Beach town in Kerala, India
Varkala for solo travelers
Is Varkala good for solo travel?
Kerala's clifftop beach town: cafés, yoga, long-stay travelers and a holy temple beach. Easy and relaxed for a solo stay; the season is short and the cliff gets busy.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women, with many travelers and yoga groups. Cover up away from the beach and avoid isolated stretches after dark. |
How to meet people in Varkala
Yoga classes and retreats on the cliff, social hostels, rooftop cafés, surf and paddle lessons, and the many long-stay travelers who return each season.
Good things to do alone
- Walk the cliff path at sunrise
- Take a morning yoga class
- Visit Janardhana Swamy Temple and Papanasam beach
- Try a surf lesson in the swell
- Day trip to Kappil backwaters
Where to stay in Varkala
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| North Cliff | Cafés, yoga, most nightlife and travelers |
| South Cliff | Quieter, beachfront guesthouses, longer stays |
| Odayam and Edava | Quiet beaches and cheaper long stays south of the cliff |
Solo travel across India
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 5/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Dharamshala | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Goa | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Mumbai | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Jaipur | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Varanasi | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Bangalore | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Udaipur | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Kochi | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Kolkata | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Hyderabad | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Manali | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Leh | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Pondicherry | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Varkala | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Hampi | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Amritsar | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Jodhpur | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Pushkar | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Palolem | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Anjuna | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Darjeeling | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Munnar | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Alleppey | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Andaman Islands | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Shimla | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Delhi | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Agra | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Chennai | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Jaisalmer | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
Quick answers
Is Varkala good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Kerala's clifftop beach town: cafés, yoga, long-stay travelers and a holy temple beach.
How do you meet people in Varkala?
Yoga classes and retreats on the cliff, social hostels, rooftop cafés, surf and paddle lessons, and the many long-stay travelers who return each season. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Varkala?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Varkala safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women, with many travelers and yoga groups. Cover up away from the beach and avoid isolated stretches after dark.
More about Varkala
Going to Varkala solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Varkala meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.