Airport transfer
Cochin Airport to Varkala Taxi
Four hours south to the cliff. Varkala is not a beach town in the Kovalam sense — it is a laterite cliff with the sand at the bottom of it, and the whole place shuts down in monsoon. Most of this drive is highway.
- Distance
- 175 km
- Drive time
- about 4 hours
- From
- ₹7,218
- Via
- Alappuzha, Kayamkulam
What it costs
Every vehicle we run to Varkala, priced
One-way drop from Cochin International Airport. Each figure includes tolls and 5% GST, and it is the figure you pay — we confirm it in writing before you travel.
| Vehicle | Seats | Bags | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Dzire Sedan · AC | 4 | 2 | ₹7,218 |
| Toyota Innova MUV · AC | 6+1 | 4 | ₹9,114 |
| Innova Crysta Premium MUV · Dual AC | 6+1 | 5 | ₹10,878 |
| Tata Winger Van · AC | 12 | 10 | ₹12,201 |
| Force Urbania Luxury van · Dual AC | 17 | 14 | ₹16,170 |
| Force Traveller Mini coach · AC | 26 | 20 | ₹19,698 |
What is included — the drive, the driver, fuel, tolls on this route and 5% GST. The car returns to Nedumbassery empty and you are charged for part of that run, not all of it.
Night running — driving between 10pm and 6am adds ₹315 once, shown as its own line. An airport pickup at 2am counts.
Flight delays — give us the flight number and we track it. The driver waits and the fare does not change.
Stops on the way — the ones named below cost nothing extra. Tell the driver at the start so he paces the drive.
Worth knowing
What we tell people booking Varkala
The route runs via Alappuzha, Kayamkulam, Kollam, NH 66. These are the things that actually change how the day goes.
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The cliff and the beach are two different drop points. North Cliff is where the cafés and most guesthouses are; Papanasam beach is below it and reached by steps. Say which you want.
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Almost everything on the cliff closes from June to August. If you are travelling in monsoon, check your guesthouse is actually open before you book the car.
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Sivagiri Mutt and the Janardanaswamy temple are both in town and take twenty minutes each. Neither is on the tourist trail and both are worth it.
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Varkala to Kovalam is ninety minutes. If you cannot decide, do both — a two-day hire costs less than two separate transfers.
Questions
Cochin airport to Varkala, answered
How far is Varkala from Cochin airport?
About 175 km down NH 66. Four hours with one stop.
Varkala or Kovalam?
Varkala for the cliff, quieter evenings and a younger crowd. Kovalam for a proper beach, more hotels and better food. They are ninety minutes apart if you want both.
Is Varkala worth visiting in monsoon?
Honestly, not for the beach — the sea is rough and most cliff businesses shut. The Ayurveda places stay open and monsoon is the traditional season for treatment.
Read first
What we have written about Varkala
Road conditions, timings and the things that decide whether a day goes well.
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