Thottada Beach
Thottada Beach
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
202 reviews
Excellent
129
Very good
56
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
2
EkMusafir
Pune, India2,219 contributions
Dec 2019
This is one of the most pristine beaches of Kannur, on the Malabar coast. The beach is difficult to get to if you are staying in Kannur city, but quite accessible by a short walk if you are staying in one of the many resorts located opposite or near the beach.
We would go for a morning and evening walk to the beach from our resort. In the morning there were very few people on the beach, except for some tourists doing yoga or coming for a walk or a jog. In the evening we found more local people coming for a walk, or to play cricket, football or volleyball.
The beach is very clean compared to any of the other commercialised beaches. There were no food and drink stalls, nor any restaurant shacks like you find in Goa. We could just stand and observe the waves lashing the shore and rolling up to our feet. It looked safe enough to swim though we did not try it. The best time to visit the beach is in the evening to take in a glorious sunset. We would love to come here again.
We would go for a morning and evening walk to the beach from our resort. In the morning there were very few people on the beach, except for some tourists doing yoga or coming for a walk or a jog. In the evening we found more local people coming for a walk, or to play cricket, football or volleyball.
The beach is very clean compared to any of the other commercialised beaches. There were no food and drink stalls, nor any restaurant shacks like you find in Goa. We could just stand and observe the waves lashing the shore and rolling up to our feet. It looked safe enough to swim though we did not try it. The best time to visit the beach is in the evening to take in a glorious sunset. We would love to come here again.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann J
Castelsarrasin, France8 contributions
Jan 2020
clean, golden sand and swimmable waters overhung by miles of coconut palms.
Quiet all day until evening when the local young people come to play football and cricket. You can go further down to Kizhunna beach if you want privacy at these times.
Quiet all day until evening when the local young people come to play football and cricket. You can go further down to Kizhunna beach if you want privacy at these times.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prateek Gautam
Bengaluru, India25 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Relatively clean, very less clouded, secluded beautiful beach with nice golden sand. We went in the afternoon and there was no-one around. The route leading to the beach is quite narrow and ends abruptly but since not many people go there its unlikely you’ll get stuck in traffic.
In case you want to spend long hours there, i recommend carrying your own food.
In case you want to spend long hours there, i recommend carrying your own food.
Written 17 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Happy Travellers
Gold Coast, Australia44 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Reading the other reviews on this Beach 🏖 .
I am not sure what all the fuss is about!
Very difficult road to get Access to beach with auto and the water was absolutely filthy in late December 2019.
Many Food scraps floating around in the water + very dirty grey coloured Sea water Next to Dirty fishing villages that had nets and fishhooks in the water.
Long Isolated beach With no food vendors And very limited accommodation that is extremely overpriced.
Would never return to thottada beach.
I am not sure what all the fuss is about!
Very difficult road to get Access to beach with auto and the water was absolutely filthy in late December 2019.
Many Food scraps floating around in the water + very dirty grey coloured Sea water Next to Dirty fishing villages that had nets and fishhooks in the water.
Long Isolated beach With no food vendors And very limited accommodation that is extremely overpriced.
Would never return to thottada beach.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RahulMK
Bengaluru, India110 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
Thottada beach is a hidden gem, a pristine stretch of coastline that offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s a idyllic setting with soft sands, mild waves, and great sunset views.
One of the best things about this beach is the lack of crowds. You can truly relax and unwind without any distractions. The experience is unparalleled, making it the perfect spot for meditation, yoga, or simply soaking up the sun.
Whether you're a beach bum, a nature lover, or simply seeking some peace and quiet, this is the perfect destination.
One of the best things about this beach is the lack of crowds. You can truly relax and unwind without any distractions. The experience is unparalleled, making it the perfect spot for meditation, yoga, or simply soaking up the sun.
Whether you're a beach bum, a nature lover, or simply seeking some peace and quiet, this is the perfect destination.
