Soul & Surf Kerala
South Cliff Janardhanapuram, Varkala Town, Varkala India
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#1 of 11 special inns in Varkala Town
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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!
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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Beach
Evening entertainment
Airport transportation
Full body massage
Rooftop terrace
Laundry service
Wifi
Restaurant
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Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Ocean View
Location
76Somewhat walkable
Grade: 76 out of 100
16Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
5Attractionswithin 0.5 km
339Reviews3Q+A64Room tips
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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.
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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 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
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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.
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Phil R wrote a review Oct 2022
+1
We've just come to the end of a 6 night stay at Soul and Surf, and it was an absolute dream. The day starts with tea/coffee and bananas before heading off for surfing at 7am. The instructors are excellent, really friendly, and local, helping you to navigate the best beaches and conditions, and were superb for two first time surfers. Once you're back, a leisurely breakfast is free, and is different each day - we had hoppers, coconut porridge, dosa, pancakes - all great, and the monkey jam is to die for. During the day, you can chill in the clifftop garden overlooking the waves, walk along the beach, enjoy the AC in your room (not all rooms have it, so if that's important to you, book it), or explore the town (especially north cliff - lots of shops and restaurants). The staff know the local rickshaw drivers well - ask for Anil's tour of the local area, he'll show you lots of cool places and is very knowledgeable. Every evening there is a yoga class, on the rooftop, overlooking the sunset, with some variation in type of yoga each day (we did slow hatha flow and yin). Again, it was made super accessible to first timers and experienced people alike. The whole community is great - with BBQ nights and pizza/film nights to help get to know your fellow surfers. The retreat and staff are also very LGBT+ friendly (we checked beforehand and had a wonderful experience while there). Everyone is so lovely and helpful, the retreat is integrated and well liked by the local community, and overall couldn't recommend it more.…
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Date of stay: October 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.
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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. Beautiful rooms, beautiful grounds & sweet people. We definitely recommend.…
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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.
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+1
Some experiences stick to you for a lifetime. I booked 3 nights in their base starter room (nice room) to be able to experience the beginner surfing lessons they offer. I was travelling alone and was a bit apprehensive about spending 4 days all by myself. My experience here was better than anything I had imagined. Surf & Soul is run by a team that is more or less a family, and the moment you get there, they pull you in as well. The trainers are incredibly welcoming and candid. They put safety in the highest priority but also has a well structured challenging course that pays individual attention to train you the basics of surfing. They guide you on where you’re going wrong and I was eventually able to ride out 10-15 waves and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The menu is limited and some of the dishes may not be for you, but they’re all made quite well and managed beautifully. My apprehensions about travelling alone was solved on day two as I bonded with my surf lesson group so well. The experience of learning surfing is so unique that, we as a group, constantly encouraged each other to get better. And I spent the next three days, almost never on my own. You could argue that this would depend on the group that comes in, but Soul & Surf and the team here does such a wonderful job in facilitating an environment that is conducive of socialising that It’s almost impossible to not meet someone new and have a conversation here. Finally, let me thank a few people here because I feel the need to. Rakhul, Praveen, Sujit, Jithu and Vishnu - Thank you for all the guidance and training you guys diligently gave us. Let’s do this November again! Pradeep and Mahesh - Thank you for managing the entire kitchen and food so well. I felt happiest thulping on breakfast after a good surf sesh. Paru - Thanks for being incredibly warm and making everything easier for us. Also - personally, I think this place has the best view of the sea in all of Varkala. I’d also like to add that I was a bit apprehensive about Soul & Surf reading some of the reviews local travellers had done on Google. I’m not sure if the management changed or what, but we were a group with equal proportions of Foreigners and Indians and we were all treated equally. Some of those bad reviews may be valid at that time, but I can assure you that after staying 4 days and 3 nights, not once did I feel unwelcome. I cannot recommend this place enough. Took me half an hour to type this essay down 🤷♂️ who even does that?…
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip 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.
