Vaayu Kula

Rooms

The rooms and suites are bright and breezy, awash in calming earthy tones, with high ceilings, large ensuite bathrooms with walk-in showers, and French doors opening onto private balconies with ocean views. Furniture is either antique or crafted from upcycled reclaimed wood, and the exposed wooden beams were salvaged from trees uprooted during the cyclone in 2021. Tuck into the artisan minibar – stocked with healthy goodies from the local zero-waste shop – and sink into large beds with soft, organic linens.

There are the Ocean View Rooms on the ground floor, with the Loft Ocean View rooms directly above. Both have super-kingsize beds, but the latter have the addition of a mezzanine floor with a single bed – ideal for a teen – plus panoramic views from a higher vantage point. We stayed in the open-plan, light-filled Sunset Suite, which has a wraparound corner balcony with wide-reaching views and is perfectly positioned for catching the sunset. If you’re honeymooning, or just looking for something special, this is well worth the splurge.

For groups of friends or families, Mowgli’s Beach House is a more private space, with two double bedrooms, a living area, a small patio and a full kitchen.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Coffee / tea making
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Minibar
• Safe box
• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

At breakfast, expect a healthy and nourishing a la carte selection, each dish beautifully presented with tropical fruits or flowers. We enjoyed fluffy stacks of millet pancakes layered with fruit and cashew cream, a scrambled eggs breakfast bowl, and a pulled pork benny on a poi muffin. There's great coffee, too, all served with stunning views of the sea, and the best tables are reserved for guests.

For the rest of the day, the two-tier restaurant, Prana Mandrem, serves up delicious coastal cuisine combining flavours from South-East Asia, Mexico and (of course) India. In the lower section enjoy meals with your feet in the sand in a more casual cafe-style setting. The open-air restaurant upstairs has a slightly more elevated feel with no wet swimsuits or sandy feet. Then there’s the hippie chic beach shack, perfect for going from swimming to sofa-loafing with a coffee. The same menu is served in each space throughout the day, and the service is friendly and consistently attentive.

For lunch, we tried the crispy fish tacos, tuna chalupas, chicken salad with mustard dressing and the jackfruit burger. All light, fresh and flavourful with the perfect amount of spice. Dinner is a treat with the waves crashing in nearby, and the laksa bowls, poke bowls and teriyaki bowls are all fantastic. In fact, we couldn’t find fault with anything we sampled, and we made a good dent in the menu by the time we checked out.

Just don’t miss sunset, which is best watched with one of their excellent speciality cocktails, local beer or artisan kombuchas in hand. 

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegan options
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• If you’d like to try your hand at surfing and SUP, Vaayu Kula runs a surf school with ISA certified instructors. Lessons range from one-day to multi-day courses
• Head to their wellness studio, “Vyana Shala”, where you can do yoga, breathwork, ice plunge sessions, and more. The breathwork was magical, and a group yoga class was the perfect way to start the day
• Enjoy beach time, sunbathing or swimming in the lagoon – there’s a special section of sunloungers reserved for guests where they serve their whole menu
• Participate in early morning beach clean-ups organized by Vaayu 
• Experience some local culture and wander to nearby Goan villages for shops and cafés, markets and temples; it's just a five minute walk into town
• You can walk along the shore or take a short drive to explore other beaches (Arambol, Ashwem, Morjim), find hidden coves, forts (like Chapora), spice plantations, waterfalls (in interior Goa) and bird sanctuaries
• If you’re looking for some nightlife, look into what’s going on at the restaurant or in nearby beach shacks – there may be live music nights and DJ sets

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Art classes
• Birdwatching
• Farm tours
• Fishing
• Historical sites
• Nightlife
• Plantation tours
• Spa treatments
• SUP
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Well being
• Yoga

Kids

All ages are welcome at Vaayu Kula, and each of the rooms has a daybed to accommodate an additional child. Mandrem Beach is also ideal for little ones, with a shallow estuary and a sandbank at low tide where kids can splash around.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

All rooms can accommodate 3 guests. The Loft Ocean View rooms have a mezzanine floor with a single bed, which would work well for older children. For larger families, Mowgli's Beach House is a perfect option, with two bedrooms, a private terrace, a small garden and a full kitchen.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 45 minutes
• Hospital: 5 minutes
• Shops: 1 minute

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Vaayu Kula is set back on Mandrem Beach, just a short walk away from the village, about 7km south of Arambol and about 3km north of Siolim. It is not directly accessible by road or vehicle, but the walking path is very short.

By Air:
Manohar International (25km away) is the closest airport, about a 40-minute drive. Dabolim International (70km away) is the region's main airport. 

By Train:
The closest railway station is Pernem Railway Station, 15 km from Mandrem. Alternatively, you can travel via Thivim Railway Station, 21 km away.

By Bus:
Direct buses to Mandrem are available from major cities like Bangalore and Mumbai. Alternatively, you can reach Panaji, take a local bus to Mapusa from Kadamba Bus Terminus, and then board another bus to Mandrem village. From the village, it’s a short walk to Vaayu Kula.

Getting Around
Taxis can be arranged to take you to nearby beaches, markets and villages. You can also hire a car, or take your life into your hands and hire a motorcycle, but this isn't recommended for novice riders.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.