Join us at our new cliff-top, sea-gazing venue in Varkala, Kerala where our team will make you as welcome and comfortable as possible. Come alone, with friends or make it a romantic getaway as a couple. We welcome guests from all over the world to surf and practice yoga in India.We love the combination of surfing and yoga, they compliment one another on both a physical and mental level which is why we try to do both every day, so we’ll drive you to the surf, give you surf lessons if you want, teach you yoga, advise you on how best to experience this wonderful part of the world and organise a few special evenings during your stay. It's really much more than your usual surf camp holiday!
South Cliff Janardhanapuram, Varkala Town, Varkala India
Soul & Surf Kerala
345 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Had a fantastic stay at soul and surf in India in December. Love the ethos and brand having stayed in S&S Sri Lanka earlier this year.
I liked the structure of the India S&S which was very much an opt in basis depending on what activities you wanted to do each day. The Sri Lanka S&S is more of an all inclusive option where you pay for a package up front.
The hotel was clean and welcoming with beautiful spacious rooms. I arrived at 5am and was left a lovely note by the hotel manager. The vibe is very relaxed and chilled but the staff could not be more helpful. I love that there is unlimited mineral water on tap too. The outside area is super chilled with lots of places to sit both in and out of the shade. There is no pool but you can just walk 2 seconds down the steps to the beach and swim in the sea which is great. It’s perfectly located with the North Cliff being about a 15min walk along the beach where there is lots of bars, restaurants and shops.
The yoga was fantastic, set in a beautiful location in the shala looking out over the sea. The classes catered for a varying level of ability and were varying styles e.g Yin, Vinyasa, Slow Flow. Plus there was a good selection of meditation and pranayama.
Surf was also really fun. Great coaches who are friendly and welcoming and I always felt safe in the water. Its great to be able to surf on the beach just next to the hotel but also great fun to jump in the cars and head out to one of the local beaches.
The cafe is fantastic with really great breakfasts. There is a limited lunch menu which does not change in the evening but there are some theme nights which are lots of fun. I would personally love to see more local dishes on that menu, however, the food is delicious, wholesome and filling.
All of the staff are fantastic and made me feel at home immediately. They are always on hand for a chat or to give recommendations about local places to eat and things to do and see.
I would recommend Anil’s rickshaw tour which can be booked by reception.
A fantastic stay in a wonderful location. I will definitely be back. Thanks to all the staff and guests who made my stay so memorable.
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
Response from evelynemurer, Head of Vibes at Soul & Surf Kerala
Responded 6 Jan 2020
Hey Helen, thank you so much for your lovely words! It was so nice to host you, be it hanging around in the garden, catching some fun waves or doing some stretches in the yoga shala together. We hope to see you again down here in Kerala one day... Until then take care.
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I came here on recommendation from my cousin and I am so happy I did. It is like a beautiful oasis on a cliff, especially if you have been traveling around busier cities in India. The buildings the rooms are located in and the grounds that you can hang out/lounge around it are absolutely gorgeous. I had a private room without A/C and I was 100% content there and enjoyed its aesthetic and cleanliness immensley.
It's an easy walk/rickshaw ride not only to the local town but to the "touristy area." Also, an easy walk down to the beach, which you can view from the top of the cliff that Soul & Surf is located on (and its breathtaking). I did the 6 days surf and yoga package and am so happy I did. The surf instructors are so fun, patient, and helpful and the yoga classes on the roof top at sunset were everything you need to wind down (from your already lazy day). An added bonus: the cafe on grounds is SO GOOD. I just wanted to eat there all the time!! Everyone who works at Soul & Surf is unbelievably friendly and helpful, and I actually cannot wait to go back! If you were hesitating on booking here, just do it :)
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â I thought I would regret not getting a room with A/C but I was totally fine!
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.
