Varkala and Kovalam Beach Break
Overview
A Varkala Kovalam beach tour of five days and four nights on Kerala's south coast, with two nights beside the red cliffs of Varkala and two at the crescent bays of Kovalam, both in Thiruvananthapuram district. It suits couples and families who want short drives and slow beach days. October to March is the season to aim for.
Travellers who want beach time with a little culture, easy drives and no early starts; less suited to those wanting nightlife or adventure
Highlights
Good to know
Best months
October to March is the beach season; June to September is the monsoon, with heavy rainWater activities
Catamaran rides, parasailing and surfing are sold at Kovalam but become hard to do in the monsoonTemple dress
Cover shoulders and knees at the Janardhana Swami Temple and Sivagiri MuttMuseum day
Day 3 stops at the Napier Museum, so its open days are checked when the date is fixedDay-by-Day Itinerary
- First walk on Varkala Cliff
Arrive in Thiruvananthapuram and settle in at Varkala
- 1Meet your driver at Thiruvananthapuram airport
- 2Drive north to Varkala, about 47 km
- 3Check in and rest
- 4If time allows, a first walk along the cliff path at sunset
- Papanasam Beach
- Janardhana Swami Temple
- Sivagiri Mutt
- Kappil and Edava lakes
Papanasam Beach, Janardhana Swami Temple and Sivagiri Mutt
- 1Morning at Papanasam Beach, below the red cliff
- 2Visit the Janardhana Swami Temple on the cliff top
- 3Drive about 3 km to Sivagiri Mutt, the hermitage and samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru
- 4Free hours for the beach, a cliff-top cafe or an optional boat trip on Kappil or Edava lake
- Napier Museum
- Lighthouse Beach at evening
Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram, then Kovalam
- 1Leave Varkala after breakfast and drive about 55 km towards Kovalam
- 2Stop in Thiruvananthapuram for the Napier Museum, opened in 1880 in an Indo-Saracenic building
- 3Continue to Kovalam and check in
- 4Evening on the sand at Lighthouse Beach
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse
- Hawah (Eve's) and Samudra beaches
- Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple
- Fishing hamlets
- Catamaran ride
Vizhinjam Lighthouse, the three bays and the fishing hamlets
- 1Walk the three bays, Lighthouse, Hawah and Samudra
- 2Visit the Vizhinjam Lighthouse, with the climb for coast views if it is open that day
- 3Look in at the Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple and the fishing hamlets nearby
- 4Afternoon free for a catamaran ride, an Ayurvedic massage or the beach, as the season allows
- Last beach walk
Morning on the beach and departure
- 1A slow morning walk on the beach if your flight time allows
- 2Check out
- 3Transfer to Thiruvananthapuram airport for your flight
Indicative — varies with season and hotel category.
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Trip Facts
Local Activities & Events
Updated Oct 23, 2026Kovalam — Days 3-5 of this trip
International Independent Music Festival (IIMF)
culturalUsually in November, over two to three days
An independent and world-music weekend with bands from India and abroad at the Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, held here three times since 2022.
Reach out to us for the confirmed datesKerala — across your trip
Vettukadu Feast
festivalMadre de Deus Church in Thiruvananthapuram marks the feast of Christ the King over ten days, with worshippers of several faiths attending.
Champions Boat League: Kayamkulam
sportsA snake-boat race at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, a round of the 2026 Champions Boat League.
Kalpathy Ratholsavam
festivalChariot festival in Kalpathy, Palakkad, where decorated chariots are pulled through the village streets from the Viswanatha Swamy Temple.
Sabarimala Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season
festivalPilgrim season at the Ayyappa temple in Pathanamthitta district, from the Mandalam opening through Mandala Pooja and Makaravilakku to closing in January.
Champions Boat League final and President's Trophy Boat Race
sportsThe league's closing round on Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, held together with the President's Trophy Boat Race.
Guruvayur Ekadasi
festivalEleventh-day observance at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur, with strict fasting and elephant processions.
Bekal International Beach Festival
culturalBeach festival at Bekal in Kasaragod district with music, dance and arts; the state calendar lists it for December to January.
Events are reviewed by our team before publishing and drop off after they end. Please confirm timings and availability with us before your trip — local schedules can change without notice.
What's Included & Excluded
Quick Answers
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