🚗 Delhi to Goa Road Trip With Our Dog 🐾
A 17-Day Pet-Friendly Adventure Across India, Planning a road trip from Delhi to Goa with your dog? Read our 17-day pet-friendly journey with routes, pet stays, tips, fuel costs, and scenic stopovers in Indore, Nashik, Bhor, Pune, and Jaipur.
🐶 Why We Chose Road Over Rail
We initially planned to take a train (Rajdhani) from Delhi to Goa, thinking it would be a relaxing 24-hour journey. However, Indian Railways has a set of complex rules for traveling with dogs:
- Dogs are only allowed in First AC compartments.
- A coupe (2-person cabin) is only confirmed at the time of charting, just hours before the journey.
- There’s a risk of being assigned a shared 4-berth cabin, which requires consent from co-passengers for dog travel.
- Coupes are often reserved unofficially for VIPs and politicians.
- Though you can apply to the Chief Reservation Officer for a coupe in advance, it’s not guaranteed.
- Once you reach Goa, getting a pet-friendly rental car is another struggle.
This uncertainty was too risky, especially with a pet. So, we canceled the train and decided to hit the road.
🗓️ Trip Duration & Route Overview
Total Trip Length: 17 Days
Vehicle: Compact SUV
Fuel Average: 16 kmpl (Petrol)
Total Distance: ~4,200 km
Fuel Cost: ~₹18,000–₹20,000 (Sep 2022 fuel prices)
Toll Charges (Ghaziabad to Goa and back): ₹6,200+ (via FASTag)
Note: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway was partially functional in OCt 2023. We had to reroute via Indore instead of Vadodara as some stretches were closed after Dausa due to land acquisition issues.
📍 Itinerary & Stay Details
Day 1: Delhi to Indore
- Start Time: 4:00 AM
- Distance: ~850 km | ~13–14 hrs drive
- Accommodation: Airbnb in Indore (₹4,500)
- Food: Ordered Indori Poha, Sabudana Khichdi via Zomato
Day 2: Indore to Nashik
- Start Time: 6:30 AM
- Distance: ~540 km | ~9 hrs
- Stay: Airbnb near Sula Vineyards (₹4,000)
- Highlight: Open-air pet-friendly dining at Sula
Day 3: Exploring Nashik
- Sula Winery Tour (pets not allowed inside tour)
- Dog stayed at Airbnb (monitored with Wi-Fi pet camera)
- Pro Tip: Do not carry wine across state borders—Maharashtra requires a permit for transporting alcohol.
Day 4: Nashik to Bhor (via Pune)
- Distance: ~240 km
- Stay: Casuarina Resort Park, Bhor (₹6,000 incl. all meals)
- Highlight: A lush retreat with riverside walks
Day 5–6: Stay at Casuarina, Bhor
Activities included:
- Visit to the dam and backwater
- Evening walks with the dog in open fields
- Relaxing in the scenic property surrounded by hills
Day 7: Bhor to Goa (North Route)
- Distance: ~400 km | 9–10 hrs
- Important Tip: Avoid entering South Goa via Karnataka – roads are poor. Use the Maharashtra–North Goa route.
Day 8–14: Goa (7 Nights)
- Stay: 2-bedroom Airbnb with a private garden & 10+ rescued animals (₹8,000–₹10,000 per night)
- Highlights:
- Private access to fields and trails
- Long-leash beach walks using a 20 ft. leash
- Homemade food from the Airbnb host
- Upcoming Blog :“Our Pet-Friendly Week in Goa”
Day 15: Goa to Pune
- Stay: Ibis Hotel (₹4,500)
- Airbnb booking got canceled last minute, so we booked Ibis en route.
- Ordered comfort food from Zomato
Day 16: Pune to Indore
- Same Airbnb stay in Indore (₹4,500)
- Same local food and rest after a long drive
Day 17: Indore to Jaipur
- Distance: ~650 km
- Stay: Airbnb in Civil Lines, Jaipur (₹3,500)
- Enjoyed Indori cuisine and relaxed
Day 18: Jaipur to Delhi (Final Stretch)
- Distance: ~280 km
- Reached home by lunchtime
🧳 What We Packed for Our Dog
- 🐶 Seat cover set & dog hammock for the car
- 🐾 Travel water bottle & bowl
- 💊 Dog meds + human first-aid kit
- ⚡ Power bank, torch, car vacuum, tire inflator
- 🦴 Dog treats (we gave to all the indie dogs on the way too)
- 🛏️ Mattress to create a flat bed between seats
- 🐕 20 ft long leash for semi-leash-free walks
- 📷 Wi-Fi pet camera + High Endurance SD Card
💰 Cost Breakdown
| Category | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel | ₹18,000–₹20,000 |
| Toll (FASTag) | ₹6,200+ |
| Stay (non-Goa) | ₹30,000–₹35,000 |
| Stay (Goa, 7 nights) | ₹50,000–₹60,000 |
| Food + Activities | ₹20,000–₹25,000 |
| Misc (pet supplies, shopping) | ₹5,000–₹7,000 |
| Total | ~₹1.1L – ₹1.3L (Depends on various factors) |
✅ Final Thoughts
Traveling by car from Delhi to Goa with your pet isn’t just about convenience—it’s about creating a journey full of freedom, flavors, and fuzzy memories. Yes, it takes longer than a train or flight, but the ability to explore new cities, taste regional cuisine, and avoid the last-minute stress of dog-travel approvals made it all worthwhile.
📍 Coming Soon, a detailed blog on what we did and where did we stayed during all 17 days.
➡️ “Our Pet-Friendly Stays in Goa: Rescues, Gardens & Beach Walks”