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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.
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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.
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+1
We stayed at Soul and Surf in Feb 2021. It is a quaint hotel with an in-house surfing school. We enrolled for Beginner's surfing lessons for 3 days. The property is situated on a quiet corner of the South Cliff and overlooks the Arabian Sea. Soul and Surf's reception building is a 200-year-old traditional Keralan house that also houses a lounge area. There's a vast cliff-side garden that faces the sea. It houses a cafe named Soul Food Cafe that has a limited but delicious menu. We spent a lot of time relaxing on the hammocks in the garden. They even have private access to the beach through stairs from their cliff-side garden. This part of the beach seldom had tourists. The accommodation block is a new building with all modern amenities. However, they also give out rooms in the old heritage house if you fancy living there. We stayed in their 'Really nice room' in the new accommodation block. Yeah, they have given quirky names to the room categories! The 'Really Nice Room' had a balcony and a window sit out area. Our room was air-conditioned and designed with an eye for detail. The rooms have a pretty, soft and subtle colour that gives a beach-side vibe. Since Soul and Surf have their own surfing school, they provide separate beach towels and beach bags. The surf school have a group of ISA certified surf instructors who are experts in water safety and rescue operations. The instructors are very friendly and are available to talk to throughout the day. Surfing lessons were conducted early in the morning, and after three days of practice, we were successfully able to ride the waves. Our instructors, Praveen, Sujith and Jithu, were very patient and used to celebrate our little successes. We had a lovely time talking to Amith, the manager of Soul and Surf. He was always on his feet to help us with all the info about Varkala and beyond. We made a lot of friends at Soul and Surf while networking at the breakfast table. This used to be our favourite time at the hotel. If you are looking for a peaceful stay in Varkala (with or even without surf lessons), Soul and Surf is a perfect place for you. You can also stay there for extended workations; they have excellent high-speed wi-fi. Varkala is amongst the best places in India to surf, and Soul and Surf will ensure you have a fantastic experience. Read more about La Villa Bethany homestay in our article at Fairytale Studios (Link in our Tripadvisor profile).…
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Date of stay: February 2021
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Really Nice rooms are really nice
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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.
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We stayed at soul and surf for over a week and it was the best trips we have taken in a while. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. They truly are what made our stay at soul and surf so memorable. The morning surf sessions were so fun too.
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Date of stay: December 2020
Cleanliness
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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.
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I had heard about S&S through a few friends in London and it had been on my bucket list for a while. My mother and I wanted to escape somewhere for our birthdays - we only had a week's holiday and couldn't decided whether Kerala was too far for such limited time. It wasn't - it felt as though we were away forever (in a good way!). Everything about this place was spot on - the carefully crafted community vibe, the food (salivating at the thought of the tacos), the surf coaches, the roof top candlelight yoga. Our stay surpassed all expectations. S&S Kerala has definitely stolen a piece of my heart and I am planning to head back there as soon as travel to India resumes :)
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Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: We stayed in the really nice room which was fab - spacious, air con, balcony etc.
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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.
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LOCATION
IndiaKeralaThiruvananthapuram DistrictVarkalaVarkala Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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Frequently Asked Questions about Soul & Surf Kerala
Which popular attractions are close to Soul & Surf Kerala?
Nearby attractions include Varkala Beach (0.4 km), Janardhana Swami Temple (0.3 km), and Asparagus (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Soul & Surf Kerala?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Soul & Surf Kerala?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast and an on-site restaurant during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Soul & Surf Kerala?
Conveniently located restaurants include Theeram, Sea Sun Cafe, and Green Pepper Restaurant & Resort.
Does Soul & Surf Kerala have airport transportation?
Yes, Soul & Surf Kerala offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are there any historical sites close to Soul & Surf Kerala?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Sivagiri (2.8 km).
Does Soul & Surf Kerala have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.