Mandrem, Morjim and Ashvem
Turtle-nesting sand and a tidal creek north of the Chapora
A Mandrem, Morjim and Ashvem stay in Pernem: Olive Ridley nesting at Morjim, a tidal creek behind Mandrem's sand and quiet Ashvem, north of the Chapora river.
Overview
Three beaches follow one another along the coast of Pernem taluka, North Goa district, between the Chapora River estuary and Arambol: Morjim at the southern end, Ashvem in the middle and Mandrem to the north. They suit people who would rather walk a long shore, book a yoga class or watch for turtles than join a crowd, and the dry months from October to March are the time to plan a Mandrem, Morjim and Ashvem trip.
Morjim is the beach with a conservation story. It lies on the northern bank of the Chapora estuary, facing the hill of Chapora Fort across the water, and it is one of the few places in Goa where Olive Ridley turtles come ashore to nest. Villagers began protecting the nests in 1995-96, and some of the people who once collected eggs became the guardians. Nesting is mostly reported from November to February, though accounts stretch the season from October to April, and the Forest Department digs protected nesting pits. The village also has a Russian-speaking community large enough to have earned it the nickname Little Russia, and Russian shows up on menus and signboards. The sea is shallow and the beach wide, so kitesurfers favour it.
Ashvem sits between the other two and is the least developed. Water sports are not the point here. What you find instead is a long, quiet stretch of sand, shacks built from palm and bamboo, and spa and Ayurvedic massage services. Yoga and surfing are the activities most often linked with this beach.
Mandrem, the northernmost, has a feature that sets it apart: a tidal creek that runs parallel to the shore just behind the sand and joins the sea at high tide. The white-sand beach is about 790 m long, backed by palms and casuarina trees. The village lies roughly 21 km from Panaji and had 8,336 residents at the 2011 census.
Manohar International Airport at Mopa is the closest airport, about 27 km away by road and roughly half an hour by car. Pernem is the Konkan Railway station for this taluka, and buses connect Morjim with Panaji and Mapusa. Three or four days is enough to cover all three beaches at an easy pace.
Known for
Olive Ridley turtles nest here, with community protection since 1995-96
Happening soon
Updated Oct 7, 2026Coming up, dates to be confirmed
Olive Ridley turtle nesting season at Morjim
seasonalOlive Ridley turtles come ashore to lay eggs on Morjim beach, which the Forest Department protects, and hatchlings later make their way to the sea.
Usually November to February, with some accounts giving October to April. Timing varies by year, and some seasons start late.
Reach out to us for the confirmed datesQuick facts
Heavy rain falls from June to September, and the main beach season runs from October to March.
Manohar International Airport (Mopa), about 27 km by road (16.6 to 16.8 miles on a routing site). Dabolim airport is in South Goa (distance to be supplied).
Pernem (code PERN) on the Konkan Railway (distance from the beaches to be supplied)
Roughly 30 minutes by car from Mopa airport to Mandrem or Morjim, per a routing site. Buses connect Morjim with Panaji and Mapusa. Other drive times (to be supplied).
Treat the three beaches as one stretch and choose a single base, since Morjim, Ashvem and Mandrem adjoin along the same coast
Nesting at Morjim overlaps the visitor season, so ask your host where nests are marked before walking the beach after dark
Use Mapusa as the bus connection for Panaji and other beaches, since buses link it with Morjim
Location
Packages that visit Mandrem, Morjim and Ashvem
All packages →Arambol Quiet North Goa Retreat
An Arambol tour package of four days and three nights on one North Goa base, with a walk to the Sweet Water Lagoon and a day among Mandrem and Morjim.
ArambolBeaches & CoastlinePlan a trip to Mandrem, Morjim and Ashvem
Tell us your dates and we will shape the route.