Drift through palm-fringed canals on a traditional kettuvallam — the most iconic Kerala experience
A Kerala houseboat (kettuvallam) is a converted rice barge — hand-built from bamboo poles, coconut fibre and cashew nut shells, without a single nail. Gliding through the 900km backwater network of Alleppey and Kumarakom is the quintessential Kerala experience. Most houseboats have 1–3 bedrooms, a full kitchen, sundeck, and a crew of 2–3. All meals — fresh Kerala fish curry, appam, seafood — are cooked on board. The network connects rice paddies, toddy-tapper villages, and open Vembanad Lake.
Anchor in the middle of the lake as the sky turns gold and pink — photographers' paradise with no light pollution.
Your cook prepares Kerala fish curry, prawn masala, appam and payasam using morning market ingredients.
Drift past women washing clothes, children diving, toddy tappers climbing palms — unfiltered rural Kerala.
Spot kingfishers, herons, otters, monitor lizards and occasional crocodiles in quieter channels.
Boats moor at designated spots after dark. Sleep to frogs, crickets and lapping water. Completely off-grid.
Try your hand with a rod or watch your crew cast nets. Whatever is caught becomes dinner.
Tell us your dates and interests — our travel experts will craft the perfect itinerary including houseboat cruise.
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