Barefoot Hostels, Varkala

I liked the people, location, and the overall vibe

It has a very homely and welcoming vibe. The host was wonderful, and the location is perfect,close to the market, cafes, and beaches.

Nothing.

My time at Barefoot was nothing short of amazing. I was the first guest back this season and despite the slow, rainy start to my trip, immediately felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself. The space felt so cozy, the people around were warm and courteous- from recommendations for the best local food spots to sunset walks with the cutest dogs (I miss you hero and booboo)- I really felt like I was at home. The lush greenery made for such peaceful mornings and the property was the perfect distance for me to walk around and explore and yet still feel like I had some space and quiet from some of the hustle and bustle that eventually picked up as the rains slowed down. I ended up staying much longer than I initially planned because I was so at ease and didn’t see a reason to be any place else. You can really feel the care and intention brought into this space and I am already planning my next trip back. Thank you so much for making Varkala feel like home!

location was good. 10 mins from the beach. staff was excellent.

The room lacked basic amenities like hot running water and an AC. Also there were too many insects in the room and the bathroom.

Très jolie maison confortable avec des terrasses où l'on peut se détendre, rencontrer d'autres voyageurs, dans un beau jardin. Personnel sympathique et accueillant.

Rien !

Ich war sehr zufrieden mit dem Hostel. Es ist super ausgestattet, sehr gemütlich und perfekt gelegen. Die Atmosphäre ist total angenehm und man fühlt sich direkt willkommen. Besonders die Besitzer sind mega cool, freundlich und hilfsbereit. Was ich an dem Hostel besonders mochte, ist, dass es viele angenehme Plätze zum Chillen und Zusammensitzen gibt. Auch die Küche ist gross und gut ausgestattet. Ausserdem ist es richtig schön, dass Hunde da sind. Insgesamt war alles top und ich würde definitiv wiederkommen.

Trotz der Low Season und dem beginnenden Regen vor dem Monsun war der Aufenthalt im Barefoot super schön. Alle waren so familiär miteinander. Vor allem als allein Reisende hab ich das Gemeinschaftsgefühl total wertgeschätzt. Shiva als Manager des Hostels hat alles super routiniert organisiert und war bei Fragen immer parat und hat rumtelefoniert. Wenn man Surfstunden möchte oder einfach ein Board ausleihen, wird die Orga auch von Shiva übernommen, was jedes Mal easy geklappt hat. Alles in allem ein Muss wenn man noch Varkala geht :)

Great community and vibe all around at the hostel. Shiva and Karthik are so helpful with getting situated in town, getting taxis, renting surfboards etc. came for a day and stayed for a week. Cheers!

Worst property don't book

It's got a really chill and quiet vibes...feels more like a home

The dorm size

The host, shiva. He is the man! It’s good people staying here it’s Nice and quiet here. also good to meet other people also

I’m not a dog person and they have two dogs on the property. But that’s being super petty of me to say that.

Top locatie! Super fijne sfeer, vanuit hier kun je ook super gemakkelijk surf lessen regelen. Zeker een aanrader. Netjes en schoon.

Great hostel vibe. Even though was low season I really enjoyed the homie vibe of the building. Shiva is really helpful and friendly, and I went surfing with them each day. Great kitchen to cook.

Not finding it sooner

Das Personal war sehr aufmerksam und immer daran interessiert, die Leute im Hostel zusammenzubringen. Ich habe mich sehr willkommen gefühlt. Es gab auch die Möglichkeit, am Morgen einen Surfkurs zu machen. Ein weiterer Pluspunkt: die Küche.

Die Zimmer sind sehr klein und das Badezimmer war manchmal sehr dreckig.

By first solo trip and the best decision was to book Barefoot Hostels after a long hours of research. I stayed here for a week and I made a lot of friends everyday. (Make sure your social capacity is 100%). Shoutout to Shiva and the owners for providing agreat space to relax, cherish, socialise and have fun. I would definitely come here again. If you are still researching, stop and go book this hostel now.

Had a great stay at Barefoot Varkala peaceful vibe, clean rooms, and super friendly staff. Perfect spot to relax, close to the beach yet quiet.

