India is not the first country that comes to mind for pelagic birding, but its western coast sits on the eastern edge of the Arabian Sea — one of the least-explored seabird regions in the Indian Ocean — and Goa is now home to two dedicated, publicly bookable offshore birding trips, both departing the same historic port jetty. For a country of India’s size and birding infrastructure, dedicated pelagic access is genuinely rare: most international operators running Indian Ocean seabird programmes focus on Oman, Socotra, or the open ocean far to the south, leaving the Goa coast as one of the few places on the subcontinent where a birder can simply show up, book a boat, and head into deep water. Here is a guide to the best pelagic birding trips in India, both listed in our India directory.
Vasco Jetty, Goa: Mrugaya Xpeditions
Goa Pelagic Arabian Sea Seabird Trip
The Goa Pelagic Arabian Sea Seabird Trip is run by Mrugaya Xpeditions, led by Omkar Dharwadkar and Parag Rangnekar — State Co-ordinator for the Indian Bird Conservation Network and founder-President of the Goa Bird Conservation Network. The trip departs Vasco Jetty in Mormugao Harbour at approximately 06:00, where passengers transfer to a fishing trawler for a full day at sea — roughly thirteen hours in total, heading due west into the open Arabian Sea. The slow cruising speed of the trawler, rather than a fast sportfisher, allows relaxed, extended views of birds settling and flying alongside the boat.
The primary target is Persian Shearwater, a north-western Indian Ocean specialist that breeds on the Kuria Muria Islands off Dhofar, Oman, and on Socotra, and disperses into the Arabian Sea during the post-breeding season from August onward. Wilson’s Storm-Petrel — the world’s most numerous seabird, breeding in the sub-Antarctic and moving north into the Arabian Sea each boreal summer and autumn — is a consistent feature. Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrel, a rare and actively studied East Asian tubenose that undertakes a remarkable migration from breeding islands off China, Korea, and Japan into the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, is arguably the most sought-after species by visiting international birders, and has been documented from the trip’s eBird hotspot.
Masked Booby plunge-dives alongside the boat, and Bridled Tern is typically the most numerous seabird of the day, seen in loose flocks around driftwood and fishing flotsam. Greater and Lesser Crested Tern, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, and Gull-billed Tern round out the tern list, while Parasitic Jaeger harries the terns on productive days. Brahminy Kite and White-bellied Sea-Eagle are regular near the port on departure and return.
The trip runs primarily in October and November, after the southwest monsoon eases and the sea calms — the same window in which Persian Shearwater is most reliably encountered. Trips are also possible in September and from January through April on request. Pricing is ₹3,000 per person (approximately $36 USD / €33), including trawler charter, guide fee, breakfast, lunch, water, and taxes. Beyond the birds, the trip regularly encounters Indo-Pacific Common Dolphins, Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, sea snakes, and flying fish. To book, contact Mrugaya Xpeditions at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at +91 9309385711.
Vasco Jetty, Goa: Untamed West Birding
Goa Arabian Sea Pelagic
The Goa Arabian Sea Pelagic, run by Untamed West Birding — a specialist Goa-based birding company with more than a thousand completed birdwatching trips in the region — also departs Vasco Jetty at approximately 06:00, taking advantage of calmer early-morning sea conditions before heading offshore into the same productive Arabian Sea waters.
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel and Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrel are both regularly recorded, and Flesh-footed Shearwater is the stand-out large shearwater of the post-monsoon season, distinguished from the similar Wedge-tailed Shearwater by its clean pale bill. Bridled Tern is the most consistently encountered offshore species overall, recorded on approximately 69% of all offshore checklists from systematic surveys off the Goa coast — a figure drawn from scientific surveys conducted by the Goa Bird Conservation Network and independent ornithologists, which have documented 25 seabird species from Goa’s offshore zone in total.
Parasitic Jaeger appears during the post-monsoon period as birds move south through the Indian Ocean, harrying terns for their catch. Red-billed Tropicbird, with its twin tail-streamers and scarlet bill, is one of the most sought-after sightings on any Indian Ocean pelagic and has been documented offshore from Goa, alongside Masked Booby, Persian Shearwater, Brown Booby, Sooty Tern, and Common Noddy.
The season runs September through March, with October and November — the same post-monsoon peak favoured by Mrugaya Xpeditions — the most productive window for species diversity. Contact Untamed West Birding at +91-8007108061 or via untamedwest.in for current dates, pricing, and availability.
Target Species Quick Reference
Shearwaters: Persian Shearwater (both trips, peak Oct–Nov post-breeding dispersal), Flesh-footed Shearwater (Untamed West, post-monsoon)
Storm-petrels: Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (both trips, year-round Arabian Sea migrant), Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrel (both trips, rare East Asian specialist)
Terns: Bridled Tern (most numerous species, both trips), Greater Crested Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Common Tern, Roseate Tern, Gull-billed Tern (Mrugaya), Sooty Tern, Common Noddy (Untamed West)
Boobies and tropicbirds: Masked Booby (both trips), Brown Booby (Untamed West), Red-billed Tropicbird (Untamed West)
Skuas/Jaegers: Parasitic Jaeger (both trips)
Other: Indo-Pacific Common Dolphin, Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, flying fish, sea snakes (Mrugaya)
When to Go
September opens the season for Untamed West Birding, as the southwest monsoon eases and the sea begins to settle.
October and November are peak season for both operators — the post-monsoon window when Persian Shearwater is most reliably encountered in dispersing numbers, and when the broadest cross-section of Arabian Sea and trans-equatorial seabird species concentrate in Goa’s offshore waters.
December through March remains within Untamed West’s season, with calmer seas typical through the dry winter months.
January through April trips are available from Mrugaya Xpeditions on request, outside their primary October–November window.
Planning Your Trip
Getting there: Goa is served by Dabolim Airport (Goa International Airport, also known as Manohar International Airport), with domestic connections from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and other major Indian cities, plus seasonal international charters. Vasco da Gama, the departure point for both operators, is a short drive from the airport.
Booking: Both operators run on a contact-to-confirm basis rather than a fixed public calendar — email or WhatsApp ahead of your trip to check dates and availability, particularly for the popular October–November window.
Seasickness: The Arabian Sea swell can be noticeable on the roughly thirteen-hour Mrugaya itinerary in particular. Medication taken the evening before and morning of departure is advisable for those prone to it.
What to bring: Sun protection is essential — these are full tropical-latitude days at sea with little shade. Meals are provided on the Mrugaya trip; check directly with Untamed West Birding on catering arrangements.
Browse all India pelagic and seabird trips in our India directory.