The red and white lighthouse on the headland above Kovalam beach

Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam & Varkala · Crescent beaches

Kovalam group trip guide

Kovalam: Crescent beaches in Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam & Varkala, Kerala. From Thiruvananthapuram it is 16 km by road, 1–2 hours with stops. Groups give it 1–2 days. A 17-seater tempo traveller with driver from Thiruvananthapuram costs ₹6,800–8,400 for a same-day round trip, as of Oct 2026.

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Photo: Amitbalani, CC0 1.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

From Thiruvananthapuram
16 km by road
Time to give it
1–2 days
Best season
October to March
Fare from Thiruvananthapuram
₹6,800–8,400 round trip (Oct 2026)
Nearest airport
Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)

Kovalam, south of Thiruvananthapuram, is three crescent beaches side by side; Lighthouse Beach, under the red-and-white lighthouse, is the busiest, with Ayurveda resorts along the shore.

How many are going?

Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Kovalam from each city, from the tables below.

Fits your group

Tempo Traveller 17-seater or Force Urbania (luxury van)

13–17 or 10–17 seats

₹6,800–8,400 for a full day (250 km)

Palakkad → Kovalam

₹20,900–25,700

Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 352 km one way · 2 days, round trip

Tap a route:

Get quotes for 15 people

Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.

Why groups go

The beach stay of a South Kerala trip, near the airport, with Ayurveda treatments for those who want them.

Beaches & coast

How far is Kovalam

Road distance from our route catalog, one way.

Road distance to Kovalam
FromRoad kmWith stopsDetails
Palakkad352 km7–8 h–
Kochi213 km5–6 h Route: Kochi to Kovalam
Kozhikode402 km8–10 h–
Thiruvananthapuram16 km1–2 h–

Group fares from Thiruvananthapuram

Round trip with driver, 1 day, by vehicle.

Thiruvananthapuram to Kovalam: round-trip fares by vehicle
VehicleSeatsRound trip, 1 day
SUV / Innova6–7₹4,700–6,300
Tempo Traveller 12-seater9–12₹5,800–7,400
Tempo Traveller 17-seater13–17₹6,800–8,400
Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater18–26₹7,900–10,000
AC Coach 40–49 seater36–49₹15,000–20,200

Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.

Indicative range, updated Oct 2026; actual quotes from verified operators may differ. For a day trip with driver: vehicle hire at the class's ₹/km band (minimum 250 km a day), driver allowance ₹500 a day, night halt ₹300, 5% GST. Tolls and parking are extra, at actual cost. Post your trip for exact itemised quotes.

When to go and how long

  • Best season: October to March.
  • Time to give it: 1–2 days.
  • Who goes: Families, International visitors, Friends.

Add on nearby

Circuits that include Kovalam

Arriving from abroad or another state

  • Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (TRV).
  • Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central.
  • Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Visiting from abroad: visa, payment, safety

Operators for Kovalam

Approved operators who take groups to Kovalam. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.

Official pages and sources

Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.

How booking works

  1. Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
  2. Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
  3. Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
  4. Book and pay the operatorAccept a quote and pay the operator an advance (25%) directly. No Yippigo fee: free until 31 December 2026.

Questions groups ask

Thiruvananthapuram-il ninnu Kovalam-lekku ethra dooram? (How far is Kovalam from Thiruvananthapuram?)

16 km by road: 1–2 hours in a tempo traveller or bus with tea and meal stops (group vehicles average 45–50 km an hour, about 35 on ghat roads). Road distance from our route catalog.

Kovalam-lekku tempo traveller-inu ethra rate aakum? (What does a tempo traveller to Kovalam cost?)

Round trip from Thiruvananthapuram (16 km one way, 1 day) with driver: 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400, 40–49 seater bus ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of Oct 2026; post the trip for the exact rate.

What does a group trip to Kovalam cost?

Round trip from Thiruvananthapuram with driver: SUV / Innova ₹4,700–6,300; Tempo Traveller 12-seater ₹5,800–7,400; Tempo Traveller 17-seater ₹6,800–8,400; Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater ₹7,900–10,000; AC Coach 40–49 seater ₹15,000–20,200. Indicative, as of October 2026, with driver allowance and 5% GST; hotels, food and entry tickets are extra.

How many days do we need for Kovalam?

1–2 days. With the drive from Thiruvananthapuram, plan a day trip, or 2 days to see more in all. The beach stay of a South Kerala trip, near the airport, with Ayurveda treatments for those who want them.

When is the best time to visit Kovalam?

October to March.

Which vehicle for our group?

4 people: Sedan; 7 people: SUV / Innova; 12 people: Tempo Traveller 12-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 17 people: Tempo Traveller 17-seater + Force Urbania (luxury van); 26 people: Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater; 45 people: AC Coach 40–49 seater.

How do we reach Kovalam from abroad?

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (TRV). Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.

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  • Compare itemised quotes
  • Pay the operator a 25% advance only after you accept a quote
  • Operators quote only once their vehicle's papers are approved

Group trip to Kovalam

Post the dates, pickup and group size once. Verified operators send itemised quotes; you compare and pay the one you choose directly.