Varkala trip planner: best time, cost and things to do
Cliff-top beach town with cafes, yoga and a sacred beach. The best time to visit Varkala is October to March, and June to July is best avoided (monsoon: rough sea, cafes shut). Plan 2 days; on the ground you can expect about ₹900 to ₹6,200 per person per day.
Plan your Varkala trip and see the full cost
Varkala at a glance
- State
- Kerala
- Best months
- October to March
- Best avoided
- June to July (monsoon: rough sea, cafes shut)
- Suggested stay
- 2 days
- Nearest airport
- TRV (in town)
- Nearest railway station
- Varkala Sivagiri (VAK)
- Good for
- beach, chill, spiritual
- Ground cost per person per day
- ₹900 budget, ₹2,250 mid-range, ₹6,200 comfort
How much does a trip to Varkala cost?
About ₹900 (budget), ₹2,250 (mid-range) or ₹6,200 (comfort) per person per day, two sharing a room and a cab, excluding the journey to Varkala.
What to eat in Varkala
- Kerala seafood thali
- Pazham pori (banana fritters)
- Cliff cafe breakfast
Top things to do in Varkala
- Varkala Cliff: Red laterite cliffs lined with cafes above the sea. about 2 hours. free entry
- Papanasam Beach: A holy beach below the cliffs, believed to wash away sins. about 2 hours. free entry
- Janardhana Swamy Temple: A 2,000-year-old Vishnu temple. about 1 hour. free entry
- Kappil Beach backwaters: Where the backwaters almost touch the sea. about 2 hours. free entry
- Surf lesson: Beginner waves at Varkala's beaches. about 2 hours. entry about ₹1,500
- Jatayu Earth's Center: The world's largest bird sculpture on a rock hill. about 4 hours. entry about ₹500
- Sivagiri Mutt: Where Sree Narayana Guru rests. about 1 hour. free entry
How to get to Varkala
To reach Varkala, Varkala has its own airport (TRV), and Varkala Sivagiri (VAK) is the railway station.
Frequently asked questions about Varkala
When is the best time to visit Varkala?
The best months for Varkala are October to March. June to July: monsoon: rough sea, cafes shut. Prices for stays and flights rise around holidays and long weekends, so book early for those dates.
How much does a trip to Varkala cost?
On the ground in Varkala a budget trip costs about ₹900 per person per day, a mid-range trip about ₹2,250 and a comfortable one about ₹6,200, assuming two people share a room and a cab. That covers stay, food and local transport but not the journey to Varkala. TripRoast works out the full cost per person from your city, including transport.
How many days do you need in Varkala?
Plan at least 2 days in Varkala. It works well as a short break.
What should you eat in Varkala?
Try Kerala seafood thali, Pazham pori (banana fritters), Cliff cafe breakfast.
How do you get to Varkala?
To reach Varkala, Varkala has its own airport (TRV), and Varkala Sivagiri (VAK) is the railway station.
Similar places to visit
Costs are estimates built from public data, official fares and traveller reports. Always check prices before you book. How TripRoast works.