Varkala and Kovalam Beach Break
Route Covered
Overnight stops in day orderOverview
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
Arrive in Thiruvananthapuram and settle in at Varkala
- Meet your driver at Thiruvananthapuram airport
- Drive north to Varkala, about 47 km
- Check in and rest
- If time allows, a first walk along the cliff path at sunset
Papanasam Beach, Janardhana Swami Temple and Sivagiri Mutt
- Morning at Papanasam Beach, below the red cliff
- Visit the Janardhana Swami Temple on the cliff top
- Drive about 3 km to Sivagiri Mutt, the hermitage and samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru
- Free hours for the beach, a cliff-top cafe or an optional boat trip on Kappil or Edava lake
Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram, then Kovalam
- Leave Varkala after breakfast and drive about 55 km towards Kovalam
- Stop in Thiruvananthapuram for the Napier Museum, opened in 1880 in an Indo-Saracenic building
- Continue to Kovalam and check in
- Evening on the sand at Lighthouse Beach
Vizhinjam Lighthouse, the three bays and the fishing hamlets
- Walk the three bays, Lighthouse, Hawah and Samudra
- Visit the Vizhinjam Lighthouse, with the climb for coast views if it is open that day
- Look in at the Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple and the fishing hamlets nearby
- Afternoon free for a catamaran ride, an Ayurvedic massage or the beach, as the season allows
Morning on the beach and departure
- A slow morning walk on the beach if your flight time allows
- Check out
- Transfer to Thiruvananthapuram airport for your flight
Indicative — varies with season and hotel category.
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Trip Facts
Local Activities & Events
Updated Oct 7, 2026Varkala — Days 1-3 of the trip
Yaanam travel literature festival
culturalA travel writing festival of talks, screenings and conversations at the Ranga Kala Kendram at Varkala Cliff, started by Kerala Tourism in 2025.
First held in October 2025; Kerala Tourism's minister said it would become annual, but no official 2026 dates were found
Reach out to us for the confirmed datesKerala — across your trip
Champions Boat League: Marine Drive, Kochi
sportsA snake-boat race on the Kochi waterfront, one round of the 2026 Champions Boat League organised by Kerala Tourism.
Alpashi Utsavam
festivalThiruvananthapuram's Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple celebrates for ten days, closing with a procession to the sea for a ritual bath.
Koratty Muthy Feast
festivalAnnual feast of the Virgin Mary at the Koratty church in Thrissur district, with processions and cultural performances.
Navarathri Sangeetholsavam
culturalNine evenings of Carnatic music and classical dance at the Navarathri Mandapam in the fort palace complex beside the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Navaratri
festivalGoddess worship fills nine nights across Kerala and closes on Vijayadashami.
Panachikkadu Navaratri Festival
festivalNavaratri celebrations at the Panachikkadu temple in Kottayam district, known for Vidyarambham, when young children are introduced to letters.
Champions Boat League: Piravom
sportsA snake-boat race at Piravom in Ernakulam district, a round of the 2026 Champions Boat League.
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
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