Experience a different side of Goa in this lovingly created, riverside homestay. Family-run, rustic, ecologically sound and away from the tourist masses.

We were hugely impressed by the hospitality of Olaulim’s Goan and Finnish owners who have created the exact opposite of a concrete, bland hotel.

The property lies in the village of Olaulim, on the eastern side of Goa’s main thoroughfare, and thus this is a ‘realer’ Goa, where life moves at a snail’s pace and locals go about their business without all the distractions that tourism brings.

There are just four rustic ‘cottages’ sitting around the property, one made from rammed earth, the other three from timber, bamboo and palm thatch. Interiors quite literally blend with their surroundings, as parts of the trees and rocks are actually incorporated into the rooms.

All manner of birds flit about in the trees overhead and there are some lovely lawned areas, helpfully manicured by the family horse and donkey!

Kids can run about here (the owners have kids as well) and the great infinity pool is neither too busy nor too deep to present too much of a worry. Kayaking, fishing and birdwatching are also available, and don’t miss the chance to catch and eat your own fish.

The bar works on trust and you can even plug in your own i-pod before you sit back, gaze out at the creek and contemplate life without TV or Wi-Fi. This is what having a holiday is all about, right?!