Start your day with a peaceful stroll and aromatic breakfast at Chalai Market, sampling fresh banana fritters and local chai from street stalls before wandering the spice lanes; then head to the serene grounds of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (view from outside if you're not entering) to soak up Dravidian architecture and temple rituals. Continue with a short tuk-tuk ride to Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika Palace Museum) to admire ornate wooden carvings and royal artifacts, followed by a budget-friendly South Indian lunch of dosas and appams at the nearby Akkara Veedu café.
After lunch, wander to the coastal charm of Shankumugham Beach for a relaxed walk and watch local kite-flyers and families; grab a king-sized banana fritter from a beachside vendor and try tender coconut water while you stroll. Next, take an autorickshaw to Napier Museum and Sri Chitra Art Gallery to enjoy a cool, budget-friendly cultural afternoon-explore ethnographic exhibits, royal memorabilia and classic Kerala paintings before heading to Veli Tourist Village for a sunset boat ride on the backwater lagoon if time allows.
As evening falls, head to Kovalam Lighthouse Beach for a mellow swim or to try beginner-friendly surfing lessons from local instructors, then stroll the rocks toward the illuminated lighthouse for panoramic coastal views. Follow with a budget-friendly dinner at BTH Sarovaram (vegetarian thali) or grab spicy Malabar-style fish curry at the popular Villa Maya Café-finish the night with a relaxing Ayurvedic foot massage at a local parlour like AyurGlow to unwind before tomorrow's Kovalam adventure.
Wake up to salt air and head for a hearty beachside breakfast at Hawa Beach Café with fresh banana pancake and strong South Indian filter coffee, then stroll the palm-fringed path toward Eclipse Beach to watch local fishermen cast nets and try a short guided kayak session along the gentle coves for a light adventure. After paddling, cool off with tender coconut at the shaded shacks near Hawa Beach and pop into a nearby ayurvedic clinic such as Kairali Ayurvedic Beach Resort for a quick traditional foot scrub to ease any travel stiffness before your midday transfer or lunch in Kovalam.
After a paddle and breakfast, wander to the coastal village path toward Samudra Beach for a relaxed swim and to watch local fishermen mend nets, then join a budget-friendly glass-bottom boat ride from the Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour to spot shallow reef life close to shore. Later, stroll up to Sivananda Yoga Ashram for a short drop-in yoga or meditation session to re-center, followed by a late-afternoon treat of fresh seafood dosas and coconut curry at the popular cliffside eatery Café Costa while you prepare for the evening sunset.
As the sun softens, wander to the cliffside promenade by Hawa Beach Viewpoint to catch a golden sunset while sipping spiced sugarcane juice from a nearby stall; follow this with a casual seafood feast at Seagull Beach Shack, known for budget-friendly fish fry and karimeen pollichathu. End the night with a restorative 60-minute Ayurvedic oil massage at Swastha Spa & Wellness or a moonlit reflexology walk along the shoreline to unwind before tomorrow's Varkala escape.
Begin with a sunrise stroll along the cliff and a seaside breakfast at Cafe del Mar Varkala, savouring fresh banana pancakes and strong filter coffee while watching fishermen launch their boats. Afterward, descend the steps to Papanasam Beach for a barefoot walk and try an early-morning surf lesson or bodyboarding with instructors from Varkala Surf Club, then recharge with a coconut-water break at the beach shacks before exploring the cliffside boutiques and Ayurvedic shops that open for the day.
After a leisurely morning on the cliff and Papanasam Beach, head to Janardhana Swamy Temple area to watch local rituals and sample street-side banana chop and freshly fried fish cutlets from nearby stalls; then wander toward Varkala Cliff Walk southwards to discover colorful boutiques and stop for a light lunch of meen pollichathu at the popular cliffside eatery The Juice Shack. Later, take a short tuk-tuk to Kappil Lake for a peaceful paddleboat trip through mangroves and birdwatching, finishing with coconut-water ice lollies from the lakeside vendors before the evening cliffside café crawl begins.
As dusk falls, head to Black Beach (Varkala North) for a quieter sunset - join local fishermen for a short, budget-friendly boat ride to watch the sun dip and look for dolphins near the shore. Afterwards, return to the cliff for a relaxed dinner at Darjeeling Café (try their famed prawn roast) and finish the night with live acoustic music and a chilled coconut mocktail at The Funky Monkey Café, perfect for soaking up Varkala's laid-back nightlife before tomorrow's return to Thiruvananthapuram.
