WHERE?
VARKALA
WHEN?
1 FEB 2025
HOW LONG?
14+ DAYS
TRIP FORMAT?
FLEXIBLE TRIP
Join us for an unforgettable journey to the heart of Kerala, one of India's most unique states, renowned for its stunning natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Relax on pristine beaches, kayak through the serene backwaters, rejuvenate with Ayurvedic treatments, and participate in daily yoga classes. In Varkala, you can also enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting on the cliffs to watch breathtaking sunsets while sipping a cup of tea. Varkala offers something for everyone, making it a perfect destination for your next adventure.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
#BEACH
#YOGA
#FOOD
#CULTURE
#MOTOS
HOW FLEXIBLE TRIPS WORK?
SAFAROTO flexible trips provide you with the benefits of choice and the freedom of solo travel enabling you to set your own trip schedule and make decisions based on your budget. You also get the benefits of being part of a group of like minded people who you can join on a regular basis for meals and activities – which are coordinated by an experienced traveler who is familiar with that destination based on the input and the preferences of the group.
Stay as long or as little
as your would like
Reserve your own
transportation & accommodations
Opt in or opt out of any
group activity or meal
Each person is responsible
for their own expenses.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO BUDGET FOR THIS TRIP?
Swipe left and right to view the STANDARD or the ECONOMICAL budget option:
CONFIRMED TRIP ATTENDEES:
Oto 🇺🇸🇲🇦
Diana 🇧🇷
Suhail 🇮🇳
TIPS & ADVICE TO HELP YOU PLAN THIS TRIP:
Here are some important facts and details to help you prepare for this trip:
- 📍The town: Varkala is a small beach town in the South of India in the state of Kerala with a population of about 50,000
- 🕑 Time zone: UTC+5:30m | When it is 5pm in Kerala, it is 6:30am in NYC, 11:30am in London and 10:30pm in Sydney
- 🗣️ Language: Primarily Malayalam as in the rest of Kerala with English widely spoken. A small minority also speaks Tamil or Hindu.
- ☀️ climate/weather: expect warm and pleasant weather with temperatures in the 26-32°C or 79-90°F with minimal rain.
- 🌅 sunset/sunrise: 12 hours of daylight with a sunrise ~6:40am and sunset ~6:30pm
- ⛰ Landscape: picturesque sandy beaches with stunning beach cliffs with lush greenery around and tranquil backwaters
- 💱 Currency/exchange rate/cost of living: 1 USD = ~85 Indian rupees (inr) with very affordable prices by western standards
- 🔌 Electrical outlet: India uses the type-C outlet (Euro type with 2 round pins
- 💰 Tipping culture: appreciated but not mandatary. Common to leave a 5-10% tip if you are happy with the service
- 📱Getting a local sim card: SIM card are easy to get for a few dollars at the airport, malls or local mobile stores, you will need a passport photo, a copy of the passport and your address in India. It can be loaded with plenty of data for the month for $5-$10.
- ⛑️ Safety: Varkala is considered to be very safe being a relatively quiet place with many foreigners visiting it. Local are known to be friendly and helpful. It is a good idea to use common sense to dress modestly to avoid unwanted attention and use precautions when walking alone in dark places at night especially for women.
- Food safety & drinking water: it is better to avoid drinking tap water and stick with bottled water as well as be mindful where you eat especially when it comes to street food to prevent foodborne illnesses as food safety standards may be much lower than western standards.
Most Nationalities need a visa to visit India and an e-visa can easily be obtained using this government portal. You would need to upload a passport photo and a copy of your passport during the application process which takes about 30-60mn. a 5 year visa for India costs $80 which can be paid via Paypal. Most visas get approved within 24h-48h.
In order to get to Varkala, it is best to fly to the Thiruvananthapuram airport (39km away). Flights from Delhi and Mumbai or other Indian cities are in the $50-$100 each way. Flights from the UAE, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as well as other parts of Southeast Asia can be encountered for $100-$200 each way.
