Kumta Gokarna Beach Trek

 

It is said that ‘a day at a beach restores the soul.’ The only thing better? Three days at fifteen beaches. Doesn’t it almost sound like a dream?!

 

While one beach would be an ideal holiday for the all the beach bums when it comes to traveling or vacationing there are two broad categories of travelers, those who crave a lazy day at the beach, and the ones summiting peaks off in the mountains. But what if I told you that nature has found a perfect way to gift us the best of both worlds?

 

Nature has struck this perfect balance along the coast of Karnataka. The Kumta to Gokarna beach trek is the utopia for all travelers and hiking lovers. Hiking through beaches, discovering forts, crossing grasslands, building sandcastles, sipping coconuts and enjoying cliffside views. The trek starts from Kumta beach and finally takes you to Gokarna beach. In between, these two beaches, you cross around 15 to 20 pristine beaches, many of which are only accessible on foot. To completely enjoy the beauty of this trek, do it on a weekend, starting the travel on Friday night and finishing the trek by Sunday. This way you get enough time to explore all the beaches that you visit and you will be able to enjoy the journey to the fullest.

Reach Kumta early in the morning to start the trek. The Kumta beach will be your starting point. This beach is around 15 km away from the railway station and the bus stop. Once you are at the Kumta beach, you must have a hearty breakfast to mark the start of the phenomenal journey that awaits you.

Start walking parallel to the road along the beach in the north direction. As you start walking, you will reach the Kumta viewpoint within 10 – 15 minutes. The panoramic view of the ocean from here will make your jaw drop.

The Vannalli beach follows next on your path. The beauty of this beach is also unmatched. After walking in the soft sand of the Vannalli beach, you will be surprised by the change in the terrain. Along the trail, you will see a small hill. As you go around this hill, a beautiful grassland will add an entirely new flavor to the trail.

The next beach which greets you is the Mangodlu beach. This beach is comparatively rockier than the other beaches you cross. Soon after is the walk at  Kadle beach, around 8 km long. After covering this distance, you reach the Nirvana beach, which has often been called one of the best beaches in the state. Full of tourists, this beach is always beaming with life and people from all across the country.

As you trek through Nirvana beach, you will find yourself making your way through the Kagal Fort on the Nirvana cliff. The view from the cliff is something straight out of a postcard.

 

The next beach on the trail is Heaven beach and will be your home for the night. You will be completely awestruck yet again by the beauty of the beach. The sunset paints the sky in hues seldom seen elsewhere in the country, reflecting on the waves as it sinks below the horizon for the night. Find the best spots and pitch your tents. The sounds of waves crashing on the rocks will be music to your ears, and the sky above will be lit by thousands of stars. Heaven beach will stand true to its name, and the night you spend on those shores will always remain engraved in your memory.

You will wake up to beautiful morning sun, palm trees swaying gently. This day will mark the final leg of the trek, but there are still a few surprises left. As you start the trek, you will walk across the beach and land on the banks of the Aghanashini river. This river can only be crossed by a ferry. After all, how many treks have a ferry ride in between their trail?

The Belekhaan beach awaits your arrival on the other side of the river. As you keep walking further, you will enter a forest area. Following this lush green area, you will find yourself on the Paradise beach.

The Half-moon beach, Om beach, Kudle beach fall next on your path. All of them seem more beautiful and unique than the one before.

You will finally reach Gokarna beach, which marks the end of this adventure.  Treat yourself with some local cuisine at the beach, and enjoy your achievement.

A special shoutout to our Bangalore peeps. Like the many other treks we have in the region, for example, Kumara Parvatha trek, Kudremukh Trek, etc, this trek is also a great weekend option to pursue. 

 

As you cover the trail of this trek, you will create infinite memories as you do on any other trek, but the tropical taste of this trek stands out and you will reminisce on the wonderful memories you take back from the trip.

 

So, go on let the wanderer, beach bum, hiker or whatever else is inside you explore this one-of-a-kind style of trekking.

 

If you are ready to take it up a notch and wish to undertake a trek in the Himalayas, then worry not, we have got you covered. Select from the list of treks to satiate your itchy feet.

 

Next Read: 5 Must-Do Treks Near Bangalore