Surf and soul kerala, a place like no other. We spent nearly 2 weeks here over xmas and new year 2019/2020 and truly had the best time. We came here to surf and explore the unspoilt keralan coastline and to relax and enjoy the amazing yoga and meditation classes on offer. We left with far more than we could have imagined. Made some great friends with the amazing soul and surf crew and other like minded guests staying or just passing through the hotel . The rooms within the main building are beautifully arranged with all you need to enjoy your stay in this amazing part of the tropics. We had a 'really nice' room which also had great views to the ocean and gardens. The gardens are laid out with ample areas to have time to yourself or to interact with others. Areas included under cover seating/chill out so you could relax out of the scorching midday sun , and comfy sun beds with adjacent sun parasols for the keen sun worshippers. And also a well positioned hammock for a lazy afternoon read. There is also a great cafe within the grounds serving a hearty local breakfast for after the early morning surf , and then delicious light lunches and evening meals. There are steps leading down the cliff from the garden to the'golden beach'. Paradise with an amazing backdrop for you to experience. You can walk either way along this beach , and is only 10 minutes to the north cliff area where there is a great selection of cafe's/restaurants and local shops , with stunning views over the indian ocean. There are many other local attractions to see which i will leave you to discover. Surfers are well catered for at soul and surf, with either surf guides on hand to escort you to some superb off the beaten track spots, or you can join the surf school and get taken in groups to experience surfing for first timers or improvers. There are also many levels of yoga and meditation classes to take part in, all in fantastic surroundings. And superb massage / ayurvedic treatments to enjoy. All in all a truly amazing place to visit and take some time out of our crazy lifes and hit the reset button. You will not be disappointed. Enjoy.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from evelynemurer, Head of Vibes at Soul & Surf Kerala
Responded 10 Jan 2020
Hey Andy, it was such a nice time having you stay here with us and we all really enjoyed shredding some early morning waves with you or practicing yoga on the roof with Karen! We are looking forward to see you again one day down here in Kerala. Thank you so much for your lovely words, we appreciate it. Take care and until the next time...
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Amazing few days spent at Soul & Surf. The rooms and property are perfect and location is set on a cliff with incredible views that's very tranquil, yet still easy to get into town. Food is good as well. Best part was the team that makes you instantly feel welcomed to their community. Would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: February 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.
Thank you Soul & Surf for such a lovely stay over Christmas.
We have been away from home for 7 months so we wanted to spend Christmas with a nice bunch of people and treat ourselves to nice accommodation, which is exactly what we found :-).
The Christmas day surf was a lot of fun, all the food was delicious, surf team really helpful (and all the others working there!), room very comfortable and the sunsets from the cliff are beautiful. One to remember! Thank you everyone :-)
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Response from evelynemurer, Head of Vibes at Soul & Surf Kerala
Responded 6 Jan 2020
Dear Sophie, thank you so much for your kind words! It was so nice having you and Becca here over Christmas to celebrate and we really hope to see you soon again! In the meantime enjoys your travels.
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An unassuming charming little place on the north cliff in Varkala.. but dont be fooled by its outwardly simplicity - this place is pure MAGIC. I had booked a week-long stay coupled with surfing lessons and yoga classes. I had only expected to have a quiet little vacation by myself, but instead I'm walking away having found a lifelong love for surfing, a set of friends I hadn't expected to find, and beautiful memories that will be etched in my mind forever. A more basic review on the facilities: very clean and simple rooms, tastefully done. Friendly staff that will give you local recommendations per your taste. The garden and cafe has the best view of the sea. Food is made using local ingredients - it is simple and wholesome. Dogs on the property are very quiet and friendly, they dont bother the guests at all. Surf instructors (Rakhul, Sujith, Manu) are the best in class, you get individual attention and lot of pep talks if you need them! Yoga instructor (Nikki) is the best Ive ever encountered.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
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.
We decided to visit Soul & Surf during the end of Monsoon season and it was lovely. The area in general was super quiet, a very different experience of India, then what we are used to.
The staff are easily the best part of the experience, they were all so friendly, accomodating and awesome!
The cafe was only serving breakfast during monsoon but it was great, fresh fruit, juice, coffee and a range of dosa, pancake or toast.
