BEST hostels in Kerala India 🌴 Backpacking South India alone

Hi there!

So you’ll be traveling around Kerala alone as a solo backpacker in India, and you would like to have at least some level of normal social interaction.

Or, maybe you’re just looking for a cheap place to stay! 😉

There are not as many hostels in Kerala as there are hostels in Rajasthan, but there are a few in Kerala (and Goa) that can give you budget accommodation and a chance to chill for a few days in the company of other travelers.

And, there are many places in Kerala that are perfect for taking a break for a few days, including cities with backpacker hostels!

There really isn’t a big presence of backpacker chain hostels in Kerala, and the most notable one is “Zostel” which is in Cochin and Alleppey. 

But other than these chain hostels, you still have options for individually owned hostels.

Now…

First, WHY the listed cities are worth visiting in Kerala.

Then, a list of the best hostels in each of these cities.

So…

What are the best cities for hostels in Kerala?!

More like..

Where to look for hostels in Kerala?

Have a look to these top cities:

• 🌴 Varkala hostels
• 🌴 Alleppey hostels
• 🌴 Fort Cochin hostels
• 🌴 Munnar hostels
• 🌴 Wayanad hostels
• 🌴 Kovalam hostels

Things to look for in a hostel

None of these things will make or break your stay, but they could be extra things that you may want to look for!

• Common area
• Rooftop access
• Ocean views depending on the city
• A/C
• Hot water shower
• Wifi
• Kitchen
• Filtered water provided
• Breakfast or snacks for purchase on-site
• Private room – meet people but have your own room!

There are affiliate links below. You should totally check out the pictures and reviews of these hostels in Kerala.

Put in your travel dates below and you’ll be able to see the prices of all accommodation in Kerala!

1. Varkala

Varkala is the perfect place to stay in Kerala when you want to take a break for a few days.

This place is famous for Varkala Beach and Varkala Cliff.

You can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner overlooking the ocean.

There are many places to stay that are a short walk from the cliff, which is where you want to be!

Varkala is also known as a place to be able to find lots of places for ayurvedic massages and yoga retreats with ayurveda too.

Go in part by ferry to get to Varkala!

Varkala is one of the backpacker cities to arrive to if you’re flying into Kerala.

Trivandrum Airport is 1 to 1.5 hours from Varkala.

Best hostels in Varkala

1. The Lungi Vibe
2. The Lost Hostel Varkala
3. Tee Pee backpackers hostel

See more places to stay in Varkala

Booking.com

2. Alleppey

Travel to Alleppey is typically all about the Kerala backwaters.

And this is reason enough to visit Alleppey for a relaxing time on the water.

There’s also Alleppey Beach here.

This can make for another good area to stay to take a break from travel for a few days with a guesthouse near the beach or a hostel near the beach with ocean views.

When looking to see the Alleppey backwaters on a budget, go for canoe, kayaking, cycling, or the ferry, as these activities can be among the best things to do in Alleppey!

Best hostels in Alleppey

1. Carpe Diem bnb
2. Artpackers
3. Zostel Alleppey (more photos)
4. Funky Art Beach House (way more photos)

Funky Art Beach House is the one that’s not primarily a hostel, but a beachside guesthouse that can provide a hostel-like atmosphere with budget accommodation.

You also have the option to basically sleep outdoors on a rooftop and wake up to ocean views!

It has changed since I’ve been there, and now instead of single beds on the rooftop, there are now private rooms!

👆 It’s not like this anymore, but you will get the views if you go upstairs. You can stay up here if you want a private room.

There’s a shared space on the rooftop, and an outdoor common area down below.

See more places to stay in Alleppey

Booking.com

3. Fort Cochin

Fort Cochin is mostly known as an area to see Kerala’s colonial past.

And it’s also known for its fishing nets.

Cochin is another one of the backpacker cities to arrive to if you’re flying into Kerala.

The Cochin airport is outside the main area of Cochin and is 1 to 1.5 hours from Fort Cochin.

Best hostels in Cochin

1. Zostel Kochi (more photos)
2. Happy Camper
3. Rampart Homestay
4. Santa Maria hostel

See more places to stay in Cochin

Booking.com

4. Munnar

Munnar is in the hills of Kerala.

It’s known for its lush landscape and tea plantations, and going on a tea plantation trek is one of the things to do.

You can also opt for the Meesapulimala Trek which takes you to the second highest peak in Kerala and includes overnight camping in the forest.

There really aren’t many hostels in Munnar, but don’t let that stop you from visiting Munnar.

Best hostels in Munnar

• The Lost Hostel Munnar
• hostel flutterby

See more places to stay in Munnar

Booking.com

5. Wayanad

Wayanad is another area that’s in the hills of Kerala.

Once again, this could be a good place to enjoy the lush landscape, along with some wildlife sightings at some nature parks.

The Edakkal Caves are also a top attraction here, where you can see historic rock carvings.

This is further north than Munnar and the rest of the cities on this list, and it can make a good entry point if you’re arriving to Kerala by bus from Bangalore.

And maybe you want to go from Goa to Bangalore to Wayanad when you’re backpacking South India.

There really aren’t many hostels in Wayanad either.

Best hostels in Wayanad

• Instadorm
• Bonfire Hostels Wayanad

See more places to stay in Wayanad

Booking.com

6. Kovalam

Kovalam is another one of the popular beach towns in Kerala, with Lighthouse Beach being one of the main beaches.

Like Varkala, you can have every meal with ocean views if you so choose.

There also aren’t very many hostels in Kovalam either.

Best hostel in Kovalam

• The Lost Hostel Kovalam Lighthouse Beach

See more places to stay in Kovalam

Booking.com

HAPPY BACKPACKERS HOSTEL STAY IN KERALA!