Surfing in Gokarna is now on the up, thanks to a well-rated local surf school and some decent beach breaks, though this Karnataka spot still isn’t as well-known as Goa or Kerala.
An introduction to surfing in Gokarna
Chilled as chilled can be, Gokarna Beach nestles in a halo of lush hills on the north Karnataka coast. It’s cut its teeth as a hippy town. Ashrams and yogas come ten to the penny, as do relaxed eco hotels. Plus, the site is a famed Hindu pilgrimage destination, so there’s mysticism to back up the hammock swinging. And hammock swinging really is what most people come for. There’s no budding surf scene here a la Goa or Kerala.
That said, there’s a quirk to Gokarna that means it does get waves and some fairly decent ones at that. The town occupies a jut in the western Indian shoreline that extends out some three miles from the mouth of Aghanashini River. That gives it some rare south-facing bays, which do well to hoover up any stray S groundswells that move up from the roaring 40s and across the Indian coast.
Sadly, you don’t have the sandbars or reefs that Sri Lanka can muster, so it’s largely shore breaks that love to dump. We’d still consider it as a potential stopoff if you’re moving through this corner of the subcontinent with the board in tow, though. Let’s take a closer look at why…
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in India
Surfing in Gokarna at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing in Gokarna?
Where is Gokarna?
Gokarna is a town on the coastline of Uttara Kannada district, which sits in northern Karnataka state. It’s almost exactly halfway up the western side of India from its southern tip, putting it within (relatively – this is India, remember!) reach of the vacation mecca and surf hub of Goa. The best way to get here is by flying to Goa and then taking a dedicated transfer the 140km to the south. Or you can ride the rails to Ankola, which is only 20km away – a tuk-tuk from there shouldn’t break the bank!
Gokarna surf spots
The surf spots in Gokarna are spread between the west-facing edge of the peninsula and the south-facing bays. They both have different waves that will work on different swells and winds. Here’s a detailed look…
Gokarna Main Beach
Gokarna Main Beach should be your first port of call if you’re planning on surfing here. It’s the most consistent spot in the area, offering sandbank after sandbank that churns out fat, cruisy beginner sets throughout the whole dry season. The best part of the beach is right at its southern end, where you can, sometimes, find a bowly left wall coming off the rocks. It’s usually pretty soft, so demands a lot of volume and length in the board choice, but is nonetheless a peeler and that’s rare enough for India to warrant a mention.
Main Beach suffers a lot from onshore winds in monsoon time, but it’s still rideable if you don’t mind mush. This is the home of the Cocopelli Surf School and Guest House, the trailblazer of Gokarna surf and still the best school-surf stay around!
Om Beach
Any S swells hit Om Beach first, so this one’s a prime spot at the start and end of the monsoon months when the solid SW conditions are prevailing right across the Indian Ocean. The bay is divided into two halves by a rugged cluster of rocks in the middle. The eastern end is way more sheltered and works best on the bigger days. The west is largely in a swell shadow cast by the Shiva reef at the far end of the bay.
Nirvana Beach
Five long miles of golden sand runs from the mouth of the Aghanashini River south to Kumta. It’s basically never ridden but does have waves. They can be surprising if the sandbanks let them shine, but the shape and quality of sets changes a lot from season-to-season. There are some bending right handers for longboarders that form on the Nirvana Rocks up on the northern part of the sand.
Kumta
Kumta Beach is carved out by a wide rivermouth at its northern end. It’s a sandbank machine, shifting loads of silt down from the Western Ghats that will occasionally build up into something that creates lovely, wedgy waves when the tide pushes high and there’s 4-6 foot in the forecast. It’s a shifty spot with some strong currents, so best left to beginners. We’ve also heard some less-than-savory things about the water quality. You’ve been warned.
Where to stay when surfing in Gokarna?
Gokarna was a hippy escape long before it was a surf town. Gentrification means there’s been an uptick in the quality of resorts in recent years, so there’s a whiff of lux on offer these days. But you can still get chilled surf hostels right by the waves too. Here’s a look at the whole shebang…
Cocopelli Guest House
The Cocopelli Guest House is pretty much the only surfer-orientated stay in Gokarna. They’re partnered with the local school, which also happens to be right next door and – at least we think – owned by the same people. Rooms aren’t massive or opulent but are comfy and clean. You’re likely to meet the only other surfers in town if you stay here and the vibes are great. Walking distance to the beaches.
Kahani Paradise
The Kahani Paradise is a special, special hotel. Don’t just take our word for that, though – the spot has through-the-roof reviews. Still not enough? How about the lux infinity pool with 180-degree views of Gokarna Main Beach? How about the walk-in his-her toilets? How about the king beds with 20x pillows on each?
Rudraksh Retreat
You can go for a touch more luxury by booking into the Rudraksh Retreat. This hotel has spacious rooms arranged around a cool courtyard, along with some neat design touches – think polished concrete and whatnot. Rates start at about $55 per night.
Step-by-step guide to planning your surfing in Gokarna trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the surfing in Gokarna…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: 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 four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Gokarna?
India is very seasonal when it comes to surf. The sweet spot is usually considered to be the months between the onset of the monsoon and the end of the dry season. In Gokarna, that means April and May really are the standouts, but we’d be tempted to push it forward just a little more, go in June or July and catch the stronger SW swells. Sadly, that does bring the risk of heavy precipitation and storms, which can muddy the water and blow the whole place out for days on end.
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!
