Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam & Varkala · Cliff beach and temple town
Varkala group trip guide
Varkala: Cliff beach and temple town in Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam & Varkala, Kerala. From Thiruvananthapuram it is 41 km by road, 1–2 hours with stops. Groups give it 1 day. 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: Ganesh Mohan T, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
- From Thiruvananthapuram
- 41 km by road
- Time to give it
- 1 day
- Best season
- October to March
- Fare from Thiruvananthapuram
- ₹6,800–8,400 round trip (Oct 2026)
- Nearest airport
- Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)
At Varkala, red laterite cliffs drop to the beach, with springs at their foot; the Janardhana Swamy temple and the Sivagiri Mutt of Sree Narayana Guru make it a pilgrimage town too.
How many are going?
Slide to your group size: the vehicle that fits, and its fare to Varkala 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 → Varkala
₹17,800–21,900
Tempo Traveller 17-seater · 297 km one way · 2 days, round trip
Tap a route:
Indicative fares from the tables on this page (see the notes under them); operators quote the exact price.
Why groups go
Cliff-top cafés and the beach for friends; the temple and Sivagiri for pilgrims.
Beaches & coastTemples, churches & mosques
How far is Varkala
Road distance from our route catalog, one way.
| From | Road km | With stops | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palakkad | 297 km | 6–7 h | – |
| Kochi | 163 km | 4–5 h | Route: Kochi to Varkala |
| Kozhikode | 352 km | 7–9 h | – |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 41 km | 1–2 h | – |
Group fares from Thiruvananthapuram
Round trip with driver, 1 day, by vehicle.
| Vehicle | Seats | Round trip, 1 day |
|---|---|---|
| SUV / Innova | 6–7 | ₹4,700–6,300 |
| Tempo Traveller 12-seater | 9–12 | ₹5,800–7,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 17-seater | 13–17 | ₹6,800–8,400 |
| Tempo Traveller 20–26 seater | 18–26 | ₹7,900–10,000 |
| AC Coach 40–49 seater | 36–49 | ₹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 day.
- Who goes: Friends, International visitors, Pilgrims.
Add on nearby
Circuits that include Varkala
Arriving from abroad or another state
- Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (TRV).
- Nearest railway station: Varkala Sivagiri.
- Operators quote the airport or station pickup with the whole trip: put your arrival in the request.
Operators for Varkala
Approved operators who take groups to Varkala. Ask for quotes here: your request reaches them through the platform and you compare itemised offers.
Nalkco Trip Mentors
VerifiedVehicle Owner
Palakkad, Kerala
297 km by road from Varkala
2 vehicles · 16 seats
- Replies in ~10 min
Saravanabhava Translinks
Vehicle Owner
Karur, Tamil Nadu
Serves Varkala
Fleet details on request
R M A Travels
Vehicle Owner
Puducherry
Serves Varkala
Fleet details on request
Seventree holidays
Vehicle Owner
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Serves Varkala
Fleet details on request
Official pages and sources
Opening hours, tickets and permits change: check them on the official pages before you travel.
How booking works
- Post your trip onceDates, pickup, places and group size. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- Verified operators quoteWe invite up to 6 verified operators near you, aiming for 3 quotes, and invite more if fewer reply within 2 hours.
- Compare itemised quotesVehicle, driver allowance, night halts, tolls and taxes, line by line, side by side.
- 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 Varkala-lekku ethra dooram? (How far is Varkala from Thiruvananthapuram?)
41 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.
Varkala-lekku tempo traveller-inu ethra rate aakum? (What does a tempo traveller to Varkala cost?)
Round trip from Thiruvananthapuram (41 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 Varkala 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 Varkala?
1 day. With the drive from Thiruvananthapuram, plan a day trip, or 2 days to see more in all. Cliff-top cafés and the beach for friends; the temple and Sivagiri for pilgrims.
When is the best time to visit Varkala?
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 Varkala from abroad?
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (TRV). Nearest railway station: Varkala Sivagiri. Operators quote the airport pickup and the whole trip with a driver.
- Free to post
- 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