Activity
Backwater houseboat cruise, Kerala
A night on the Alleppey backwaters, one of Kerala's must-do experiences
- Where
- Kerala
- Best time
- September to March
- Suits
- Honeymoon couples, families, anyone wanting Kerala's signature experience
An overnight stay on a traditional Kerala houseboat, cruising the Alleppey backwaters with meals cooked on board, is the signature part of most Kerala itineraries. Houseboats range from simple to premium air-conditioned options depending on your group's budget, with one to several bedrooms each.
Good to know
- Houseboats typically cruise in the afternoon and anchor for the night, rather than travelling overnight
- Meals are usually included and cooked fresh on board by the houseboat crew
- Book your travel dates outside peak monsoon (June to August) for the smoothest cruising
- Good for couples and families alike, houseboats come in different room configurations
For groups
- Larger groups take multi-bedroom boats or two boats cruising together
- Check-in is around noon and check-out the next morning
- Air conditioning often runs only at night; ask if it matters
- December and January are the busiest weeks, book boats early
How we arrange it
We book backwater houseboat cruise, Kerala through licensed local operators and build it into your trip with the stay and transport. The activity shows as its own line in your written quote, so you see exactly what it costs per person.
- Itemised quoteEvery quote is itemised: the hotel and room type for each night, the vehicle, and which meals are included, so you can compare it line by line.
- Second opinion on any quoteAlready have a quote from another agency? Send it and we will tell you honestly whether we can do the same trip for less. If we cannot, we will say so.
Getting to Kerala
Backwater houseboat cruise, Kerala: questions people ask
Houseboats are priced per boat by the number of bedrooms, the category and the season, with meals usually included. We quote the boat as one line in your itemised quote.
No. Boats cruise from around noon to early evening, then anchor for the night by law, and return the next morning.
Alleppey has the most boats and the classic canals. Kumarakom is quieter, on Vembanad Lake, with more resort options.