Na

Lovely people, great accomodation

The dogs are very cute, the kitchen is lovely, the property is also nice

The staff guy shiva was kinda rude and strange , while checking in he refused to accept my digi locker aadhar which is accepted at all airports across the country and called me 'suspicious'. Later they kicked out some random guy from my dorm very loudly starting at 6am till about 9:30 am which woke me up and did not care about the commotion they created. It was very unpleasant to witness that. Could have been handled better. There was a big cockroach near my pillow when I checked in, tried to take a shower the water went away mid shower the commode was leaking water from the bottom. Did not feel safe or welcome here. Unless you're a white foreigner don't expect to be treated nicely Don't fall for the good reviews guys stay woke ✨

Stayed in a private room for 1 night so didn't use the facilities much, but had a walk around and looked like a lovely, chill space that they have created. Room is lovely, does the job and nice clean bathroom too. Although during the day you can hear people around the room, did not have an issue sleeping at night. Staff were very warm and chatty, and general vibe of the hostel was good, relaxed but friendly. Location is great too, easily walkable to restuarants, bars etc, or short ride to the beaches.

Nothing to comment on!

Super nice and cozy Hostel, close to everything you need in Varkala. The staff is very friendly and always up to help. Very nice common areas with a lot of space to chill, hang out and meet people. Feels like a big villa where everyone lives together. Oh, and there is a veeery clean common kitchen if you wanna cook your own meals.

The dorms don't have much space, i imagine if the 6bed dorm is full it is veery tight with all the lugagge. There are boxes for the lugagge under the beds but most of the big backpacks are too big to fit in there.

The staff were really friendly and organised surfing for us! The space was nice and clean and in a good location- very close to the beach. Also great there is a kitchen to cook what you like.

The fans in the dormitory weren’t the best and the water didn’t work in the morning for a bit.

Location, and met lots of other Travellers. Great place!

The guy who was working there seemed to have his “favourite” guests and kind of ignored others? Bit odd for a hostel.

Tolle andere Reisende kennengelernt.

Keine Ablagefläche bei den Betten im Dorm.

Great staff, chill vibe, nice people, very good location, easy to make friends, affordable prices, big room, feeling like home kind of vibe

The private room is facing the common outside area where people hang out until late so it's not very convenient if you want to sleep in peace. I would recommend to relocate them upstairs for more privacy. More generally speaking the room and the hostel would need some extra care.

Die Gastgeber sind mehr wie nett, wir hatten rundherum eine perfekte Zeit im Barefoot hostel, die Schlafräume sind alle mit Klimaanlage ausgestattet, sehr saubere gut ausgestattete Küche und Shiva war sehr bemüht und hat uns den Aufenthalt Sorglos gemacht! 10/10

Muy buen lugar para alojarse, buena vibra, el personal excelente. La cocina muy cómoda y los perritos muy amigables. En general muy buen estándar para India.

Mosquitero vendría bien

I had the most incredible stay. Thank you so so much.

I had the most amazing time at Barefoot Hostels in Varkala! From the moment I arrived, the place felt warm, welcoming, and full of good vibes. The hostel is spotless—dorms, common areas, and bathrooms are kept really clean—and the kitchen is fully equipped if you want to cook. The location is perfect, just a short walk from the cliff and beach, yet tucked away enough to feel peaceful. What makes this place truly special though are the hosts—Karthik and Vikas. They go out of their way to make everyone feel at home, whether it’s sharing local tips, organizing activities like surfing and kayaking, or just hanging out with guests. They’ve created a real sense of community here, and it’s so easy to meet new people. I originally planned to stay a couple of nights but ended up extending because I loved it so much. The vibe is super relaxed—chill hammocks, rooftop hangouts, and even two adorable dogs who make the place feel even more like home. If you’re coming to Varkala, I can’t recommend Barefoot enough. It’s not just a hostel, it’s a place where you feel part of a family. I’ll definitely be coming back!

It was my first hostel experience and it was exceptional. Vikas from barefoot was friendly and helpful. Great location and great company

Went during monsoon season but was quite lucky with the weather. Other guests were really nice and good hostel vibes!

Everything was soo beautiful, the location of this place, the place itself and even the host!! Such a kind experience. Everything is nearby in walking radius from this place and for rest you can rent a scooty right around the corner. Convenient!!!! Overall a good place to stay and enjoy!!! Also music is always running so don’t forget to vibe vibe!!!

Great place to stay! The rooms were clean, the staff was friendly, and the location was perfect for exploring the city. There are also two lovely dogs that make the place feel even more welcoming. Good value for the price

Everything, cool and peaceful

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Absolutely loved my stay at Barefoot Hostel in Varkala! The highlight was definitely the incredibly friendly and helpful host, Vikas. he took time to explain all the best local attractions, hidden gems, and places to eat around Varkala. Vikas also arranged a scooter for me, which made getting around super easy. He encouraged me to check out kayaking, which turned out to be great experience. If you’re looking for a welcoming atmosphere and a host who goes out of his way to make your trip memorable, I highly recommend Barefoot Hostel!

