Kerala backcountry houseboats
Aug 13th, 2015, 05:08 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kerala backcountry houseboats
Has anyone had experiences with kerala's backcountry houseboats, and if so, are there any particular boats recommended? We are debating whether to stay in one overnight, but not sure if it is worthwhile or if we should hire boat for day trip to see small villages and life along the water.
Aug 13th, 2015, 06:40 PM
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Dgunbug.
I have not stayed on a houseboat, so cannot give pros or cons of it.However, depending on time of year you will be there, there may be many houseboats on your route.
when you say hire a boat for the day... want sure if you meant houseboat or smaller boat. You can hire a houseboat (ketuvallam) for the day. Staff will cook your meals, give you drinks, as you relax on deck, watching the world go by. So you get the enjoyment of that, but sleep back at your "on-land" lodging. You can also do this a bit more cheaply with a regular small "yacht" type boat.
However, to maneuver into the narrower backwaters canals/paths, you need to take one of the small "country boats" like rowboats . Then, when the boat stops, you can get out, walk along the bank, etc. The pix you might have seen of wonderful tropical vegetation arching over the waterways are what you will see.
Your homestay (assuming you will be in one on the backwaters) can help you with hiring any of these. This is how we did it. Some homestays have their own little boats, or they can easily get a friend or neighbor to bring one.
You an also hire any type of boat from the dock at Alleppey. I didn't do it this way but friends did, bargaining for the price, with the advantage of seeing and choosing the houseboat.
I have not stayed on a houseboat, so cannot give pros or cons of it.However, depending on time of year you will be there, there may be many houseboats on your route.
when you say hire a boat for the day... want sure if you meant houseboat or smaller boat. You can hire a houseboat (ketuvallam) for the day. Staff will cook your meals, give you drinks, as you relax on deck, watching the world go by. So you get the enjoyment of that, but sleep back at your "on-land" lodging. You can also do this a bit more cheaply with a regular small "yacht" type boat.
However, to maneuver into the narrower backwaters canals/paths, you need to take one of the small "country boats" like rowboats . Then, when the boat stops, you can get out, walk along the bank, etc. The pix you might have seen of wonderful tropical vegetation arching over the waterways are what you will see.
Your homestay (assuming you will be in one on the backwaters) can help you with hiring any of these. This is how we did it. Some homestays have their own little boats, or they can easily get a friend or neighbor to bring one.
You an also hire any type of boat from the dock at Alleppey. I didn't do it this way but friends did, bargaining for the price, with the advantage of seeing and choosing the houseboat.
Aug 13th, 2015, 09:32 PM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Dgunbug,
I would highly recommend you do a houseboat trip in Kerala. We rented a 2-bedroom houseboat for an overnight trip in Alleppey and it was the best experience of our South India trip.
Here's a great article on renting houseboats from Alleppey. It also talks about what you can see during the trip and how to rent a houseboat in Alleppey.
www.remotetraveler.com/alleppey-houseboat/
My advice would be to get to Alleppey and in the morning around 7-8am, go down to the dock and see the houseboats for yourself. Then choose one that you like and negotiate with the owner of the boat. We paid Rs 12,000 for a 2-bedroom boat for 2 people because we negotiated with the owner. It came with 3 staff, breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.
Happy travels!!
I would highly recommend you do a houseboat trip in Kerala. We rented a 2-bedroom houseboat for an overnight trip in Alleppey and it was the best experience of our South India trip.
Here's a great article on renting houseboats from Alleppey. It also talks about what you can see during the trip and how to rent a houseboat in Alleppey.
www.remotetraveler.com/alleppey-houseboat/
My advice would be to get to Alleppey and in the morning around 7-8am, go down to the dock and see the houseboats for yourself. Then choose one that you like and negotiate with the owner of the boat. We paid Rs 12,000 for a 2-bedroom boat for 2 people because we negotiated with the owner. It came with 3 staff, breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.
Happy travels!!
Mar 29th, 2016, 10:05 AM
#4
A day trip vs an overnight are very different things and, having spent a night on one, would recommend it highly. Arrangements were made by my guesthouse hosts and I was very happy with the boat and the personnel, a boatman and a cook. I'm sure you could do the same and you might ask in advance of your arrival if they can make such arrangements. In fact, I'd go so far as to say to choose your accommodation on the basis of willingness to make the arrangement. Local residents know the good ones and our host delivered us to the boat in the morning.
Sleeping on the boat, getting up in the morning, having coffee or tea on the open lounge on the front of your boat, watching local life beginning along the bank - well, just lovely. The best part, really, and an experience you can only have by staying overnight.
Sleeping on the boat, getting up in the morning, having coffee or tea on the open lounge on the front of your boat, watching local life beginning along the bank - well, just lovely. The best part, really, and an experience you can only have by staying overnight.
Mar 31st, 2016, 03:40 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi! Houseboat trip in Kerala is a great way to explore the natural and accentuate beauty. It is not possible to witness this kind of eternal beauty in day you possible have to give it 2 -3 days. Overnight stay is a nice option but you could have it for 2 days like I did during my stay in Kerala. Then you would have probably know why I am saying this. And now about the houseboat you can hire them like you hire a car they are as simple as they are but with houseboat you got yourself with fine accommodation , dining, and magnificent view with extraordinary water travelling experience. So have your trip with great feel and zest. Thanks...........
