Varkala Hostel
Hostel, homestay or tent, shared
Varkala — board and bed
Saltline Outfitters
Runs this trip
7 Days · 6 Nights
Fully planned multi-day journey
Accommodation
Varkala Hostel
Instructor-led
A certified instructor runs the activity and briefs you before you start.
Surfing
Seven days, two sessions a day, under the cliff
Low Intensity
Travelers can expect comfortable transfers and light walking
Group size on request
Ages 12+ Welcome
The operator's minimum age for this trip is 12
Where this operator goes
7 days · 14 stopsItinerary
7 days, planned by Saltline Outfitters
Seven days learning to surf on a beach break under a laterite cliff, which is not a landscape the west coast repeats anywhere else.
Varkala, North CliffHow the day runs
- 1 hrsTransfer up the coast from Trivandrum
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationVarkala Hostel
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Cliff-top guesthouse
- Board fitting
LANDMARKS North Cliff Papanasam beach Janardanaswamy temple Start point Trivandrum, Trivandrum International Airport (TRV), Thiruvananthapuram 00:00 - 23:59Two sessions a day is the schedule that actually teaches surfing. One a day teaches you to be tired.
Varkala, North CliffHow the day runs
- 6:30 AM — theory on the sand, then two hours in the whitewater
- 4:30 PM — a second session on the evening tide
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationVarkala Hostel
Included Activities
- Board and rash guard
- Two coached sessions
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Papanasam beach Beach break Getting past the break is harder than standing up and nobody warns beginners about this either.
Varkala, North CliffHow the day runs
- 6:30 AM — the paddle out, and the first unbroken wave
- 4:30 PM — evening session
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationVarkala Hostel
Included Activities
- Board and rash guard
- Two coached sessions
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Papanasam beach Black beach Anjengo was the East India Company's first foothold in Kerala and the fort is still standing over the fishing beach.
Varkala, AnjengoHow the day runs
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — the backwater canal south
- 3:00 PM — the fort and the lighthouse at Anjengo
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationVarkala Hostel
Included Activities
- Backwater boat
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Anjengo fort Kappil backwaters Lighthouse Edava is ten minutes north and usually empty, which by day five matters more than the wave being marginally better.
Varkala, Edava, KappilHow the day runs
- 1 hrs6:00 AM — north to the empty beach
- 4:30 PM — back at Papanasam for the evening
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationVarkala Hostel
Included Activities
- Transport
- Board and two sessions
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Edava beach Kappil lake Backwater mouth By day six the coaching moves to the beach and you paddle out alone, which is the actual test of whether the week worked.
Varkala, North CliffHow the day runs
- 6:30 AM — coached from the beach rather than the water
- 4:30 PM — the last session, on your own
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationVarkala Hostel
Included Activities
- Board and rash guard
- Two sessions
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Papanasam beach North Cliff sunset Trivandrum is an hour south and flies to the Gulf as well as to Indian metros.
VarkalaHow the day runs
- 1 hrs11:00 AM — south to Trivandrum
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Board handback
- Airport transfer
- Day 1Day 1 · Arrive Varkala
- Day 2Day 2 · First session — the whitewater
- Day 3Day 3 · Green waves
- Day 4Day 4 · A day out of the water
- Day 5Day 5 · Edava and Kappil
- Day 6Day 6 · The last sessions
- Day 7Day 7 · Varkala, then out
Pickup point
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Meet atTrivandrumTrivandrum International Airport (TRV), Thiruvananthapuram
Reporting time00:00 - 23:59
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Included in the price
You arrange yourself
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Where you'll stay
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
What you'll eat
6 breakfasts and 2 dinners across 7 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 7.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 6
- BreakfastServed on days 2–7
8 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
Who runs this trip
Operated by
Saltline OutfittersVerified
“Coast and surf from guesthouses rather than resorts”
Based in Varkala Running treks since 2018
- Rating
- 4.5(15 reviews)
- Response time
- —
About Saltline Outfitters
Surf coaching and coastal trips run out of village guesthouses. Two sessions a day, because one is not how anyone learns.
Cancellation policy: Full refund up to 14 days before departure
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.5/5
Based on 15 reviews
Review summary
Food4.1/5
Guide4.3/5
Itinerary4.5/5
Transport4.0/5
Accommodation4.1/5
Tour operator4.5/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
I
Ishita Ghosh – Chandigarh2026-02-16 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Dorms were tidy and the common areas were where the group actually gelled. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Solid operator.
Reply from Saltline Outfitters
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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5
O
Owen Clarke – Toronto2026-02-16 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Dorms were tidy and the common areas were where the group actually gelled. Good value for what's included.
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5
E
Elena Petrova – Dubai2026-02-16 · Verified booking
Kit was in good condition, which matters more than people realise. Nothing fancy about the beds, and nothing wrong with them either. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves. Good value for what's included.
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4
N
Nina Hoffmann – Amsterdam2026-02-16 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning. Would send friends their way.
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5
S
Sneha Kulkarni – Indore2026-02-16 · Verified booking
Great few days in the water. Briefings were clear and nobody was pushed beyond their level. Nothing fancy about the beds, and nothing wrong with them either. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing. Good value for what's included.
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5
M
Marc Dubois – Dubai2025-05-30 · Verified booking
Visibility was excellent and the boat ran on time every morning.
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5
J
James Whelan – Berlin2025-05-30 · Verified booking
Instruction was patient — I came in nervous and finished wanting to book the next level. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Solid operator.
Reply from Saltline Outfitters
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
Was this helpful?
5
H
Hannah Lindqvist – Auckland2025-05-30 · Verified booking
Instruction was patient — I came in nervous and finished wanting to book the next level. Dorms were tidy and the common areas were where the group actually gelled. Would send friends their way.
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Questions people ask
Yes — it is a sand-bottomed beach break with a long gentle section, which is the safest thing to learn on. It is not a place to progress once you can surf; for that the east coast in season or Sri Lanka is better, and there is a Sri Lanka surf trip here.
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