Beaches & Islands
Thottada Beach
A quiet cove beach ringed by laterite headlands, popular with the homestay crowd.
- 32.1 km from Nesma Palace
- 36 min drive
- Best: October to March
- Ideal for couples and travellers wanting a calm, uncrowded beach
- Distance from Nesma Palace
- 32.1 km
- Drive time
- 36 min
- Best time
- October to March
- Time to allow
- 2 hours
- Category
- Beaches & Islands
- Ideal for
- Couples and travellers wanting a calm, uncrowded beach
About Thottada Beach
Thottada is a small, calm beach tucked between two laterite headlands a little south of Kannur town, where a freshwater stream meets the sea at one end. It stays quiet even when the town beaches are busy.
That calm is why a cluster of homestays and small cafes has grown up around it. This is a beach for slow mornings rather than crowds.
Things to see and do
The cove
Low headlands shelter the bay, so the water is usually calmer than the open beaches.
Homestay country
The lanes behind the beach are full of family-run homestays, a sign of how relaxed the area is.
Rock pools and the stream
At low tide you can explore the rocks, and a stream runs down to the sand at one edge.
Best time and tips
October to March, mornings for the calmest water.
- Fewer facilities than the town beaches, so carry water.
- Wear sandals you can walk on rocks in.
- Sunrise here is quiet and worth the early start.
- Respect the homestays, this is a residential stretch.
Local tip
Kizhunna to Ezhara beach is the next cove south and is usually completely empty on weekdays.
Getting there
The drive from Nesma Palace
Road route and geography © OpenStreetMap contributors
By road from the hotel
32.1 km · about 36 min
- Time to allow there
- 2 hours
- Starting point
- Nesma Palace, Mattannur
- Flying in
- Kannur International Airport is 7.8 km from the hotel, about 10 minutes by road
Plan your stay
Stay 36 min away at Nesma Palace
Thottada is about 36 minutes from Nesma Palace if you would rather keep your base inland and visit for the morning.
Nesma Palace is a 4-star hotel in Mattannur, 7.8 km from Kannur International Airport, and an easy base for exploring Kannur.
Make a day of it · Full day
Forts & the Coast
Kannur town’s three headline sights in a morning, then south along the coast for the drive-in beach and sunset over Dharmadam.
Nesma Palace, Mattannur
29.8 km · 32 min drive
Arakkal Museum1.8 km · 4 min drive
St. Angelo Fort2.6 km · 6 min drive
Kannur Lighthouse3.6 km · 6 min drive
Payyambalam Beach12.6 km · 17 min drive
Thottada Beach (you are here)
9.4 km · 12 min drive
Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach
Frequently asked questions
Is Thottada Beach crowded?
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No. It is one of the quieter beaches near Kannur, sheltered between two headlands, which is why homestays favour it.
What is there to do at Thottada Beach?
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Swimming in the calmer cove, walking the rocks at low tide and simply relaxing. It is a slow beach rather than a busy one.
Where to stay near Thottada Beach?
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Homestays sit right behind the sand. For a hotel with full facilities, Nesma Palace in Mattannur is about 36 minutes away.