Kerala by water - houseboats and backwaters
Ask anyone who’s been and they’ll say it: the backwaters are what stays with you.
What makes it special
The canals that lace Alleppey and Kumarakom aren’t a sightseeing stop - they’re a way of life. Houses built on water, toddy shops with their own jetties, schoolchildren crossing on punts. On a houseboat you slow down to their speed.
Houseboat or not?
A night on a houseboat is worth it for most first-timers. You wake up on the water, breakfast is served as you drift past paddy fields, and by evening you’re moored somewhere quiet with a crew cooking dinner on board. If you’re prone to seasickness - don’t worry, you won’t feel a thing. It’s flat water and slow cruising.
How to combine it
Most people pair the backwaters with a hill stop. A classic four-night route: two nights in Munnar for the tea hills, then two days in Alleppey for the water. Or swap Munnar for Varkala if you’d rather end with cliff-top beaches.
When to go
October to March is the sweet spot - dry days and cool evenings. They run year-round in good weather.
Planning a trip? Message us on WhatsApp and we’ll shape the days, stays and transfers around your dates and budget.