Kerala surf is the best in India. This town hosts the two upcoming surf hubs of the whole subcontinent in Varkala and Kovalam. It’s blessed with mellow beginner waves but also sleeping spots that can come alive when there’s a strong SW in the forecast.
An introduction to Kerala surf
Palm-threaded Kerala is famous for its winding backwaters (a web of rivers and wetlands that weaves inland from the coast) and the jungled hills of the Western Ghats (mountains where you can go to taste fresh tea straight off the plantations and meet elephants in the wild). What people don’t tell you is that this also happens to be the engine room of a growing Indian surf scene…
That’s all really down to two main towns: Kovalam and Varkala. Both sit plum on the side of the Indian Ocean, fronted by long stretches of golden sand interspersed now and then by rugged, rocky headlands. Okay, so there’s no swell-shaping reef shelf to harness all the dominant SW sets between November and March like you get in Sri Lanka. But there are lots of sandbank waves and the odd point break of true quality.
This guide will run through all you need to know about Kerala surf, with info on the best surf destinations in the region and the best seasons for catching waves in southern India. Let’s begin…
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in India
Kerala surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Kerala surf?
Where is Kerala?
Kerala makes up a huge chunk of southern India. It actually runs for something like 350 miles from tip to toe, making up a whopping 10% of the country’s total shoreline. You’ll probably want to fly into Thiruvananthapuram (also known as Trivandrum for short, thankfully!). That puts you within striking distance of the two major surf destinations in the state (Varkala to the north and Kovalam to the south). There are flights and trains to there from all over the country. We’d say come by train if you can – it’s super fun in India.
Kerala surf spots
Despite clocking up nearly 560km of coastline along the Indian Ocean, there’s aren’t actually all that many surf spots in Kerala. There are two reasons for that. One: The geography of southwestern India isn’t all that suited to making great breaks. There’s plenty of power in the ocean, but often a steep drop off and no reef shelf, which turns lots of oncoming sets to dumpy closeouts. Second: India still hasn’t made it as a mainstream surf destination, and that means there are still oodles of potential and secret places up and down the shores of this southern state.
We’ll leave those to you to discover on your own. Here’s a look at the major spots in the region that are now on the map, and what they can offer wave seekers in the home of bubbling curries and mystical Hindu shrines.
Cheray Beach/Cherai Beach
Pretty Cheray Beach (also sometimes spelled Cherai) flanks the coast north of Kochi. Windswell systems passing the coast during the monsoon months can bring mushburgers the whole way along for learners and bodyboarders. There’s a wave at the south end that gets glassy on occasion. It’s probably the best place to go if you’re based in Kochi city but want to surf.
Varkala
For us, Varkala is the single best surf spot in the whole of Kerala. It’s north of Trivandrum and occupies a long stretch of coastline on the Indian Ocean that’s basically all golden runs of sand. Each of the beaches has a different character, and will change a lot depending on where the sandbanks lie each season .There are two that stand out from the crowd: Kappil and Edava. Both have glassy head-high sets when it’s 5 foot and early morning during the dry season, and lots of mush for learners in the wet season. This is also the home of the stand-out surf camp of the region: Soul & Surf of Sri Lanka fame.
Read our complete guide to surfing in Varkala
Kovalam
Kovalam should be your surf stop of choice if you’re heading south of Trivandrum. It mixes things up with a series of points and beach breaks but lacks a touch of the consistency of Varkala, so getting skunked here and relegated to the shoreline curry houses is a very real possibility. The best waves around break at Hawa Beach, a peeling left on its best days, and Kovalam Beach, which has a point break off the rocks and under the lighthouse at its south end.
Read our complete guide to surfing in Kovalam right now
Where to stay when surfing in Kerala?
Kerala surf schools usually operate privately along the beaches. The region hasn’t yet become the major surf vacation hotspot that nearby Sri Lanka has. That means your best bet is to book somewhere that’s within walking distance of the beaches and waves…
MINT INSIDE beach hotel
There’s a touch of the boho-boutique resort to the MINT INSIDE beach hotel, which is plonked nicely between the surf beaches of Varkala. We especially love the homecooked breakfasts, the balconies with views of the Indian Ocean, and the pleasant garden that’s out front.
Samsara Harmony Beach Resort
You can’t really go wrong with this highly-rated beach resort just off of Edava. It’s got simple but comfy rooms and a swimming pool. Most of all, it’s within easy walking distance of the beaches and the breaks – we’re talking like 2 minutes!
Step-by-step guide to planning your Kerala surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the Kerala surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
For paying for stuff when you’re traveling – Get a Wise borderless card/account. They charge NOTHING for POS payments in any country and have some of the best FX rates around in our humble opinion.
When to surf in Kerala?
There’s always a chance of a wave in Kerala, but there’s also always a chance of getting totally skunked for weeks on end. The odds of nothing pushing through do decrease in the wet season when powerful windswells offer okayish sets for the learners. Ask the locals and they’ll tell you that the best of the best conditions for the long left points of Varkala and Kovalam tend to be on longer period groundswells in the dry season, which lasts from October to March.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