Begin with a lively breakfast at Kumarakom Bakery & Sweets sampling fluffy idiyappam with coconut stew and a strong filter coffee, then weave through the fragrant aisles of Kowdiar Market to pick up spices, banana chips and bargain textiles while watching locals haggle. Finish the morning with a calm visit to Attukal Bhagavathy Temple to observe morning puja rites (respectful dress required) and stroll the shady temple precincts before heading out for lunch in the city.
After a market-filled morning, head to Kowdiar Palace Garden for a peaceful stroll among manicured lawns and photo ops before catching a local bus to Veli Tourist Village for a budget-friendly paddleboat ride on the lagoon and a chance to spot waterbirds. Follow this with a late-afternoon snack crawl at Chala Food Street-sample crispy banana chips, spicy beef ularthiyathu from a street vendor, and sweet palada payasam at a tiny stall-then visit the serene Ariyil Temple nearby to observe evening rituals and round out your cultural return to the city.
As twilight settles, wander to Pulimoodu Harbour to watch the fishing boats come in and sample freshly fried fish pakoras from a quay-side stall while chatting with local fishermen; nearby, sip a sweet tender-coconut cooler at Harbour View Stall and enjoy the salty breeze. Later, take an autorickshaw to Sree Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple for a serene evening aarti (observe local dress customs) before finishing the night with a budget-friendly banana leaf dinner of meen curry and appam at the popular local eatery Mammiyoor Bhavan to round off your Kerala culinary send-off.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Chalai Market (street food sampling) | ₹150 |
| Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (viewing from outside) | Free |
| Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika Palace Museum) - entry | ₹50 |
| Akkara Veedu (lunch - dosa/appam) | ₹250 |
| Shankumugham Beach (walk & snacks) | ₹100 |
| Napier Museum - entry | ₹20 |
| Sri Chitra Art Gallery - entry | ₹20 |
| Veli Tourist Village (sunset boat ride) | ₹150 |
| Kovalam Lighthouse Beach (swim / beginner surf lesson) | ₹800 |
| BTH Sarovaram (vegetarian thali dinner) | ₹200 |
| Villa Maya Café (Malabar-style fish curry meal) | ₹400 |
| AyurGlow (Ayurvedic foot massage) | ₹600 |
| Hawa Beach Café (breakfast) | ₹250 |
| Eclipse Beach (stroll / fishermen watching) | Free |
| Guided kayak session (Kovalam) - per person | ₹600 |
| Kairali Ayurvedic Beach Resort (quick foot scrub / clinic visit) | ₹500 |
| Samudra Beach (swim) | Free |
| Glass-bottom boat ride (Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour) | ₹400 |
| Sivananda Yoga Ashram (drop-in yoga session) | ₹300 |
| Café Costa (seafood dosas / coconut curry lunch) | ₹350 |
| Hawa Beach Viewpoint (sunset & spiced sugarcane juice) | ₹100 |
| Seagull Beach Shack (seafood dinner - fish fry) | ₹400 |
| Swastha Spa & Wellness (60-minute Ayurvedic oil massage) | ₹1800 |
| Cafe del Mar Varkala (breakfast - banana pancakes) | ₹250 |
| Papanasam Beach (walk / surf lesson/bodyboarding) | ₹700 |
| Varkala Surf Club (surf lesson) | ₹700 |
| Janardhana Swamy Temple (visit) | Free |
| Cliffside boutiques / shopping (light purchases) | ₹300 |
| The Juice Shack (lunch - meen pollichathu) | ₹350 |
| Kappil Lake (paddleboat trip) | ₹200 |
| Black Beach (Varkala North) - budget boat ride / dolphin watch | ₹500 |
| Darjeeling Café (dinner - prawn roast) | ₹450 |
| The Funky Monkey Café (drinks / live music) | ₹300 |
| Kumarakom Bakery & Sweets (breakfast - idiyappam) | ₹150 |
| Kowdiar Market (shopping - spices/banana chips) | ₹300 |
| Attukal Bhagavathy Temple (visit) | Free |
| Kowdiar Palace Garden (stroll) | Free |
| Veli Tourist Village (paddleboat ride) | ₹150 |
| Chala Food Street (snack crawl - mixed items) | ₹200 |
| Ariyil Temple (visit) | Free |
| Pulimoodu Harbour (fish pakoras & harbour visit) | ₹150 |
| Harbour View Stall (tender-coconut cooler) | ₹50 |
| Sree Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple (evening aarti) | Free |
| Mammiyoor Bhavan (banana leaf dinner - meen curry & appam) | ₹300 |
| Estimated Total (per person) | ₹13890 |