takes you to a submerged 12th-century temple, a UNESCO heritage site and one of Goa's most significant shrines to Lord Shiva, dating back to the Kadamba Dynasty. You'll climb to a hilltop viewpoint overlooking the island and learn about the baroque architecture of one of the region's finest churches. Then you stop at the sluice gates (a century-old network of bamboo and wooden rafters where the river and land meet) to watch and understand the traditional fishing methods that still sustain the community. A visit to a fisherman's hut and the temple tanks rounds out the working landscape before you head to the final stop.

The tour ends at a local islander's home where you sit down to authentic breakfast or evening snacks depending on your departure time, a chance to meet residents and eat food made in the place you've just explored. You return by the same ferry route, having covered the island's key sites and stories in three hours without needing to arrange transport, navigate on your own, or figure out where to eat.

What’s included

• E-bike and safety equipment including helmet and protective gear.
• trained guide in English or Hindi.
• sling bag for your belongings.
• first aid support.
• authentic breakfast or evening snacks at a local islander's home.
• ferry crossing of the Mandovi river.

Before you book

Lasts 3h, runs every day at 08:00 and 14:30, from US$ 32.17 per person, with a live guide in English and Hindi and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 14:30

Book up to9h before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Child (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Rare Escapes Goa

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to explore Divar Island and Old Goa's UNESCO sites on an e-bike with a local guide rather than navigating independently or joining a larger group tour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hindi.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the ferry ride across the Mandovi river like?

The ferry is a short crossing that connects Old Goa to Divar Island and is part of the tour experience itself. It gives you a view of the river and landscape before you begin riding.

Can I ride an e-bike if I've never used one before?

Yes. The e-bike does the pedaling work for you, and the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You need to be at least 5 feet tall and weigh no more than 90 kilograms, and riders must be 12 or older.

What exactly is the sluice gate and why is it worth seeing?

The sluice gate is a century-old structure of bamboo and wooden rafters built where the river meets the land. It controls water flow inland and is still used in traditional fishing methods that have sustained the island community for generations.

Do I get to eat with local people?

Yes. The tour ends at a local islander's home where you're served authentic breakfast or evening snacks depending on whether you ride in the morning or evening, and you have a chance to meet the residents.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs for three hours from departure at Old Goa through the ferry crossing, the island ride, all stops and the meal at a local home.

What's included in the tour price?

The e-bike, safety gear, a sling bag, a trained guide who speaks English or Hindi, first aid support, and the snacks or breakfast at the end are all included.