Itinerary
4 Days in Honavar: Coast, Jog Falls, Murudeshwar & Gokarna
Our recommended four-day Honavar itinerary: the backwaters and beaches, the Sharavathi River valley to Jog Falls, the south coast to Murudeshwar and a loop north to Gokarna, Mirjan Fort and Yana.
About this itinerary
This is the plan we recommend. Four days give you Honavar's river and beaches, the Sharavathi River valley up to Jog Falls, the temples and coast to the south and the forts, karst rocks and beaches of Gokarna to the north.
Base yourself in Honavar for all four nights. Every day trip is within 70 km, so you come back each evening to the same room.
The plan
River, mangroves and sea
The mangrove boardwalk early, a fish-thali lunch, a high-tide backwater boat ride and sunset at Eco Beach.
Up the Sharavathi River to Jog
Samshi bridge, Chaturmukha Basadi, the valley viewpoint and Jog Falls, with Kanni ice cream on the way back.
The south coast
Ghee dosa near Gunavante, Idagunji, Apsarakonda, then Murudeshwar at dusk. Divers can swap this for a day at Netrani (Nov–May).
North: Gokarna, Mirjan and Yana
Mirjan Fort in the morning, the karst towers of Yana, then Gokarna's temple and a cove sunset.
Yakshagana
From roughly December to May, the temple at Gundabala stages Yakshagana all night, every night.
Distances from Honavar
Jog Falls 68 km (about 1.5 hours) · Murudeshwar 30 km (about 45 minutes) · Mirjan Fort 30 km (about 40 minutes) · Yana 50 km (about 1.25 hours via Kumta) · Gokarna 55 km (about 1.25 hours).
Good to know
Hire a cab for days two to four. Start early on the Jog day and visit the Chaturmukha Basadi before 11 am. Traditional dress rules apply inside the Gokarna temple and modest dress at Murudeshwar. Yana is best from October to February.
Where to stay
Choose a homestay, hotel or resort in or near town. Our featured stay, Areca County, is a homestay on a working areca farm. See all stays in Honavar.
Plan your trip
Ready for the river and the sea?
Pick a stay, choose an itinerary and book online on the property's site or a booking platform.