Welcome to my blogpost. In this article I will be talking about my favourite beach destination in Kerala. Imagine long clean beaches, fancy cafes on a cliff, beautiful backwaters and out of the world sunsets? This is Varkala. The place was not known to many until recent times when people started posting about it over social media platforms. Now it has become an attraction to everyone who plans their trip to Kerala, I will talk about all the amazing things you could do while enjoying this beach town.
- NORTH CLIFF – SOUTH CLIFF
- CYCLING TO KAPPIL BEACH
- TAKE SURFING CLASSES
- KAYAKING IN MANGROVE FOREST
- TRIP TO GOLDEN ISLAND
- EXPERIENCE AYURVEDIC MASSAGE
- WITNESS BIOLUMNISCENCE
- CANOEING IN MUNROE ISLAND
- JATAYU EARTH CENTRE
- MY PICKS
- ITINERARY
NORTH CLIFF – SOUTH CLIFF
Varkala is mainly setup on a cliff, dividing the whole area into north and south. As you explore the north side, you will find cafes of all kinds of budget. Some with live music and a lot of them with fancy setups facing the sea. There are a few exits from the cliff downstairs to the beach which makes it easily accessible. All the major hostels are on the north cliff while the south side is a hub of hotels and properties with their own private beaches. Some of these are dreamy locations and you can totally check their setups by being a guest visitor. Head to my recommendations for more details. Also, don’t forget to check the black sand beach when you are around the north cliff.
CYCLING TO KAPPIL BEACH
As soon as you check-in to your hotel/hostel, you will find contact details of many who provide scooters and bicycles for rent. The best thing to do is rent a bicycle for a couple of hours and ride along the beach towards Kappil which is hardly 7km north of Varkala. This will lead you to a road with Arabian sea on one side and backwaters on the other, making it a perfect scene for your sunrise adventure. The cycle rent would not be more than 150 INR per hour and it’s better to book it one night before so that you wont be losing any minute before the sunrise. In case you miss the morning view, you can cycle on this track anytime on a pleasant day. It’s always better to go in a group and keep yourself hydrated.
TAKE SURFING CLASSES
First thing I got to know that I should definetely try in Varkala was surfing. There were people in hostel who were taking these classes and that just inspired me to try it atleast once. So if you know basic swimming and can wake up early in the morning, there are a few surfing schools which provide 3 to 7 days of training. Although knowledge of swimming is not mandatory, but going into the water for the first time could be a little uncomfortable if you don’t know swimming. Here, I am sharing a few contacts of professional coaches. This will definitely make your experience worth remembering. Every session is of one hour and can cost between 1200-1800 INR.
KAYAKING IN MANGROVE FOREST
Kerala is famous for its backwaters and if you are in Varkala, you just can’t miss this experience of kayaking through the dense mangrove forest. The location is only 15km north of Varkala and gives all the essence of nature’s beauty. There are guided sunrise and sunset tours which could go upto 3 hours. Although kayaking is a little tiring, you will definitely be happy after this experience. Just make sure to keep some source of calories with you. Also pack an extra pair of clothes as you are certain to get drentched even without any intention. The whole tour could cost you around 750 INR. Apart from the contacts from your hotel, you can try the below mentioned ones as well.
TRIP TO GOLDEN ISLAND
The golden island is unlike any other backwaters. It is actually a 100 years old temple which is easily accessible by local boats. The island is 7km south of Varkala and a perfect outing for a sunset trip. The place is not well developed and you might not find many shops, so it’s better to carry your own water and snacks. Remember it’s inside a village with a very less plastic dumping, hence it is advisable to carry bags for your garbage. The boating here is the cheapest of all other places near Varkala and to be honest, I loved this one the most because the place is so raw.
EXPERIENCE AYURVEDIC MASSAGE
Ayurvedic massage in Kerala is one of its kind. This one thing you may find at a lot of places on the cliff. There are many centres in Varkala who offer the spa and massage treatments. Some of them even have a month long course, but for starters, you can always try their full body basic massage that would cost you around 1200-1500 INR for an hour session. It’s recommended to do it with empty stomach in the morning and feel rejuvinated for the rest of your day as you witnessing the sea. Here are some of my picks.