Written 1 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
combi31
Toulouse, France84 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Clean, uncrowded lovely beach. Away ftom the crowds and bustle of other beaches in the area.
The besch has no plastic or rubbish, just the odd coconut bobbing in the waves. A great place to see dolphins too!
The besch has no plastic or rubbish, just the odd coconut bobbing in the waves. A great place to see dolphins too!
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shree
4 contributions
Dec 2021
Absolutely no crowd, pleasing environment. Can visit any time of the day and its quite safe as per my experience. The walks on the roads adjacent to the beach is pleasant in the early mornings and late evenings. Backwater paths are beautiful.
Written 3 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
charlesnsc73
Kannur, India393 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
A quiet piece of white sand unblemished , waves lapping the shores , no one around , breeze blowing through the coconut palms .
Written 29 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James From London
London, UK39 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
Great beach. No shade and strong surf. No shops to buy water so bring your own or its a 15min walk back to the village.
Written 27 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geobar01
Manchester, UK1,494 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Thottada Beach is located in northern Kerala well away from more popular beaches for tourists further South. We chose it for a last few days of relaxation after travelling from New Delhi via the Golden Triangle and it’s a place best chosen for winding down rather than sightseeing. It’s accessible by train at Kannur railway station 8km away and the closest airport is Calicutt (Khozikode). The airport is about 30km from the centre of Calicutt so if Thottada is your last stop before flying back home as it was for us it would be worth staying overnight closer to the airport if you have a morning flight and travelling direct from Thottada wouldn’t be practical. The road from the airport turned out to be a major highway but traffic can be slow and it took us over three hours each way with a car and driver at a cost of 3,000 rupees per trip, an additional cost to factor in too.
The beach was backed by a small number of home stays and guesthouses, most of which did not appear on the main booking websites. Several lay immediately behind the beach making it a short stroll away and at least one close to where we stayed effectively had a small private beach because of its location just North of Thottada Beach itself.
There were no beach loungers, shacks or restaurants at Thottada Beach and it was somewhere to choose for a quiet time. The beach is about 0.8km long and regardless of the tide there was always sand to relax on. The beach was popular with local people and while we were there we quite enjoyed watching an occasional game of beach football and a group of maybe 12-15 young men who engaged in a game that seemed a bit like tag that got quite competitive. There were also a number of boys and youths who seemed drawn to the very few tourists about, including us, to ask where we were from or to take a selfie. We found this happened more often than on beaches with a lot more tourists such as that at Candolim in Goa. We had no problem with any of them and enjoyed some of the conversation but if it’s something that may make you uncomfortable or you find it intrusive then it’s something to bear in mind before choosing Thottada Beach. Swimming was certainly possible though the beach shelved quite sharply. We also found that at some points there could be quite a noticeable undertow as water flowed back and at times even when walking along the shore there was quite a strong pull on our legs. The sand quality was good and it was reasonably fine though for sunbathing it was a bit too hot for us. Lacking any shade we noticed that the beach was pretty deserted between mid morning and mid afternoon.
If you do choose to stay at Thottada you do have an alternative within walking distance at Kizhunna Beach. If reading this while there or thinking about your trip I’ll describe how to get there in case you want to try it. A dirt road parallels the southern half of Thottada Beach and it can be reached at a couple of points from the beach itself. If staying at the North end you can reach the road by following the water course behind the beach from near a large pool to a small concrete footbridge. Cross it to the seaward side and turn right to walk around the wall bordering the property there and you’ll find the path joins the road. Walk straight down the road which eventually becomes surfaced and curves around to the left going uphill and then bends right past a mango coloured house. On reaching a blue painted house turn right (a pole supporting power lines stood on the corner) and walking along this new road look out for a building on the right set back behind a sign saying “Summer Heritage”. At this point turn right and walk across a scrubby open area that looks like it ought to be a garden and is the boundary between two adjacent properties. As you reach the far side some narrow rock cut steps become visible leading down to the beach. There were a couple places where hands as well as feet were useful as well as a final stretch of sharp angular rocks, apparently deposited behind the beach as a storm defence that took some care crossing. The beach did have some visible rubbish here and there, including items that seem to have washed ashore but not a lot and the sand was finer than on Thottada Beach. On the three occasions we visited there was no-one else there despite it being about three times as long.
