Globe Travel Centre

Kerala · Planning

Backwaters or beaches: which is right for you?

Updated Aug 2026 · 4 min read
A narrow backwater canal beside a palm fringed Kerala beach

How to split your time between Kerala's two headline experiences.

Most people want both, and most people should have both. They do different jobs.

The backwaters are for movement and observation: village life at eye level, best taken in one or two nights rather than three.

The coast is for stopping. Marari for quiet sand, Kovalam for facilities, Varkala for the cliff and the view.