AyurSoul – The world of wellness
WITNESS BIOLUMNISCENCE
Instead of writing about what bioluminescence is and going into deep explainations of this phenomenon, it’s better to observe it and experience the magic in Varkala. Also known as sea sparkle, it’s a rare occurance that can be seen during the summer season of Kerala i.e., December to April. These shining algae have been witnessed in many backwaters of Kerala but one really can’t guarantee if they would be there on the next Varkala trip. Ideal situation for it to occur is on a clear sky night. The hotter the day, the more the chances of you seeing a beautiful layer of bluish-green blanket on the shore. Wait for the night to get a little dark, and head to any of the beaches in Varkala, just make sure to keep yourself safe from crabs and jellyfishes.
CANOEING IN MUNROE ISLAND
Ashtamudi Lake contains a cluster of 8 islands and it is a hidden gem of Kerala with backwaters and green covers all around. It is also known as Munroe Island. This place is a dream location where one gets on a boat and spends early morning soaking into the bliss of nature. The canoe is also available for sunset tour but the locals recommend a sunrise tour. The place is actually not in Varkala but 30km north of it, in Kollam. As soon as you reach nearby, it’s very easy to spot canoe and you can also rely on locals for directions. There are no branded shops or outlets, everything is run by locals, be it the boats or tea shops. After the boating you can have a south indian breakfast from any joint nearby. Munroe Island is visited by many but only a few stop and try to know the villagers’ life there. The islands are sinking due to climate change making people’s daily working even more difficult. If your presence can bring a smile on their face, make it count by spending a day with them, helping them with their routine.
JATAYU EARTH CENTRE
World’s largest bird sculpture, known for women safety, Jatayu rock has gained popularity among the tourists and keralites as well. The place is located 30km east of Varkala and the premesis is well managed. There are cable cars available else you can also do a little hicking for 800 steps. The entry ticket is 250 INR and for cable car, it is 200 INR. The place is an absolute beauty with a 360 degree view from the height. Timings for entry are 10am to 5.30pm. The sunset view here is ecstatic. So, reach there by 4pm, take a tour and stay till the sky becomes a colorful shade of orange. There are many other activities that are still under process but you can easily find a few snack points inside.
MY PICKS
I have done solo travel to Varkala thrice and believe me, it was different everytime. I stayed in different hostels, spent time with various kind of people eating at every kind of cafe. I remember the first time I went there, it was my first solo trip since I moved to Kerala in sept 2021. I met a group of architecture students and we enjoyed our time exploring cafes and playing games all night in the hostel. Second time, I met an old friend of mine who was there with his physics Ph.D students. And the last time I went there, in July 2022, I made a friend from Germany. Everytime I was in Varkala, I didn’t plan my trip. Rather let the universe decide the way. Interesting things came to me and with enough experience I have written this blog post hoping to make your trip worthwhile and memorable.
Best Cafes with best vibe:
Properties with aesthetic setups:
Hostel recommendations:
ITINERARY
DURATION: 3 DAYS
BUDGET: ~5000 INR
Day 1:
Check-in to your hotel. Walk on the north and south cliff, exploring all the fancy cafes. Plan sunset trip to Golden Island and come back for dinner with live music.
Day 2:
Take your cycle for the kappil beach ride in the morning. Rest during the day and prepare for the kayaking through mangrove forest to witness the sunset.
Day 3:
Spend your sunrise time relaxing on a canoe in muroe island and don’t miss the sunset from the top of jatayu earth centre before leaving varkala.
Ps. You can add ayurvedic massage and surfing classes if your trip is for more than 3 days. Also, Varkala black beach sunset and Bioluminescence are a must to be in your plan. Make sure to enjoy the serenity of nature instead of rushing from point A to point B. If no plan works, the ocean is always there to calm your soul.
Nikhil Dhingra 
Wow, This article is as good as any I read across in the best of Travel guide books. A thorough input on each feature /details is rare. Good job. I need to see this as guided by you. Great job Nikhil. Keep sharing
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Thank you so much sir for these kind words.
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