Eat: (see Dining): there’s a good variety of food and drink on offer at nearby Palm Grove and in the immediate vicinity. Check out Yab Yum, Pagan Café and La Plage.

Yoga & Massage: there are plenty of yoga shalas and masseurs around in this more hippy-fied and traditionally tourist part of Goa. Check out noticeboards in local restaurants or ask your hosts. The shala next door at Yab Yum has daily classes.

Wander: from Ashvem Beach you can wander up the beach all the way to Arambol if you have the stamina. For a more relaxed walk, head out early in the morning and walk southwards down the beach to see local fishermen bring in their catch.

Relax: Ashvem Beach is one of Goa’s (and India’s?) best. You will be far from the crowds and, despite a handful of hawkers, there is really nothing to bother you other than the sound of the waves. The sea is shallow for quite some distance so do be careful, it’s easy to walk out too far and get caught out by the current! Further afield: check out the lake at Arambol which is really lovely and a nice way to enjoy a quiet afternoon reading a book.

Explore: hire a scooter, or use a driver, and check out the local area, which is more ‘real’ and quiet than further south. See the huge banyan tree on the road across the paddy fields, or venture into the wilderness: an hour or two’s ride will take you into Maharashtra (via the ferry) and up to Paradise Beach, this is really a treat if you have the time; bear in mind there are no amenities there!

Shop: head to Arambol for more ‘action’, meaning some chilled out bars, lots of hippy vibes and endless trinket shopping, all strung along the main road leading down to the beach. At Arambol Beach there are more restaurants and bars, though the quality is not the best. Anjuna has its Wednesday flea market, which is just 20 mins away.