Varkala is a lesser known destination of the God's own country' - #Kerala.

This non touristy destination is for young at heart, those who want to do slow travel and enjoy the art of doing nothing ~Dolce Far Niente !

We stayed in Varkala for 3 nights and we wish we had more time to explore this beautiful town.

From Surfing to Yoga, From Ayurveda to Cafe Hop, Varkala has a lot to offer for different kind of travelers. Here are our top picks of things to do when in #Varkala

1. Café Hop

Varkala has been hidden gem as far as the tourists go. North Cliff which is a popular location among the travelers, is dotted with many cute cafes and resto bars.

Here is a list of Cafes we highly recommend.

a. Café Darjeeling

b. Sunrise Varkala at Sunrise Beach Resort

c. Buddha Bar Café

d. Black Beach Café

e. Rabbit Café

f. Abba Restaurant and cafe

Click here to read full reviews.

https://www.thetalkingbee.net/post/review-darjeeling-cafe-varkala

https://www.thetalkingbee.net/post/review-sunrise-cafe-varkala

https://www.thetalkingbee.net/post/review-buddha-bar-cafe-varkala

2. Shopping on Varkala Cliff

Its about a stretch of 1.5 kms that’s lined with a lot of small shops that sell beach wear, summer wear clothes, sunglasses, flip flops and what not! Some of them have a really great collection.

Make sure you bargain!

Image courtesy - Triplyzer

3. Learn to surf

Varkala is known for its crisp waves which are ideal for surfing. Many Europeans flock to this place for surfing lessons and a laid back beach vacation.

Here are some of the surf schools in Varkala

a. Moon Waves

b. Moana Surf Club

c. Surf & Sea

d. Surf & Soul

Apart from above there are many more

Image courtesy - The News Minute

4. Attend yoga classes

There are various types of Yoga practiced in Varkala and depending on the time you have in hand you can choose the plan. There are many retreats that have a more holistic approach.

Here is a list of yoga classes

a. Chanda School of Yoga

b. Nidra Yog Foundation

c. Shiva Rishi Yoga

d. Atmashanti Yoga

e. Rama School of Yoga

Image courtesy - Book Yoga Retreats

5. Chill at the pristine beaches of Varkala

Varkala is blessed with some of the most pristine beach we have ever seen. Crystal clear waters and sand free of any plastic and dirt

Here are the top beaches to visit

a. Varkala Beach

b. Odayam Beach

c. Edave Beach

Image courtesy - Varkkala.com

6. Watch the sunset from the cliff

This is a legit activity that you must indulge in when in Varkala. Most of us who were here would just grab a table at a café and watch the sun go down with some subtle music in the background.

7. Rent a Scooty and ride around the town

This is one of the cheapest mode of transport when in Varkala. Similar to Goa, you get to rent scooties for about 350-400 Rupees. With the fuel cost additional. You can rent one and explore the areas around.

8. Visit Golden Island (Ponnumthuruthu)

This is an excursion from Varkala. About 10-12kms away.

You need to take a boat ride to reach the island. This island known for the variety of bird you get to see here and a Shiva Parvathi temple.

Legends say that the queens of Travancore Royal Family used to hide their cache of gold and ornaments on the island in order to keep it safe and hence it obtained the name, Ponnumthuruthu.- Source : Kerala Tourism

https://www.keralatourism.org/varkala/ponnumthuruth-island.php

Image courtesy - Kerala Tourism

9. Visit Kappil Beach & Backwaters

Yes. This place has this unique combination of beach and backwaters that’s absolutely stunning! The drive here itself is an experience with beach on one side and backwaters on the other side of the road. This is about 7-10 kms away from Varkala. There is a boat club where one can indulge in water-sports as well. The beach is more rocky and made into more like a promenade.

This is also quite close from #Kollam.

Note- there are no cafes or eateries around.

10. Visit Varkala Lighthouse

This British built 17th Century lighthouse offers great bird eye views of Varkala.