Once at the airport, one can go to town to catch the train or bus or get an Uber/Ola, all for under $5-$15 to get to Varkala depending on the option selected.
We suggest staying near the Varkala beach, there are numerous guesthouses and hostels offering comfortable rooms for $100-$200/week (Booking | Airbnb)
Below are our recommendations based on different budgets:
| 📸 | Budget | Accommodation | Weekly Price | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Economic | Kulture KonnectT | $49/week | Highly rated hostel, quiet, friendly host, 15mn walk to the beach |
 |
Economic | The Hostel Stories | $49/week | Dorm beds with curtains, social, highly rated, 5mn walk to the beach |
 |
Economic | Hope Hostels | $53/week | Dorm beds with curtains, on the cliff with nice views, social, popular |
 |
Standard | Sevenstar Residency | $145/week | Wonderful hosts, clean rooms, 10mn walk to the beach |
 |
Standard | Rams Gratitude Inn | $155/week | Well rated, welcoming host, 5mn walk to the beach |
 |
Standard | Lavender Residency | $199/week | Nice room w AC, highly rated, 5mn walk to the beach |
Varkala has a variety of food options including local and international options. One can typically eat very well at restaurants for $5-$10 or even less. Just like in other parts of India, there are plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans.
Kerala cuisine is known for its bold flavors, fresh ingredients and common use of coconut. Some dishes one must try:
- Sadya: vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf
- Appam with stew: Soft, fluffy rice pancakes served with a fragrant coconut milk-based stew, often with vegetables or meat.
- Puttu and Kadala Curry: Steamed rice flour cakes (puttu) served with a spicy black chickpea curry (kadala curry).
- Fish Moilee: A mild, coconut milk-based fish curry, often made with kingfish or mackerel.
- Kerala Parotta with Beef Fry: Flaky, layered flatbread served with spicy beef fry, a popular street food combination.
Makes sure to also try some typically dishes of south Indian cuisine which are often served with sambar (a lentil-based vegetable stew) and chutneys:
- Dosa: A thin, crispy pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter
- Idli: Steamed rice and lentil cakes, typically eaten for breakfast
- Vada: Deep-fried savory doughnuts made from lentil batter
- Sambar: A flavorful lentil-based vegetable stew
- Rasam: A tangy and spicy soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, and various spices
Here are our restaurant recommendations:
| 📸 | Restaurant | Meal Cost | Cuisine | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Luluma | $5/p | Vegan | Nice seating with view |
 |
Juicy bar | $2/p | Indian | Local vibe, cheap food |
 |
InDa Cafe | $5/p | Cafe | Good for Breakfast, healthy options, cute sitting |
 |
ABBA Restaurant | $5/p | Multicuisine | Cliff view, all day, has german bakery |
 |
Chimney Family Restaurant | $3/p | Multicuisine | Highly rated, nice setting, 15mn walk |
 |
Clafouti Restaurant | $5/p | Multicuisine | cliff view |
 |
Arabian Grill | $4/p | Indian | Curries, shawarmas and fresh juices, 10mn from the beach |
There is plenty to do while in Varkala including:
- Kayaking
- Parasailing/paragliding
- Playing sports (soccer, volleyball, cricket…)
- Attending a Traditional Temple dance
- Getting a Ayurvedic massage
- Going to yoga classes
- Surfing
- Visiting local temples
- Taking a cooking class
- Doing day trips to near by beach towns such as Kollam
Varkala is a quiet town with limited nightlife options though one can often find some live music at local restaurants and bars. Expect a chill evening vibe rather than late night partying while in Varkala.
Varkala may not have the best connection but you can expect speeds of 4.4MB download/1.7MB upload on average. It is a good idea to have your local SIM card loaded to easily tether your laptop in case the wifi is unreliable.
It is recommended to either work from your accommodations or one of the local coffee shops such as KAPI by Sarwaa