India · KERALA BACKWATER CRUISES
Motor boat, canoe or shikara — the smaller the craft, the narrower the canals it can reach. These 15 run out of Kochi and Alappuzha, and each lists its length, its lunch and how much of it is actually on water.
Motorless backwater cruise from Fort Cochin with a village visit for coir and coconut weaving, plus a filling vegetarian lunch.
“Nice relaxing tour of the backwaters, informative guide, and a tasty vegetarian meal to finish.”
Glide through Kerala backwaters on a non-motorized punting boat from Kochi to Vaikom, with village craft, banana leaf lunch, tea.
“It was an amazing experience from start to finish. The boat ride was peaceful and beautiful, the lunch was delicious, and the activities were thoughtfully planned. The people running the tour, and everyone working behind the scenes, were incRead more”
5 days of Kerala luxury from Kochi to Munnar, Thekkady, and an Alleppey houseboat, with waterfalls, tea stops, and backwaters.
“Paradise holidays are a great holiday service provider. Ms Punitha and Ms. Jeni have been a great help through out the journey. They have provided the best hotels as per the expectations communicated to them !”
Guided kayaking in Goa’s Sal Backwaters mangroves, lotus ponds, and mango groves, with wildlife spotting and calm, guided instruction.
“Really relaxing activity... tranquil kayaking, beautiful scenery, guides were really great before, during and after!”
4 days in Kerala from Kochi to Munnar and backwaters with a private houseboat, car sightseeing, and meals.
“We had Senagal as our driver who picked us up from Fort Kochi. He was very polite and a was a nice tour guide all throughout. This 4 day tour was an excllent way to cover a lot of Kerala without the hassle of having to organise your owRead more”
A 7-day private Kerala tour from Kochi to Munnar, Periyar, backwaters, Kovalam, and Trivandrum, with 3-star stays, breakfast, and a chauffeur.
“If you book your own hotels and find your own driver, you will have a better time because your hotels will be nicer, your driver will be more professional, and you will have more information. Here’s why they get 2 stars from me:”
A private 8-day Kerala circuit with Munnar, Periyar wildlife, a deluxe houseboat night, backwaters, and beach time in Kovalam and Kanyakumari.
“We had an awesome family trip to Kerala, carefully designed by Mr. Arun Dev and perfectly executed by Mr. Babu Antony from Iris Holidays. The trip, which started from Munnar to Thekkady to Alleppey to Kovalam to Kanyakumari and ended at Kochi, will be cherished throughout our life.”
Half-day non-mechanized backwater cruise from Fort Cochin to Vaikom with village canals, vegetarian lunch on banana leaves, and round-trip transfers.
“A very relaxing way to enjoy the backwaters of Kerala if you do not have the time to go on a houseboat journey. The canal afternoon with Kerala vegetarian lunch was such a unique experience. We saw the versatile way the coconut has been used in a local village from stringing coconut hemp cord to making coconut leaf roof and, making coconut broom sticks. Seeing the simple way of life reminds us to cherish nature. It is very relaxing and educational even for a iPad loving 6-yr old. Gladly recommend this for families who need a tech time out afternoon.”
5-day private Kerala tour from Kochi with an overnight houseboat, tea country stops, Periyar boat safari, and Fort Kochi heritage.
“This was a great trip showcasing the beauty of Kerala from the tea plantations to the national forests and lowlands rice patties. The highlight was meandering down the tributaries in a houseboat. Overall the driver was excellent managing thRead more”
A 7-hour backwater day from Kochi with a non-motorized cruise, village walk, craft demos, vegetarian lunch, and hotel pickup.
“Overall enjoyed the day, the lunch was really tasty and it was really relaxing being punted along the backwaters.”
Shikara boat cruise through Alleppey backwaters from Kannitta Jetty, flexible 1 to 8 hours on Vembanad Lake, canals and village life.
“Wonderful and relaxing 2 hour Shikara boat cruise through the Alleppey Backwaters. We were able to experience real village life with families fishing and farming rice paddies. Highly recommended to take shikara instead of Houseboat to experience the narrow canals and backwaters of Alleppey.”
A small shikara canoe cruise through Alappuzha backwaters from Cochin port, with village views, paddy fields, and optional guide for value.
“The tour was great. The only concern was that the ride was too long but we survived. Both the car driver and the boat driver/guide were great.”
Private 3-hour Alleppey shikara ride with a village stop, bird spotting, and sunset views near Vazhicheri Bridge, from $16.
“We did this tour at 3:30pm, right on time to see the sunset. It was amazing! Our tour guide Shibu gave us some insight on the different islands, canals and lakes. He took some lovely pictures for us and then took us to a place where we could hold and take pictures with an eagle. He went above and beyond, letting us have a go at the wheel and even let us use his comb when I said my hair did not look good in a picture. When booking, don’t be discouraged by the 6am start, that’s just a placeholder. You can message the number provided and arrange a suitable…”
Private Kerala backwaters day cruise from Kochi to Alleppey with coconut water, tea, snacks and a full lunch on a traditional houseboat.
“This was a very relaxing 4 hours. My driver picked me up at my Kochi hotel and drove me 1.5 hours down to Kumarakom where the houseboat was waiting. I had it all to myself, with one captain and one chef. The weather was perfect (partly cRead more”
3-night private Kerala tour from Kochi to Munnar and Alleppey, with an exclusive AC houseboat night and Fort Kochi sights.
“Our trip to Munnar, India, was an incredible experience, full of adventure, relaxation, and stunning scenery. One of the best parts of the trip was the freedom and flexibility we had, thanks to our private driver, Lal. It allowed us to explore the Read more”
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