A surf camp
You're coming alone and want a group
Fixed dates, fixed price, everything arranged. You turn up and the week happens to you. Best if you'd rather not organise a single thing and would quite like to leave with friends.
See the dates →
Surf camp · Edava, Varkala
Five days, fourteen people, one beach.
A surf camp is the version where you stop making decisions. The mornings are in the water, the food arrives, and by Wednesday you know everyone's name.
What it is
You book a week, not a schedule.
A camp is 5 days / 4 nights at the house with a fixed start date and a fixed group. Everyone arrives on the same afternoon and leaves on the same morning, which is the entire mechanism, it is why a camp feels different from a hostel with good waves outside.
Numbers are capped at 14, because that is how many the house sleeps and how many fit round one table. A camp needs 5 people to run; below that we call it off and refund in full rather than deliver a thin version of it.
Most people come alone. That is not a consolation. It is the usual case, and it is the reason the group forms as fast as it does.
The line items
What's in the price, and what isn't.
Included
- Four two-hour surf sessions, one every morning from Day 2 (7 to 9am)
- Breakfast every day
- Dinner every night, from the welcome dinner to the closing barbecue
- Ice bath (3x)
- Yoga (3x)
- Video analysis with one-to-one feedback (2x)
- Classroom surf theory
- Paddling practice in the pool (once it opens in November)
- Opening circle to meet the group
- Surf transport to the beach
Not included
- Lunch
- Flights & transfer to Varkala
- Airport pick up / drop off
- Scooters to explore
- A fifth night after the camp (added at the room rate)
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Drinks and snacks outside camp meals
- Laundry
What a camp costs, by where you sleep
| Camp | Private Room | Shared Private Room | Dorm Bed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Swell | ₹25,000 | ₹20,000 | ₹18,000 |
| Diwali Surf Camp | ₹35,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹20,000 |
| Christmas Surf Camp | ₹45,000 | ₹35,000 | ₹30,000 |
| Republic Day Camp | ₹36,000 | ₹26,000 | ₹20,000 |
| February Surf Camp | ₹37,000 | ₹27,000 | ₹20,000 |
| Holi Surf Camp | ₹35,000 | ₹25,000 | ₹20,000 |
Per person for the whole 5 days / 4 nights, with a 50% deposit to hold the place. Peak-season weeks cost more than the shoulder months. Refer a friend and you both get 10% off. It is the only discount on a camp. Prices exclude GST, which is added at the applicable rate.
Flying in from the UK or Europe
- Fly into Trivandrum (TRV). The house is about an hour by road from the airport.
- Flights and the airport pick-up are not in the camp price. Ask us and we'll arrange the transfer.
- Everyone arrives on the same afternoon, so plan your flight around reaching the house that day.
- Coming on by train? The nearest station is Edava railway station.
- Here is the house on Google Maps.
Which one you actually want
Three ways to spend a week here.
A room and some lessons
Your dates are your own
Come any week of the year, book as many mornings in the water as you feel like, and keep the afternoons entirely yours. Cheaper if you only want two or three sessions.
How surf & stay works →A retreat
You're bringing your own people
Same house, same coaches, arranged around your group and your dates. Friends, a studio, a team. Priced after a conversation rather than off a list.
Plan a retreat →This season
Six camps a year. Here they are.
Next up is Opening Swell, 16-20 Oct 2026. From ₹18,000 per person for the full 5 days / 4 nights.
Camp dates
All six camps, with the lowest price for each.
| Camp | Dates | From (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Swell | 16-20 Oct 2026 | ₹18,000 |
| Diwali Surf Camp | 6-10 Nov 2026 | ₹20,000 |
| Christmas Surf Camp | 23-27 Dec 2026 | ₹30,000 |
| Republic Day Camp | 23-27 Jan 2027 | ₹20,000 |
| February Surf Camp | 19-23 Feb 2027 | ₹20,000 |
| Holi Surf Camp | 19-23 Mar 2027 | ₹20,000 |
Surf camps in Varkala
What people ask before committing to a week.
How long is a surf camp at Kuma?
5 days / 4 nights, with everyone arriving and leaving on the same days. Six camps run across the year, each capped at 14 people.
Do I need to be able to surf already?
No. Camps take complete beginners through improvers, and sessions split by level so a first-timer isn't chasing someone on their fifth camp.
Will I be the only person coming alone?
Almost certainly not. Solo travellers and pairs are the majority. The fixed start date means everyone lands as a stranger on the same afternoon, which is far easier than joining something already underway.
What if the camp doesn't fill?
A camp needs 5 people to run. If it doesn't reach that we cancel and return everything paid, with nothing deducted. We'd rather do that than run a hollow version of it.
How do I hold a place on a camp?
Camps are held with a deposit. Half by GPay or UPI confirms the slot and the balance is settled on arrival. Room-only stays and lessons are paid in full at the time of booking.
When is the best time of year for a surf camp in Varkala?
The camp dates are set around the months with the most consistent, learner-friendly conditions. If you're deciding between two of them, message us on WhatsApp at +91 99953 38248 and we'll tell you honestly which week we'd pick.
Anything not covered here, message us on WhatsApp at +91 99953 38248.
Around the camps
- All six campsDates, prices and what makes each week different.
- Varkala surf seasonThe sea month by month, and where the six camp dates sit in the season.
- Custom retreatsYour own group, your own dates, the same house and coaches.
- Surf & stay insteadAny week of the year, as many sessions as you want.
- Where you'll sleepPrivate rooms, shared rooms and the four-bed dorm, side by side.
- The afternoonsBackwaters, beaches, the skatepark and where to eat.
- Cancellation policyWhat happens if your plans change, in plain numbers.
Not sure which fits?
Send your dates, headcount and surf level. We'll point you toward the right room, session or week.
Ask Kuma on WhatsApp+91 99953 38248
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