Soul & Surf Kerala
South Cliff Janardhanapuram, Varkala Town, Varkala India
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#2 of 171 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
Full view
81Good for walkers
Grade: 81 out of 100
16Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
5Attractionswithin 0.5 km
335Reviews3Q+A64Room tips
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Room Tip: Really Nice rooms are really nice
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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
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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
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Room Tip: We stayed in the really nice room which was fab - spacious, air con, balcony etc.
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+1
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
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Room Tip: I thought I would regret not getting a room with A/C but I was totally fine!
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I had the best time in soul&surf kerala. The hotel firstly is beautiful right by the beach. It’s quiet too which is nice. The best part for me was the amazing surfing lessons every morning. The staff are all friendly and helpful. Rakhul one of the surf teachers who is so kind and sweet even helped to arrange my taxi to the airport home. Not to mention he was great at explaining how to surf the waves. Only good things to say about this place - highly recommend checking it out
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled
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Response from , Inhaber at Soul & Surf Kerala
Responded 29 Feb 2020
Hey Natanel, Thank you so much for your kind words! It was nice to have you here and we had a lot of fun surfing with you or just hanging around in the garden. Hope to see you again another time! In the meantime take care and all the best, Evelyne
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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
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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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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
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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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LOCATION
IndiaKeralaThiruvananthapuram DistrictVarkalaVarkala Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
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Claim Your Listing 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 Sea Sun Cafe, Varkala Marine Palace Restaurant, and Theeram.
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.