Booked to stay 1 night here, ended up extending a week. Karthik was very friendly to myself and all his guests. I stayed in the 6 bed which had very comfortable beds. Lots of different chill areas, social vibes in the evening, games to play and hammocks. The hostel has two cute doggies who love cuddles. Karthik organises surf lessons as-well. One of the best hostels i’ve stayed in India, always clean, felt so welcomed and staff were extremely friendly. Made some lifelong memories here. Cannot recommend it enough, please stay here.

Nothing

Such postive vibes at Barefoot hostel. It's like a home away from home. Clean comfortable really relaxed and has such helpful lovely staff. Karthik is such a lovely guy to hang with. I recommend anyone passing though Varkala to go stay at Barefoot you won't be disappointed Thankyou Karthik 💜

Good vibes, lot of solo travellers and foreigners. Plus 2 dogs 🐶🐶

Little bit far from cliff

It is very friendly, you would meet eclectic mix of people coming there.

The rooms were a little small for 6 people.

The Hostel location is perfect with almost everything accessible in just 300 meters, beautiful people all around. The staff is so friendly and I was accompanied by 2 little puppies they have (how sweet is that 🥺). Kartik (hostel manager) and his friends took me to the hidden gems of Varkala for swimming everyday to a new spot , I had the best time there. Went there to stay for a day and ended up staying for 4 nights

The best hostel I have ever stayed at, the location is perfect with almost everything accessible in just 300 meters. The staff is so friendly and I was accompanied by 2 little puppies they have (how sweet is that 🥺). Kartik (hostel manager) and his friends took me to the hidden gems of Varkala for swimming everyday to a new spot , I had the best time there. Went there to stay for a day and ended up staying for 4 nights

Nothing that I didn't like.

N/A

If you're looking for a place in Varkala that truly feels like home, Barefoot Hostel is the one. Don’t just follow the flashy Instagram trends—pack your bags and experience the real vibe here. The people running the place are incredibly warm, engaging, and go out of their way to make your stay memorable. I stayed here almost two months ago, and honestly, I still feel the vibes. Whether you're a solo traveler or with friends, the energy, the people, and the community at Barefoot make it more than just a stay—it’s an experience. I wish I could have stayed longer. Highly recommended if you want something authentic, peaceful, and full of good energy. Let the team here handle the rest—they're amazing at it. SOLO Traveller, @itkedar

This kind of place is very rare to find.

Big rooms and nice common areas with very attentive staff

Absolutely LOVED this place. Felt like home. Karthik is amazing host, who’s so chill, kind, generous and will help you arrange everything. We met lovely people, went dinner with Karthik and them, had a surf lesson, shared such precious moments in that place. One of the best hostel I’ve done :)

Nothing

Best place to stay in Varkala ! I didn't know anyone, in a few days, I met all the surf community. Managers are the best ! Can't wait to be back boys.

The location of the stay was very good and the staff were very nice to us. They offered food and other facilities which were very welcoming. Enjoyed the stay

The size of the room could be bigger

Had a great stay at Barefoot. Facilities were great with lots of areas to chill and staff were so helpful when planning activities!

Good vibe, pleasant and helpful staff

The place is very quiet. It is about a kilometer away from the North Cliff.

Nothing to dislike

Was an amazing experience! Loved the surfing and kayaking activities. Will definitely be coming back to do more soon.

Vikas and Karthik are amazing hosts! The place is wholesome, a nice relaxing gateway from the hustle bustle of the city life.

It was good. Specially dog❤️

Good atmosphere, nice people, I defo recommend that place

The establishment, spaces to relax indoors and outdoors, the kitchen, the traveler atmosphere, the birds and dogs and critters around, the accessibility and distance from the cliff and other places in town, the large balcony place, good air and natural light, good music, the projector (didn't get to use it though in the time I was there), the comfort in the rooms

The way the bathrooms were used by other hostel-mates, the position of the AC in the shared rooms and lacking a provision for privacy, water from the overhead tank flowing down to the large balcony space and damaging phones being charged at the plug point in that area.

It was a beautiful time at the Barefoot Hostel. I can highly recommend this place. There is everything you need, overwhelming people, organized kitchen, quiet place, nice chill area with a surfskate place. It's like a second home. Thank you Vikas and Karthik for hosting me ♥️ See you soon

I loved everything about this place. The hosts are gooood people, the vibes are chill.. it is a perfect mix of social and relaxing. It feels like my second home, and I can’t wait to go back!!!! You can order really delicious food or make your own in the kitchen!!! Definitely look no further and stay at Barefoot. You won’t regret it!