They didn’t have any soy milk or coconut milk which was the only let down but that was fine I just had more juice! If you have dietary requirements make sure you thoroughly communicate it to them prior to staying. There were a few cafes nearby that had these alternatives though which worked fine.
My partner went surfing one morning and although the waves weren’t the best he had a lot of fun with the instructor and the others that went with him.
It’s located in South Cliff, which I would say is the quiet side of Varkala but only 10-15 minute walk to the North Cliff shops & resturants, however there is many around in South Cliff as well. Steps directly down to the beach as well.
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
After staying at the sister hotel in Portugal, we knew we wanted another slice of Soul & Surf as soon as possible and the Kerala version did not disappoint!
We loved the yoga, massages and of course the surf - the staff were all wonderful, kind, helpful and fun, and the vibe of the place was beautifully curated, with lots of gorgeous touches (although some aspects did feel a little tired and the old bathroom let our room down a little).
It is positioned in a perfect spot for exploring Varkala and it was a pleasant surprise to have access to a quiet section of the beach.
Loved the kindness that was shown towards animals by staff here, and thought the efforts to reduce beach plastics was a lovely touch. Was also a lovely surprise to be taken to local cafes after surfing and to be supporting local businesses.
We were a little gutted that the food didn't quite live up to how amazing it was in Portugal (which set the bar incredibly high!), not sure if this was down to the majority of the menu being Western in style. We also missed the convivial nature of enjoying mealtimes together as they were in Portugal, but appreciate this place is a lot bigger, and events like the BBQ and Pizza nights were put on to bring people together.
We are such huge Soul & Surf fans, so much so we have their artwork on display in our living room! We are looking forward to trying out the next one.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
Absolutely fabulous place! I spent 10 days here with my husband in the cutest pink and white painted period buildings. The Soul Food Cafe onsite served nutritious food, smoothies and fresh lime soda. My husband surfed every day and was taken to local surf beaches in an old pink Ambassador car or Tuktuk strewn with native flowers. We lazed about in the shade of the lush gardens, read, relaxed or walked down the sandy steps to the beach with roaring waves, then did yoga every day at 5pm with Pim or Vicky on the rooftop, shaded by a bamboo roof with views of the sea, sunset and sounds of peacocks. I had the most amazing deep fascia massages by Viking Sunshine Vicky in her room on the rooftop. The staff could not have been more friendly - Arun, who manages the place with his sunny personality, makes everyone feel part of the family. The girls, waiters and cooks running the cafe were lovely and the cleaners kept the place beautifully. We made wonderful friends with staff and guests. The whole stay was feel good. Totally would recommend and look forward to visiting Sri Lanka and Portugal Soul & Surf retreats one day too...
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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.
We were a group of 6. Booking process was very smooth. We were picked up at the Trivandrum airport. The resort is pretty much as per their description on the site. Its a boutique place - its not fancy and has less services compared to other resorts but more than makes up with a super helpful and friendly crew. The location is stunning. The cafe has a limited menu but whatever they serve is of excellent quality. One can always order in from other restaurants in the area. Rooms are clean and comfortable. And the surf team is very good. Only thing we missed was an indoor yoga studio / room (it gets too hot to practice outdoors). All in all a great stay.
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Date of stay: March 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.
Hi Aarosh,
Thanks for getting in touch with us. Unfortunately there is no course that will "certify" you as a surfer. It is not like diving for example, where you leave with a certificate after completing a course.
You can get certified as a surf instructor once you successfully manage to finish the surf instructor course but to qualify for that you need to already have a good level of surfing for yourself.
We do not provide the certification for lifeguards and surf instructors. We only provide surf lessons. If you are interested in being certified as an instructor you can get in touch with the ISA to see when they are planning a course closest to you.
I hope this answers your questions. Please don't hesitate to write to us or call if you have any more.
There are more places to choose from in the Varkala Town area.
PRICE RANGE
â‚ą2,688 - â‚ą2,688 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndiaKeralaThiruvananthapuram DistrictVarkalaVarkala Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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