7 Nights · 8 Days
Kerala Premium Escape
Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · Varkala · Kovalam
from ₹49,999per couple
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Cliff beach · South Kerala
Varkala Travel Guide: The Cliff, the Beaches and How Long to Stay
A red cliff above the Arabian Sea, a beach with a temple at one end and cafés along the top. How to plan a short, unhurried stay.
Kerala Premium Escape from ₹49,999 per couple · Personalised itinerary in 24 hours
Updated 10 October 2026
Is Varkala worth visiting?
Yes. Varkala is one of the few places on the Kerala coast where red laterite cliffs rise straight above the Arabian Sea, with a walking path, cafés and stays along the top and Papanasam Beach below. Two nights are ideal, one is enough for the sunset and cliff walk, and the season runs from November to March.
- Ideal stay
- 2 nights; 1 on a longer circuit
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- Trivandrum (TRV), about 1.5 hours
- Known for
- Red cliffs, Papanasam Beach, sunset cafés
What are the best things to do in Varkala?
The best things to do in Varkala are the cliff walk at sunset, a morning on Papanasam Beach and a short drive north to Kappil. It is a place to slow down, so plan one outing a day.
- North Cliff walk: roughly a kilometre of cafés and small shops along the cliff edge, with steps down to the sand. Go an hour before sunset.
- Papanasam Beach: the main beach below the cliff, where families also perform rites for their ancestors at the temple end.
- Janardhanaswamy Temple: an ancient Vishnu temple on a rise above the beach road. Dress modestly.
- Sivagiri Mutt: the hilltop resting place of the reformer Sree Narayana Guru, and a major pilgrimage in late December.
- Kappil: about 20 minutes north, where a backwater lake and the sea run side by side along the road.
- Odayam and Edava beaches: quieter sand north of the cliff for a long morning walk.
- Anjengo Fort: a 17th-century English East India Company fort beside a lighthouse, about 30 minutes south.
Where to stay in Varkala: North Cliff, South Cliff or Odayam?
Stay on or just behind the cliff, so that sunset and dinner are a walk away. Which stretch you choose depends on how much quiet you want.
| Area | What it is like | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| North Cliff | Cliff-top stays among the cafés; lively until late evening | First visits, couples |
| South Cliff | Fewer cafés, larger gardens, a short walk to Papanasam | Families, light sleepers |
| Odayam and Edava | Small beachfront stays 5 to 15 minutes north | Longer, quieter stays |
The Kerala Premium Escape and the Kerala Complete Circuit each include one night here in a cliff-view property.
How many days do you need in Varkala?
Two nights is ideal and one is workable. With one night you arrive from the backwaters by early afternoon, walk Papanasam, watch the sunset from the cliff and leave after breakfast. A second night adds a full beach day and a trip to Kappil or Anjengo.
Varkala is not on the 5-day Romantic Kerala honeymoon, which ends at Alleppey. Couples who want a beach finish add a night or two here as a personalised extension, with a quote in 24 hours.
Varkala or Kovalam: which beach should you choose?
Choose Varkala for atmosphere and sunsets, and Kovalam for an easy resort stay close to the airport. They are about 1.5 hours apart, so the longer routes include both.
| Compare | Varkala | Kovalam |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | A cliff above one long open beach | Three sheltered crescent bays |
| Mood | Cafés, yoga, surf lessons | Resorts, Ayurveda, families |
| From Trivandrum airport | About 1.5 hours | About 30 minutes |
| Nights on our longer routes | 1 | 2 |
How does Varkala fit into a Kerala itinerary?
Varkala lies between the backwaters and the southern beaches, so it is the first sea stop on routes that finish at Trivandrum airport instead of returning to Kochi.
- 1
Alleppey
Step off the houseboat at 9 am and head south.
- 2
Varkala
About 2.5 hours; check in, then Papanasam Beach and the cliff at sunset.
- 3
Kovalam
About 1.5 hours further down the coast, for two nights.
- 4
Trivandrum
About 30 minutes from Kovalam to the airport for the flight home.
When is the best time to visit Varkala?
November to March is the best time for Varkala, when the sea is calmer, the sky is clear and the cliff-top cafés are open.
| When | Weather | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| November – February | Dry and sunny, warm sea | Best; busiest around New Year |
| March – May | Hot and humid, calm mornings | Good for quiet beach days |
| June – September | Monsoon; rough sea, many cliff cafés shut | Dramatic to watch, not for swimming |
| October | Passing showers, cafés reopening | A fair shoulder month |
CURATED PACKAGES
Kerala Packages with Varkala
The first 2 packages below include Varkala. Where a route does not include Varkala, we plan it as a personalised itinerary, quoted within 24 hours. Prices are per couple, starting.
9 Nights · 10 Days
Kerala Complete Circuit
Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · Varkala · Kanyakumari · Kovalam · Trivandrum
from ₹69,999per couple
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COMMON QUESTIONS
Varkala: Your Questions, Answered
Is it safe to swim at Varkala beach?
Swimming is possible at Papanasam Beach in season, between the flags and while lifeguards are on duty, but the currents are strong and the water deepens quickly. Stay within your depth, avoid the rocky ends of the beach, and do not enter the sea during the monsoon from June to September.
How do I reach Varkala?
Varkala is about 1.5 hours by road from Trivandrum airport, the nearest, and about 2.5 hours from Alleppey. It also has its own railway station, Varkala Sivagiri, on the main Kerala coastal line. Kochi airport is considerably further, so trips that include Varkala usually end at Trivandrum.
Is Varkala good for couples and honeymooners?
Yes. Varkala suits couples who like a relaxed, walkable beach town, with sunset dinners on the cliff, empty morning beaches and small stays facing the sea. It is livelier and less formal than Kovalam. Ask for a cliff-view room.
Is Varkala cliff open during the monsoon?
The cliff path stays open in the monsoon, but from June to September the sea is too rough for swimming, parts of the cliff edge may be fenced off after erosion, and many seasonal cafés close. It is not beach weather.
What is Papanasam Beach known for?
Papanasam means the destruction of sins. Hindu families come to this beach to perform rites for departed relatives near the Janardhanaswamy Temple end, mostly in the morning. Visitors are welcome on the rest of the beach; keep a respectful distance and do not photograph the rituals.
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