Fair questions, straight answers.

Edava beach, on the quiet northern side of Varkala. Steps from the sand, three minutes' walk from Odayam beach, and about ten minutes by scooter from the North Cliff. Trivandrum airport is roughly an hour south.

No, and that's the point. The cliff is where you go for dinner; Edava is where you sleep well and surf a line-up we keep safe and fun. Ten minutes apart.

Five private rooms, each with a large teak-framed bed, A/C and an en-suite bathroom, plus one dorm with a shared bathroom. That is the whole villa. Kuma is a house, not a hotel, and in season it fills from the dorm upward.

Because the season does. The quiet weeks in October are the cheapest nights of the year, the house fills from mid-November, and Christmas and New Year are the dearest nights we sell. Rather than quote one average price and surprise you at the end, every date is published on the rooms page and the booking form adds up the nights you actually pick. A stay that crosses a change is priced night by night.

Yes. Every room and bed comes with the homemade Kerala breakfast, served on the rooftop. Fresh fruit, appam, eggs, juice, coffee. Not staying with us? You're welcome at the table for ₹250, chai or juice included.

Yes. ₹15 a piece. Hand it to Kuma and it comes back dry and folded, which after a week of saltwater is a bigger deal than it sounds.

Short list. Pet-friendly, though Pulli isn't allowed in the guest rooms, a rule he disputes. Parties and drinks are welcome, just keep the volume reasonable. A lost key or damage may cost you.

Just ask. There are several places within easy reach and we know which ones look after their bikes. Having one turns Kappil and the cliff from a plan into a whim.

Edava is one of the friendliest places in India to learn: sand bottom, gentle beach break, no crowd watching you fall. First-timers usually stand in their first lesson.

No. You don't need to be a strong swimmer, or a swimmer at all. Lessons run in max chest-height water on a sand bottom, and your instructor is in the water with you the whole time. If you can wade in, you can surf.

Yes. Kuma is accredited by the Surfing Federation of India for 2026, certificate SFI-KL-26-SS-009. SFI is India's national surfing federation, recognised by the International Surfing Association, and it renews accreditation every year. Hareesh, who founded Kuma, also holds ISA/ILS aquatic rescue and water-safety certification for surf and SUP instructors, from the International Surfing Association and the International Life Saving Federation.

Nothing. Board, rashguard and the beach transfer are all included. Bring sunscreen, a bottle of water and good energy.

We teach from age seven, in calm waist-to-chest-height water on a soft sand bottom. Non-swimmers are welcome. One parent or guardian should be on the beach during the session.

Edava beach is about 50 metres away, a two-minute walk. For lessons we run a beach transfer anyway, and it's included in the price.

Most people are catching whitewash alone after three or four sessions and unbroken waves within a couple of weeks of consistent surfing. The ocean sets the schedule; we just translate.

Both. Soft-tops, funboards and shortboards by the half or full day, and a repair bench that's fixed most things the rocks have done.

Pick your room and dates on the site and send them over, by WhatsApp or the enquiry form. A human confirms the room is free and tells you how to pay. Retreats and groups are always arranged on WhatsApp so we can build the plan around you.

Because honest answers beat neat tables. Lessons do have prices: ₹1,500 per person in a small group, and ₹2,000 per person for a private session with two surfers at most, so ₹4,000 for two, all plus GST. Retreats depend on dates, headcount and what you want in them, and a number invented to fill a webpage would be wrong in both directions. WhatsApp us. You'll have a real quote in minutes.

No. Every price on the site excludes GST, which is added at the applicable rate when we confirm your booking and shown on your receipt. There are no other booking fees or service charges on top.

Multi-day surf retreats, women's retreats and team offsites run through the season. Those are custom-priced on WhatsApp. Tell us dates and headcount and we'll build the plan.

Six a year. Five days and four nights: an arrival evening, then a two-hour surf on each of the four mornings that follow, breakfast and dinner at the house (lunch is on you), three ice baths, yoga, classroom theory, two video reviews and a closing barbecue. Plenty of people stay a fifth night after the barbecue, added at the room rate. Maximum fourteen people, minimum five to run it. All the dates and prices are on the camp page.

A 50% deposit by GPay/UPI confirms your slot. Send the screenshot with your full name and the camp date. The balance is paid when you arrive. If a camp doesn't reach five sign-ups and we can't run it, the deposit comes straight back.

Kayak or SUP the Kappil backwaters, morning yoga on the beach, the skate bowl, the ice bath, sunset at the cliff, Jatayu Earth Centre an hour away, and toddy if you're brave. Ask the terrace. Someone's always going somewhere.

Yes. Fast WiFi, shaded tables, and a timezone that lets you surf at dawn and still make your afternoon calls. Staying a week or more? Ask us about the rate before you book night by night.

Highly recommended. The hammocks don't check your productivity.