Returning to Thottada beach and what else there is to do if staying there, the walk along the water course mentioned made a nice linear walk of about 2km and in the early morning as the very first local people were beginning to appear and the sun was just coming up it was quite beautiful. I saw a range of birds including brahminney kites, egrets, bee eaters, brightly coloured kingfishers and wood peckers. We were also lucky enough to see mongooses and local people told us they often came into their gardens in search of food. This was really like a miniature backwater though it’s nowhere near long enough for cruises and there were no backwater trips at Thottada of the kind that Kerala is noted for. The main path keeps the river on your right.
For local shops there was a small village within walking distance and there was a small local cafe (not in any sense a tourist cafe) along with a couple of stores selling snacks products or fruit and vegetables. On some days fresh fish was also brought into the village and sold from plastic boxes attracting small crowds. A shop at the end of the village with a sign outside for fruit and ice cream offered really refreshing lime sodas, basically squeezing fresh lime into the glass and adding sugar, salt or both for 15 rupees. Chilled bottled water was 20 rupees per 1 litre bottle. The nearest town is Kannur about 8km away and wherever you stay you should be able to order an auto-rickshaw or you could use the bus service that runs through the village. Kannur was also where we found the nearest ATM so if you stay at Thottada Beach it would be worth asking in advance if payment for your accommodation can be by card or only in cash.
To sum up Thottada Beach is a good spot off the regular tourist trail if you are looking for somewhere to relax. The beach was ok though not the best for swimming and there were few people to share it with for much of the day though from late afternoon it was a place to meet local people and see them enjoying the beach themselves. A much longer and mostly deserted beach was within walking distance as an alternative. The short backwater area leading away from the beach offered a very pleasant walk while busy Kannur town was within easy reach and offered shopping, ATMs and some attractions. Getting to Thottada from the nearest airport took 3-3.5 hours each way by car and by Indian travel standards wasn’t all that cheap. A train would have taken us closer but if heading from the North directly, as we did from Rajasthan, you would need to either break your journey or use a sleeper train, finishing the journey by road. We liked the atmosphere at Thottada Beach. It was quiet and a great place to unwind. It also had a very good local feel to it rather than feeling like a tourist destination. There were a few places to visit but there are far better alternatives for sight-seeing in Kerala and I would suggest you look at Thottada mainly for relaxation and a break from the main tourist trail.
The beach was backed by a small number of home stays and guesthouses, most of which did not appear on the main booking websites. Several lay immediately behind the beach making it a short stroll away and at least one close to where we stayed effectively had a small private beach because of its location just North of Thottada Beach itself.
There were no beach loungers, shacks or restaurants at Thottada Beach and it was somewhere to choose for a quiet time. The beach is about 0.8km long and regardless of the tide there was always sand to relax on. The beach was popular with local people and while we were there we quite enjoyed watching an occasional game of beach football and a group of maybe 12-15 young men who engaged in a game that seemed a bit like tag that got quite competitive. There were also a number of boys and youths who seemed drawn to the very few tourists about, including us, to ask where we were from or to take a selfie. We found this happened more often than on beaches with a lot more tourists such as that at Candolim in Goa. We had no problem with any of them and enjoyed some of the conversation but if it’s something that may make you uncomfortable or you find it intrusive then it’s something to bear in mind before choosing Thottada Beach. Swimming was certainly possible though the beach shelved quite sharply. We also found that at some points there could be quite a noticeable undertow as water flowed back and at times even when walking along the shore there was quite a strong pull on our legs. The sand quality was good and it was reasonably fine though for sunbathing it was a bit too hot for us. Lacking any shade we noticed that the beach was pretty deserted between mid morning and mid afternoon.
