Kochi to Varkala in a Tempo Traveller: The Cliff, the Sea, and the Long Drive South
198 km down NH 66 to Kerala's cliff beach. What the drive really takes, the ₹9,000 two-night rate, and an honest word about the water at Papanasam.
Varkala is the one beach in Kerala where you look down at the sea from above it.
The cliff — red laterite, worn into a shelf — runs along the shore with cafes and viewpoints balanced on top, and the beach sits below at the bottom of a set of steps. It is unlike anywhere else on this coast, and it is 198 km from our garage, which is the part people underestimate.
The road
Straight down NH 66, and this is the easiest long drive we do out of Kochi. Alappuzha, Kayamkulam, Kollam, then the turn for Varkala. Four-lane almost the whole way. No ghats, no hairpins, no climbing.
Two things to allow for. The Alappuzha and Kayamkulam stretch is slow when the coast road fills up with local traffic, and Kollam is a city you pass through rather than around. Routing says 2 hours 41. With a group and a stop, plan three hours.
The good news is that the drive is genuinely pleasant. Kerala’s coast road is palm trees and backwater glimpses for most of its length, and a tempo traveller with a big group eats the distance easily.
What it costs
A 12 seater tempo traveller:
- 2 Nights / 3 Days — ₹9,000, 300 km included
- 3 Nights / 4 Days — ₹12,000, 400 km included
Driver allowance is ₹700 per day extra, so ₹2,100 on the three-day trip. Extra km is ₹23. Parking and tolls inside Kerala are free, and Varkala is inside Kerala.
The round trip runs about 396 km, billed garage to garage. Against the 300 included km on a two-night trip, that puts you roughly 96 km over — which is about ₹2,200 in extra kilometres at ₹23. None of this is unusual for Varkala; it is simply a long way south, and groups are better off knowing the number than meeting it at the end.
If you want that spread over more days, three nights moves the allowance to 400 km, which covers the run properly.
The cliff, and getting down to the beach
The North Cliff is where the cafes and the sunset views are. The path along it is flat and easy, and there are railings and viewpoints along the way.
The beach is a different matter. To get from the cliff down to Papanasam you take the steps — a lot of them, cut into the laterite, uneven in places. Anyone with knee trouble, or anyone pushing a pram, should know that going down is the easy half.
There is also a road entrance to the beach that avoids the steps entirely. Tell your driver if you want it, because it is not the obvious way.
An honest word about the water
The Arabian Sea at Varkala has strong currents. It is not the gentle Gulf of Mannar water you get further south, and it is not a bay. The locals swim, there are lifeguards at Papanasam, and the rule is the same as anywhere: swim between the flags, watch the children, and do not treat a beautiful beach as a calm one.
Groups with kids should plan on a lot of adult attention and not much relaxing.
What else is nearby
Janardhana Swamy Temple, the old temple near the cliff, is worth twenty minutes and is one of the reasons Varkala was a pilgrimage town long before it was a beach town.
Kappil — a stretch of backwater running beside the sea, about ten minutes up the coast. Boats, quiet water, and a very different view of the same district.
Anjengo and the lighthouse further south, if your group wants a drive.
Two nights, not one
This is not a one-night route. Four hours in the van each way against a single overnight means you arrive tired and leave before you have settled.
Two nights gets you an afternoon on the cliff, a morning at the beach and time for Kappil, with the drive on either side. That is a trip rather than a very long day out.
When to come
November to February is the season — dry, warm, good sunsets.
March to May is hot, and the cliff path bakes.
June to August brings rough seas and red-flag days on the beach. The cliff stays open, but swimming is off.
Booking the trip
Tell us your dates and group size and we will confirm the van and the rate against your actual plan, including what the distance means for your kilometre allowance. If two nights is more than you want, we will tell you that the drive does not make one night sensible.
Call +91 70343 01815, or book online and we will come back to you with the confirmed quote.
Common questions
- How far is Varkala from Kochi?
- 198 km from our Aluva garage, about 2 hours 41 by routing. It is highway almost the whole way, so three hours with a group is realistic.
- How many days do you need for Varkala from Kochi?
- Two nights. The drive is long enough that one night means spending most of your time in the van, and the cliff, the beach and Kappil each want a few hours.
- What does a tempo traveller to Varkala cost?
- A 12 seater is ₹9,000 for 2 nights / 3 days with 300 km included. Driver allowance is ₹700 per day extra and extra km is ₹23. Toll and parking inside Kerala are included.
- Is it safe to swim at Varkala beach?
- The Arabian Sea here has strong currents. Swim between the flags where the lifeguards are posted, and keep children close. It is a beautiful beach, not a calm one.
Book this trip
Send us your dates and group size and we will confirm the van and the rate.