Multi-day circuit
Coastal Karnataka & Konkan
6 days · 5 nights · 1300 km · departs Bangalore or Mysore
Bangalore → Coastal Karnataka & Konkan · indicative rates
Fares shown are indicative starting rates. The final charge is based on real-time usage — distance, hours or days, tolls, parking and permits. Outstation trips are charged on a minimum of 300 km per day. Driver batta is ₹1,000 per day; late-night batta of ₹1,000 applies between 22:00–05:59. GST at 5% applies to the total.
The coast near Gokarna, where the Western Ghats come down almost to the sea. The beaches here are separated by headlands rather than strung along one bay, which is why several of the best-known ones are reached on foot or by boat rather than by road.
At a glance
| Duration | 6 days, 5 nights |
|---|---|
| Total distance | Approximately 1300 km |
| Departs from | Bangalore or Mysore |
| Recommended seater | 13 Seater (12+D) |
| Passengers | Up to 12 in the recommended vehicle |
| States covered | Karnataka |
| Permits | No interstate permit as written — the circuit stays within Karnataka. Extending north to Goa crosses a state line and does require one. |
| Driver batta | ₹1,000 per day × 6 days |
| Best season | November to February. The coast is humid year-round and the monsoon between June and September is heavy enough to close the beaches and make the ghat descents slow. |
Distances and timings are indicative planning figures, not the basis of a quote. Itineraries are indicative — actual routing, timings and stops are subject to road, weather, traffic and permit conditions, and to the chauffeur's judgement.
Why this circuit
This circuit trades two hard driving days for four gentle ones, and whether that is a good trade depends entirely on being told about it honestly first. Day one is 400 km over the ghats to the coast and day six is 540 km back. Between them the longest leg is 120 km. Groups who understand that shape before booking enjoy it; groups who discover it on day six do not.
What you get for those two days is the least visited good coastline in South India. Udupi, Malpe, Murudeshwar and Gokarna sit along a stretch where the Western Ghats come down almost to the sea, and outside the December window it is genuinely quiet. The coast road between them is one of the better drives in Karnataka and nothing in the middle of the circuit is demanding.
One thing worth understanding before you arrive at Gokarna: the beaches there are separated by headlands rather than strung along a single bay. Several of the best known are reached on foot over a headland or by boat, not by road. That is part of their appeal and it does mean the vehicle can only take you so far — we will tell you which ones it can reach and which it cannot.
Which Urbania
The 13 seater is the sensible choice. The highways and the coast road suit any of the three, but Udupi's temple streets and the lanes down to individual beaches at Gokarna are narrow, and the shorter vehicle reaches more of them.
The two long transfer days are the other consideration. Four hundred kilometres out and 540 back is a great deal of time seated, and a 13 seater carrying ten is materially more comfortable than a 17 carrying the same ten. On this circuit that matters more than the extra capacity would.
Day by day
- Day 1 Bangalore to Udupi 400 km
The long westward leg over the ghats and down to the coast. A full driving day, and the reason the rest of the circuit can be gentle.
- Day 2 Udupi and Malpe 60 km
The Krishna temple in the morning, then the coast. St Mary's Island is a short boat trip from Malpe if the sea allows.
- Day 3 Udupi to Murudeshwar 100 km
North along the coast road, which is one of the better drives in Karnataka. Afternoon at Murudeshwar with the sea on three sides.
- Day 4 Murudeshwar to Gokarna 80 km
A short hop north. Gokarna's beaches are separated by headlands — some are reached on foot or by boat rather than by road, which is worth knowing before you arrive.
- Day 5 Gokarna and Yana 120 km
Yana's limestone outcrops inland are a genuine detour and a complete change of landscape. Back to the coast for the evening.
- Day 6 Gokarna to Bangalore or Mysore 540 km
The long return over the ghats. This is the hardest day of the circuit and there is no way around it — an early start is not optional.
