Alleppey Houseboat Packages & Tours
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A night on a houseboat in Alleppey (Alappuzha) is the moment most people picture when they think of Kerala. You board a private kettuvallam at noon, drift through a maze of canals and lakes lined with paddy fields and coconut palms, eat freshly cooked Kerala meals on deck and fall asleep moored on the water. Our Alleppey houseboat packages combine that overnight cruise with Kerala's other highlights, from the tea hills of Munnar to the wildlife of Thekkady and the beaches of Kovalam. Every Kerala houseboat package is private, with your own boat and crew, and comes with a car and driver from Kochi. Prefer to stay on land? Our Alleppey tour packages with a lakeside resort are listed below too.
Kerala Tour Packages with Houseboat
Package | Days | Where the houseboat fits |
|---|---|---|
4 | Day 1, straight from Kochi | |
5 | Day 1, then the hills | |
5 | Day 1, ending in Fort Kochi | |
6 | Night 5, after the hills | |
6 | Night 5, after the hills | |
6 | Night 5, after the hills | |
7 | Night 6, after a resort night | |
7 | Night 4, before heading south | |
7 | Night 6, after a resort night | |
8 | Night 4, then a resort and the beach | |
8 | Night 7, after a resort night | |
9 | Night 5, after a resort night | |
9 | Night 6, after a resort night |
Alleppey Tour Packages with a Resort Stay
If you'd rather sleep on land, these trips stay at a lakeside resort in Alleppey instead, with the option of a shikara ride or a houseboat day cruise:
Package | Days | Alleppey stay |
|---|---|---|
4 | 1 night at a backwater resort | |
5 | 1 night at a backwater resort |
Any of these can be changed to include a houseboat night. See all our Kerala tour packages.
Your Houseboat Cruise, Step by Step
- Around noon: board your private houseboat in Alleppey and meet the crew, usually a driver, a cook and a helper.
- Afternoon: cruise through the backwaters, past rice paddies, coconut groves, village churches and fishermen at work, with lunch cooked on board and a stop along the way.
- Evening: tea and snacks on deck as the boat moors for the night at about 5:30 pm, as local rules require. Houseboats don't cruise after dark.
- Night: a Kerala dinner on board, then a quiet night on the water.
- Next morning: a short morning cruise, breakfast on board, and check-out by about 9 am.
Deluxe, Premium or Luxury?
Category | What to expect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Deluxe | Clean, comfortable bedrooms with attached bathrooms; air-conditioning usually at night only | Good value for most travellers |
Premium | Better furnishings, larger rooms and longer air-conditioning hours | Couples and families who want more comfort |
Luxury | The best interiors, often with an upper deck or glass-enclosed lounge, and air-conditioning for longer | Honeymoons and special occasions |
Boats range from one bedroom to several, so families and groups can share one boat. Exact features vary from boat to boat; we'll confirm what's included before you book.
Meals on Board
Your crew cooks lunch, evening tea and snacks, dinner and breakfast on board, usually Kerala dishes such as fish curry, appams, thoran and rice, with vegetarian meals available on request. Let us know about food preferences or allergies when you book.
A Kerala Backwaters Tour Beyond the Houseboat
- Shikara ride: a small covered boat that slips into narrow canals the big houseboats can't reach.
- Kumarakom: lakeside resorts and a bird sanctuary on the shore of Vembanad Lake.
- Kuttanad: Kerala's rice bowl, where paddy is grown below sea level behind earth embankments.
- Alleppey Beach and Marari Beach: sunset walks a short drive from the backwaters.
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race: the famous snake-boat race on Punnamada Lake, usually held in August.
Read more in our guides to Kerala tourist places and the best time to visit Kerala.
Best Time for an Alleppey Houseboat
October to March is the best time, with dry, comfortable weather for sitting out on deck all afternoon. December and January are the busiest months, so book early. April and May are hot during the day, so a boat with longer air-conditioning hours is worth considering. In the monsoon (June to September) the backwaters are lush and quiet, prices are lower and the rain is atmospheric, though you'll spend more time under cover.
Planning Your Houseboat Night
- Arrival time: if your houseboat night is on Day 1, land in Kochi by about 10 am, as boarding is around noon.
- Honeymoons: choose a Premium or Luxury boat. See our Kerala honeymoon packages.
- Families: choose a boat with enough bedrooms for everyone. See our Kerala family tour packages.
- Combine with the hills: see our Munnar tour packages.
Alleppey Houseboat Package FAQs
What is included in an Alleppey houseboat package?
A private houseboat for your group with a crew, an overnight cruise through the backwaters, and lunch, evening snacks, dinner and breakfast on board. In our Kerala houseboat packages, transfers by private car and the rest of your tour are included too.
Is the houseboat private or shared?
All our houseboats are private. You have the whole boat and crew to yourselves, whether it's a one-bedroom boat for a couple or a larger boat for a family or group.
What time does the houseboat cruise start and end?
Boarding is usually around noon. The boat cruises until about 5:30 pm, moors for the night, and you check out by about 9 am the next morning after a short cruise and breakfast.
Do houseboats have air-conditioning?
Yes. On Deluxe boats the air-conditioning usually runs only at night; Premium and Luxury boats offer longer hours. Tell us if full-day air-conditioning matters to you and we'll suggest the right boat.
Can I do a day cruise instead of staying overnight?
Yes. We can arrange a day cruise on a houseboat or a shikara ride if you'd rather stay at a lakeside resort. Our Alleppey tour packages with a resort stay are a good starting point.
Alleppey or Kumarakom for a houseboat?
Alleppey has the widest choice of houseboats and routes, which is why most cruises start there. Kumarakom is better for a quiet resort stay on Vembanad Lake. Many travellers do a houseboat night from Alleppey and a resort night in Kumarakom or Alleppey.