Two days in Varkala cost about Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,300 per person on a budget and Rs 2,850 to Rs 5,000 per person at mid-range for 1 night, excluding travel to Varkala. Day 1 covers the North Cliff, Papanasam Beach and Janardhana Swamy Temple. Day 2 covers Kappil Beach and backwaters, Edava and Anjengo Fort. Most sights are free, so your stay tier decides the total. Last updated: October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026. All prices are planning estimates checked against 2026 listings and recent itinerary costs, not quotes. Confirm room, boat and massage rates locally before you pay.
Stay near the North Cliff and walk to the beach, cafes and temple road. Keep Day 1 on foot, and save Kappil, Edava and Anjengo, which need an auto, for one loop on Day 2.
Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs sit next to the Arabian Sea, according to Kerala Tourism. The cliff walk, views and sunset are free, and Papanasam Beach below is also free. You do not need ticketed activities to fill 2 days.
North Cliff is the convenient base: beach steps, food and shops on foot. South Cliff is quieter. Hostel listings in 2026 start from under US$4 for dorms on Hostelworld, matching the budget band below. Book a cliff-view room only if you will spend time in it.
| Stay tier | Price per night | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm or basic guesthouse | Rs 500 - 1,000 | Solo travellers and backpackers |
| Mid-range hotel or homestay near the cliff | Rs 1,500 - 3,000 | Couples and families who want a private room |
| Sea-view cliff room or boutique stay | Rs 3,000 - 6,000 | A short splurge, honeymoon night, or sea-view priority |
These are the same 2026 bands used in our Kovalam vs Varkala comparison. December and January push rooms to the top of each band. Check whether breakfast and AC are included.
The table assumes 2 days and 1 night, a room shared by two people at hotel tiers, local food, one paid boat ride shared with others, and no long-distance travel to Varkala. That travel is priced separately below.
| Cost per person, 2 days / 1 night | Budget | Mid-range | Cliff-view comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay, 1 night (share of room, or dorm for budget) | Rs 500 - 1,000 | Rs 750 - 1,500 | Rs 1,500 - 3,000 |
| Food, 2 days | Rs 800 - 1,400 | Rs 1,200 - 2,000 | Rs 2,000 - 3,000 |
| Local transport (autos for Kappil and Anjengo loop) | Rs 300 - 500 | Rs 500 - 800 | Rs 800 - 1,200 |
| Activities and small entry charges | Rs 200 - 400 | Rs 400 - 700 | Rs 700 - 1,000 |
| Optional Ayurvedic massage, 1 hour | About Rs 1,200 per person in recent group itinerary estimates, if you add it. Confirm the centre, duration and price first. | ||
| Total per person, without the optional massage | Rs 1,800 - 3,300 | Rs 2,850 - 5,000 | Rs 5,000 - 8,200 |
For two sharing a room, a realistic couple total is about Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,500 budget and Rs 7,000 to Rs 12,000 with a cliff-view room, before arrival travel. Run your own dates through the trip budget planner.
The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 42 to 45 km away by road. Most visitors come via Trivandrum city, which keeps the options simple: train for value, taxi for door-to-door ease.
| From Trivandrum to Varkala | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Train, Thiruvananthapuram Central to Varkala Sivagiri | About 33 - 40 minutes, hourly services listed | Rs 120 - 950 by class, Sleeper at Rs 120 - 150 and 3AC at Rs 350 - 430 in Rome2Rio listings |
| Taxi or cab | About 49 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes by road, traffic dependent | Rs 950 - 1,200 in Rome2Rio listings |
| KSRTC bus | About 1.5 - 2 hours | Cheapest road option, slower than the train. Confirm the current fare at the station, as bus fares change without online notice. |
From the station, the cliff is a short auto ride. Agree the fare before you ride. If Varkala is the beach leg of a longer south Kerala trip, pair it with the plan in our Trivandrum 2 day itinerary: do the temple and museums in the city first, then take the train north and slow down on the cliff.
October to March is the easiest window, about 20 to 30 degrees in our sources. In monsoon, June to September, expect rough seas, some shacks closed, and lower rates: swimming and boating may stop. In April and May, start beach time early.
About Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,300 per person budget and Rs 2,850 to Rs 5,000 mid-range for 2 days and 1 night, excluding travel to Varkala. A cliff-view room pushes it to Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,200 per person.
Yes, for the cliff, beach, temple, Sivagiri and one outing to Kappil or Anjengo. Add a third day for a full Ayurveda course or surf lessons.
On or just behind the North Cliff for a first visit, so you can walk to food, beach steps and sunset. Choose South Cliff or the temple side only if quiet matters more than choice of cafes.
The cliff walk and sunset, Papanasam Beach, Janardhana Swamy Temple and Sivagiri Mutt are free. You mainly pay for stay, food, local autos and any boat, kayak or massage you choose.
The airport is about 42 to 45 km away. Take a taxi direct, about Rs 950 to Rs 1,200 from Trivandrum city in listings, or go into the city and take the hourly train at Rs 120 to Rs 950 by class.
You can, the train takes about 33 to 40 minutes, but you would miss cliff sunset and a slow beach morning. One night is the minimum that feels complete.
Keralam Travels