The short answer
Soul & Surf: what visitors should know first
Book this if surfing, yoga or a slower, community-style stay matters more than being in the busiest part of the promenade. It suits younger and more active travellers better than those who need step-free access, since it is an older building with stairs to the beach below.
History and context
The story behind Soul & Surf
The building itself is roughly 150 years old, a traditional Keralan house on the cliff before its conversion. It has operated as Soul & Surf, focused on surfing and yoga, since 2010.
Useful facts
Soul & Surf facts at a glance
- Location
- Cliff, a short walk from the main North Cliff strip
- Stay style
- Surf and yoga guest house in a historic Keralan house
- Location trade-off
- Quieter than the central strip, but with stairs rather than step-free access
- Best suited to
- Active travellers interested in surfing, yoga or a sociable stay
- Origins
- Building roughly 150 years old; operating as Soul & Surf since 2010
- Operator
- Independently run
Why it matters
Why Soul & Surf is worth your time
Soul & Surf is one of the clearer examples of how Varkala's clifftop accommodation has diversified beyond simple guest houses into properties built around a specific activity or community, in this case surfing and yoga, aimed at travellers staying for an extended period rather than a short sightseeing visit. Operating from a genuinely old Keralan house rather than a purpose-built block also gives it a different character from more modern clifftop hotels.
For visitors researching where to stay, it illustrates the range available in Varkala: from full-service resorts to heritage buildings repurposed around a particular interest, each suited to a different kind of trip and pace.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The surf programme
Lessons and guided sessions run by an on-site team cater to a range of ability levels, a core part of the property's identity.
- 02
Soul Food café
Open to non-guests, the café serves breakfast, snacks and smoothies through the day in a relaxed, sociable setting.
- 03
The historic house itself
A roughly 150-year-old three-storey Keralan building gives the property a character distinct from purpose-built clifftop hotels.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Soul & Surf occupies a roughly 150-year-old, three-storey Keralan house on the cliff, run under that name since 2010 and built around two main activities: surfing and yoga. It sits a short distance from the main North Cliff café strip, which gives it a calmer, more settled atmosphere than the busier central promenade, while still being within an easy walk of it.
The surf programme is a central part of the experience, with lessons and guided sessions run by an on-site team for a range of ability levels, alongside yoga classes held in the mornings. The Soul Food café serves breakfast, snacks and smoothies through the day and is generally well regarded by guests and passers-by alike. Steps lead down from the property to the beach below, in keeping with the demands of the cliff terrain generally.
The atmosphere leans toward a shared, community feel rather than a conventional hotel stay, with staff and guests often mixing around the café and surf sessions. This suits travellers looking for an activity-based, sociable stay more than those wanting a quiet, private resort experience.
Plan with confidence
Before you book the room.
- Book surf lessons or yoga sessions in advance during peak season
- Expect stairs between floors and down to the beach
- Visit Soul Food café even if you are not staying, for breakfast or a smoothie
- Choose a different property if step-free access is essential
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Cliff, a short distance from the main North Cliff strip
- Time needed
- A full stay; a coffee or meal at Soul Food café for non-guests
- Best time
- November to March for the best surf and weather conditions
- Walking level
- Moderate
- Senior comfort
- The property is an older multi-storey house with stairs between floors and down to the beach, so it is better suited to guests comfortable with steps than to those needing step-free access.
- Tickets and access
- No entry ticket; the on-site Soul Food café is open to non-guests for meals, and surf lessons or yoga sessions are bookable separately, usually in advance during peak season.
Best for
Plan it with
Book with confidence
Check rates at Soul & Surf
Compare room types, cancellation terms and breakfast before you book. Ask for a ground-floor or lift-access room if anyone finds stairs hard.
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Travelling with parents?
The property is an older multi-storey house with stairs between floors and down to the beach, so it is better suited to guests comfortable with steps than to those needing step-free access.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Do I need surfing experience to stay at Soul & Surf?
No, lessons are available for a range of ability levels, including complete beginners.
Is Soul & Surf on the busy part of the cliff?
It is a short distance from the busiest central promenade, giving it a calmer setting while still being an easy walk from the main strip.
Is it suitable for older travellers or those with mobility concerns?
Not ideally. The building is an older multi-storey house with stairs between floors and down to the beach, so travellers needing step-free access may prefer a different property.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.