If you do choose to stay at Thottada you do have an alternative within walking distance at Kizhunna Beach. If reading this while there or thinking about your trip I’ll describe how to get there in case you want to try it. A dirt road parallels the southern half of Thottada Beach and it can be reached at a couple of points from the beach itself. If staying at the North end you can reach the road by following the water course behind the beach from near a large pool to a small concrete footbridge. Cross it to the seaward side and turn right to walk around the wall bordering the property there and you’ll find the path joins the road. Walk straight down the road which eventually becomes surfaced and curves around to the left going uphill and then bends right past a mango coloured house. On reaching a blue painted house turn right (a pole supporting power lines stood on the corner) and walking along this new road look out for a building on the right set back behind a sign saying “Summer Heritage”. At this point turn right and walk across a scrubby open area that looks like it ought to be a garden and is the boundary between two adjacent properties. As you reach the far side some narrow rock cut steps become visible leading down to the beach. There were a couple places where hands as well as feet were useful as well as a final stretch of sharp angular rocks, apparently deposited behind the beach as a storm defence that took some care crossing. The beach did have some visible rubbish here and there, including items that seem to have washed ashore but not a lot and the sand was finer than on Thottada Beach. On the three occasions we visited there was no-one else there despite it being about three times as long.
Returning to Thottada beach and what else there is to do if staying there, the walk along the water course mentioned made a nice linear walk of about 2km and in the early morning as the very first local people were beginning to appear and the sun was just coming up it was quite beautiful. I saw a range of birds including brahminney kites, egrets, bee eaters, brightly coloured kingfishers and wood peckers. We were also lucky enough to see mongooses and local people told us they often came into their gardens in search of food. This was really like a miniature backwater though it’s nowhere near long enough for cruises and there were no backwater trips at Thottada of the kind that Kerala is noted for. The main path keeps the river on your right.
For local shops there was a small village within walking distance and there was a small local cafe (not in any sense a tourist cafe) along with a couple of stores selling snacks products or fruit and vegetables. On some days fresh fish was also brought into the village and sold from plastic boxes attracting small crowds. A shop at the end of the village with a sign outside for fruit and ice cream offered really refreshing lime sodas, basically squeezing fresh lime into the glass and adding sugar, salt or both for 15 rupees. Chilled bottled water was 20 rupees per 1 litre bottle. The nearest town is Kannur about 8km away and wherever you stay you should be able to order an auto-rickshaw or you could use the bus service that runs through the village. Kannur was also where we found the nearest ATM so if you stay at Thottada Beach it would be worth asking in advance if payment for your accommodation can be by card or only in cash.
To sum up Thottada Beach is a good spot off the regular tourist trail if you are looking for somewhere to relax. The beach was ok though not the best for swimming and there were few people to share it with for much of the day though from late afternoon it was a place to meet local people and see them enjoying the beach themselves. A much longer and mostly deserted beach was within walking distance as an alternative. The short backwater area leading away from the beach offered a very pleasant walk while busy Kannur town was within easy reach and offered shopping, ATMs and some attractions. Getting to Thottada from the nearest airport took 3-3.5 hours each way by car and by Indian travel standards wasn’t all that cheap. A train would have taken us closer but if heading from the North directly, as we did from Rajasthan, you would need to either break your journey or use a sleeper train, finishing the journey by road. We liked the atmosphere at Thottada Beach. It was quiet and a great place to unwind. It also had a very good local feel to it rather than feeling like a tourist destination. There were a few places to visit but there are far better alternatives for sight-seeing in Kerala and I would suggest you look at Thottada mainly for relaxation and a break from the main tourist trail.
Written 1 October 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it okay to sunbathe on this beach? Are bikini’s / once piece bathing suits appropriate?
Written 22 April 2019
Only a few people visit the beach on weekdays. I saw a few women wearing bikinis, but didn't see any topless sunbathers. It's a pretty long beach where I'm sure you could find some private spots to sunbathe.
Written 23 April 2019
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