Houseboat Tours
Luxury That Floats on Serenity
Fall asleep to the rhythm of gentle waves lapping against your private deck. Wake up as the first rays of sun dance across tranquil backwaters, painting the palm-fringed horizon in shades of amber and rose. A houseboat stay is not just accommodation -- it is poetry in motion, a floating world where the only schedule is sunrise and sunset. Kerala's kettuvallam houseboats were once rice barges, carrying grain through a network of canals that served as highways before roads existed. Today, they have been reimagined as floating luxury retreats -- hand-built from jackfruit wood planks stitched together with coir rope, canopied with bamboo and palm thatch, and fitted with bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens where a personal chef prepares meals using fish caught from the water you're floating on. The experience unfolds at walking speed. Your houseboat glides through Vembanad Lake, past Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the sky, into narrow canals where coconut palms form green archways and village life plays out on the banks. Children wave from doorsteps. Fishermen cast nets with a practiced flick. Women wash clothes at stone steps that have been smooth for generations. You are watching life, and life is watching you back. As evening falls, the houseboat anchors in a quiet stretch. The chef lights the stove for a final meal of karimeen (pearl spot fish) wrapped in banana leaf, appam with stew, and payasam for dessert. Above you, stars emerge in a sky unobstructed by buildings, and the only sound is water, softly moving, carrying you through the night.
What Makes It Special
Private chef on board preparing fresh Kerala cuisine -- fish caught hours ago, coconut milk from the morning's harvest
Drift through narrow village canals on a smaller canoe for an intimate encounter with backwater life
Sunset from your private deck as the water turns gold and kingfishers make their last dive of the day
Traditional kettuvallam construction -- no nails, no screws, just wood and coir, a boat-building tradition older than any religion
Wake up anchored in a different location each morning, with nothing between you and the horizon but water and palms
Night fishing with the boat crew using traditional methods passed down through generations
Amenities
Perfect For
Unique Experiences
Village Canoe Tour
Switch from the houseboat to a small traditional canoe and navigate canals too narrow for larger vessels. Visit coir-making workshops, toddy tappers at work, and village homes where families invite you in for tea.
Cooking on Water
Join the on-board chef in the kitchen and learn to make Kerala staples -- fish molee, appam, and aviyal -- using ingredients bought from floating vendors or village markets along the route.
Sunset Fishing
As the sky turns amber, try your hand at traditional fishing methods with the boat crew. Cast a net, set a line, or simply watch as the day's final catch becomes tomorrow's breakfast.
Backwater Bird Watching
The backwaters are a haven for migratory and resident birds. Early morning, when the mist lifts, spot cormorants, egrets, herons, and the brilliant flash of a kingfisher diving from a palm frond.
Where to Experience Houseboat Tours
Available across 8+ stunning locations
Alleppey
Kumarakom
Kollam
Cochin
Kozhikode
Nileshwar
Ashtamudi Lake
Kavvayi
Things to Know
Houseboat quality varies enormously. Our curated selection includes only boats with private bathrooms, experienced chefs, and proper safety equipment.
The best season for houseboats is September to March. During monsoon (June-August), water levels rise and some routes may be restricted.
Day cruises cover more distance. Overnight boats anchor by evening and stay stationary at night.
Meals on board are included and are a highlight -- communicate dietary requirements in advance.
The backwaters are shallow and calm. Seasickness is virtually unheard of.
Carry mosquito repellent. Evenings near the water bring mosquitoes, though most boats have screens.
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