Four people in kayaks and on paddle boards on the backwater at sunset, palms along the far shore

Experiences

Kayak & SUP

Kappil is where the lake runs alongside the sea. Flat water, no crowds, and the light going orange behind the palms.

Doubles and singles available. No experience needed, the backwater is calm enough for a first-timer and pretty enough for everyone else.

A woman standing on a paddle-board on calm backwater, the treeline low behind her

Looking along the nose of a yellow kayak towards another paddler on still water at dusk

A paddler in a red life jacket in an orange kayak, heading towards mangroves

Two kayaks, one red and one yellow, on glassy backwater under a grey sky

How it runs

Planning a paddle at Kappil

Getting there: Kappil is about eight kilometres north of Varkala, a short scooter ride from the house. The Department of Tourism runs a boat club there that hires out pedal boats.
How long: An hour or so is typical: time to get out to the quiet water by the mangroves and back before the light fades. There is no set route, so make it shorter or longer as you like.
A first paddle: It starts on the bank: gripping the paddle, climbing in without tipping over, and steering. Next comes ten minutes in the shallows to practise turning and stopping, and then a slow loop past the mangroves.
Other hours: Besides golden hour, try first thing in the morning: cool, still and quiet, with birds busy along the banks. Skip the middle of the day. It is hot, the light goes flat, and the lake offers no shade.
Season: October to March is the pleasant stretch. In the June to September monsoon a dry afternoon is still paddleable, but plan for rain and come in if a storm builds.
Bring: Clothes you do not mind soaking, a hat, water, and sunscreen on the backs of your hands too, which catch more sun than you would expect. A dry bag for the phone, and a warm layer for the scooter ride home after sunset.
Life jackets: Everyone wears one, strong swimmers included. Not confident in the water? Take a double and say so before setting off. Children go with an adult, usually in a double.
In a surf week: It sits at the other end of the day from the surf, so tired shoulders get a break and the afternoon still counts. Kayak to rest the shoulders; paddle-board for balance practice that carries over to the waves.

Sit or stand

Kayak and SUP on Kappil backwater, and how to choose

A kayak keeps you sitting down, low to the water. Doubles exist for couples, friends, and anyone who would like someone else to steer.

A SUP is a paddle-board, and you stand on it. If you had a surf lesson this week, the balance will not be brand new. The difference is that this water is not trying to move you.

Neither needs experience.

Lake on one side, sea on the other

Two kinds of water at Kappil

At Kappil the backwater and the sea sit side by side, with a strip of sand and palms between them. The paddling happens on the backwater side, where the surface is flat and nothing is breaking.

The sea side is another matter. Currents there can be strong and rip currents catch swimmers at Kappil every year, so talk to us before you get in on that side.

Getting out there

Golden hour, arranged the night before

There is no timetable for kayak and SUP on Kappil backwater. Tell us at the house or on WhatsApp and we will set it up.

Go at golden hour. It is the best hour at Kappil, and it is not close.

A scooter makes the trip easy. We can point you to a place that rents them.