Included
- Vehicle and chauffeur for the full circuit
- Fuel
- Driver batta for each day
- All tolls and parking at actuals against receipts
Not included
- Accommodation and meals
- Boat trips at Malpe or Gokarna
- Temple entry and any ritual fees
- Anything of a personal nature
Day six is the one to plan around and we will not pretend otherwise. Five hundred and forty kilometres including a ghat ascent is a long day whatever vehicle you are in, and it needs an early start and a driver who has rested. Where a group's schedule allows, breaking it with a night at Sirsi or Sagara turns the circuit into seven days and a considerably better one — ask us about that version.
The monsoon effectively closes this circuit between June and September. The beaches are unusable, the ghat descents are slow and wet, and the boat trips do not run. This is a November to February trip, and if your dates fall in the monsoon we will suggest a different circuit rather than sell you a wet one.
Boat trips at Malpe and around Gokarna's headlands depend on the sea and are cancelled at short notice more often than groups expect. Neither is something we book or can guarantee. Build the days so that a cancelled boat does not empty the itinerary, which is part of why day two and day five both have land alternatives in them.
Rates
| Seater | Configuration | From, per km | Driver batta / day | Minimum / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Seater | 9+D — up to 9 passengers | ₹38 | ₹1,000 | 300 km |
| 13 Seater | 12+D — up to 12 passengers | ₹42 | ₹1,000 | 300 km |
| 17 Seater | 16+D — up to 16 passengers | ₹45 | ₹1,000 | 300 km |
Fares shown are indicative starting rates. The final charge is based on real-time usage — distance, hours or days, tolls, parking and permits. Outstation trips are charged on a minimum of 300 km per day. Driver batta is ₹1,000 per day; late-night batta of ₹1,000 applies between 22:00–05:59. GST at 5% applies to the total.
Questions about this circuit
How hard are the driving days?
Day one is 400 km and day six is 540 km, both over the ghats. Between them nothing exceeds 120 km. That shape is the trade for reaching this coast, and we would rather you knew it before booking than discovered it on the last morning.
Can the last day be broken?
Yes, and we recommend it where the schedule allows. A night at Sirsi or Sagara turns the circuit into seven days and takes the sting out of the 540 km return. Ask us for that version — it is a better trip.
Do we need a permit?
Not as written; the circuit stays within Karnataka. Extending north into Goa crosses a state line and needs an interstate commercial permit, which we would arrange before dispatch.
When should we not do this circuit?
June to September. The monsoon closes the beaches, makes the ghat descents slow and wet, and stops the boat trips. November to February is the answer, and we will suggest a different circuit rather than sell you a wet one.
Can the vehicle reach all the Gokarna beaches?
No, and that is part of their appeal. The beaches are separated by headlands and several of the best known are reached on foot or by boat rather than by road. We will tell you which the vehicle can reach and which it cannot before you set out.
Are the boat trips reliable?
Less than groups expect. St Mary's Island from Malpe and the Gokarna headland boats both depend on the sea and are cancelled at short notice. We do not book them and cannot guarantee them, so we build the days with land alternatives.
Which seater should we take?
The 13 seater. The roads suit any of the three, but Udupi's temple streets and the beach lanes at Gokarna are narrow. More importantly, two long transfer days are considerably more comfortable in the smaller vehicle at the same occupancy.
Can we add Goa?
Yes, and it adds two days and an interstate permit. Gokarna to Goa is a short drive north, so it is a natural extension rather than a stretch. Ask us and we will lay out the eight-day version.
Is Murudeshwar worth a full stop?
For most groups yes — the setting on a headland with sea on three sides is the point rather than the temple alone. It also breaks the coast road neatly between Udupi and Gokarna, which is why it is a night rather than a photo stop.
What is Yana?
Two black limestone outcrops in forest inland from Gokarna, and a complete change of landscape from the coast. It is a genuine detour rather than a filler, and involves a short walk in from where the vehicle stops.
Can we start and end at Mysore?
Yes, and it shortens both transfer days a little. Mysuru is marginally closer to the coast than Bengaluru by this route. The middle of the circuit is unchanged.
What is included?
The vehicle and chauffeur for six days, fuel, and driver batta each day, with tolls and parking at actuals against receipts. Accommodation, meals, boat trips and temple entry are not included.
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Circuit information last verified 2026-09-02.