The delightful magnificence of nature in Kerala has gave its name as “God’s own country” in Kerala. Houseboats are one of the main attraction for tourism business of Kerala. Houseboats are also been a attention seeker of travelers from the wave of globe. It is a must on any tour to Kerala, stay in houseboat. Its a few things that you need to know while hiring a houseboat to enjoy your journey fully:
What is so attractive about the Kerala backwaters?
Kerala’s backwaters consist of a network of rivers, canals and lakes that are interconnected and stretch to more than 900 km. Several villages and towns extend along the sides of the backwaters. This is where freshwater from the rivers meets seawater from the Arabian Sea. In many places, barriers have been constructed to stop seawater mixing with freshwater. Most of this freshwater is used for agriculture. These backwaters also host a legion of aquatic fauna including crabs and turtles.
ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES ON A KERALA HOUSEBOAT Tags: All You Need To Know About Kerala Houseboats
Kerala’s houseboats are the customized versions of the boats that were previously utilized for transporting goods. The house boats range widely from those with single bedrooms to those with approximately ten bedrooms! They have all kind of facilities like attached washrooms, geysers and some offer even WiFi connection. Houseboats are generally classified into two categories- deluxe and premium. Premium houseboats are a notch higher than deluxe houseboats having facilities like Jacuzzi, premium quality food, showers and others!
When to Hire a Houseboat?
House boats can be hired all year round. Yet December and January are the high season. You can plan your trip between May to August or any peak season where you can escape the monsoon showers and make the most of your trip! Nevertheless, some people like to enjoy the monsoon rain during the tour. As they are less, they get good discounts. However, if you are looking to hire a houseboat in Kerala from May to August, it is highly recommended to opt for an air-conditioned houseboat because the heat will be unbearable!
Where can you rent a houseboat?
Among many beautiful backwater destinations of which the most beautiful are Alleppey and Kumarakom and this is why a large lot of houseboats are hired from Alleppey or Kumarakom. Alleppey is also popularly known as ‘Venice of the East’. There are also many houseboat operators located in Alleppey. Alleppey known for the lakes, lagoons, paddy fields, etc. You’d be taken from Alleppey to the different backwater ones like Kumarakom and Kottayam. Most people get on their boats in Alleppey and get off in Kumarakom or vice versa. You are free to guide yourself on your own! On day one, Houseboats travel between 50-60 km in a day and this would be sufficient for you to soak in the soul-stirring view!
Several luxury hotels and resorts even maintain houseboats of their own. They typically offer either sunset cruises or overnight trips. Many hotels, particularly those without houseboats of their own, will organize one for you! This way, you can experience a houseboat cruise, while being in a hotel.
You can enjoy Alleppey Houseboat for luxury experience and Lifetime memories.
How long to hire a houseboat for?
It completely depends on you, how long you want to spend on a houseboat. Houseboats can be hired from 1 day to a week! The most popular time frame, however, is two days. It gets tedious, and boring beyond any threshold of time longer than this. 48 hours on the houseboat is surely and surely enough to rest yourself and enjoy the beauty!
How to choose the right houseboat for your holiday?
Typically, these houseboats are made of eco-friendly materials in Kerala. The majority of them have bamboo thatched roofs.
The houseboats feature comfortably furnished bedrooms, each with private balconies and attached washrooms. The crew is a cook and two to four oarsmen. All of these houseboats possess the necessary safety measures and are periodically inspected by the tourism department of the government of Kerala so that you do not have to compromise on your safety! Pick the houseboat which has all these facilities.
There is mainly three kind of boats available for hiring.
Deluxe Boats: These are the regular single bedroom boats which are too common for you. DO NOT opt for a deluxe house boat as they do not have many of the amenities that you would need inside the rooms like air conditioners (in the night only), geysers.
Premium Boats: Compared to standard boats, these boats are a lot more convenient and comfortable for you. It has air conditioning and a glass verandah operating 24 hours a day. Hence most people are unable to afford the high price of the luxury boats.
Luxury Houseboats: These boats are much more high-end compared to the first two. They operate air conditioning facilities for 24 hours a day and so many more, like a view deck, a TV, a glass cabin and so many more! These boats are expensive, but it is certainly worth it!
So you can have whatever you believe is most appropriate for you and your family!
How much does it cost to hire a houseboat?
The price of the houseboats differs significantly, depending on the size, quality, and amenities in the boat. It varies by time of year, and triples during high season.
The houseboats can be hired at the cost of Rs 5000 per night for a shared single bedroom houseboat and Rs 7000 for private houseboat price ranges from Rs 20,000 and above per night for a luxury houseboat. The cost for a deluxe houseboat is around Rs 10,000 per night. There are large houseboats with several bedrooms for bigger families. The list price of such luxury house boats start at Rs 25000 per night. You can select the houseboat according to your budget!
The price mainly covers food freshly prepared by the cook and enough drinks. If you are looking for privacy, do, however, specify before booking that you want the entire houseboat as most of the houseboats are luxuriously built having several bedrooms inside and are likely to be occupied by other people as well. And this is the period of shortage of houseboats, so the prices skyrocket (20-80%) and you should not travel.
So, should you book a day cruise or spend the night?
There are two tours that you can choose, depending on the hours that you want to have in your houseboat tour. The houseboats of Kerala can be either day cruise or overnight stay. Day cruising starts earlier than that of overnight cruising, but the cruising time continues until 5:00 pm in the evening. An overnight would mean to steer the boat in the middle of the Kerala backwaters to let you sleep in the middle of nowhere! If you have a morning flight to catch or if you are traveling with an elderly or child, it is better to go for day cruise, as it would be difficult to sleep in the houseboat at night. You should also not sleep in the houseboats during the monsoons as there is always an increased high chance of getting bitten by a mosquito!
Both have their departure point — a day cruise or an overnight stay — at Alleppey or at Kumarakom.
Which route should you take?
Most of the tourists get on houseboats from Alleppey and do a round trip through the wide stretches of the backwaters. The following are some of the most sought after destinations that might help you decide on your own:
Alleppey – Kumarakom: The peaceful hotels and resorts beside Vembanad Lake located in this area. The bird sanctuary is one of the famous places in Kumarakom. The canals in you here are so wide, you have to span the wide stretches of water to arrive at your destination!
Alleppey- Kuttanad- It is well known for its paddy fields. These canals are very narrow but this area is a great place to see village life. You may want to know how farming is practiced below sea level in this region!
Alleppey- Thottappalley: There are a few tourist spots here, including a traditional house on the bank known as Chavara Bhavan, Buddha Temple and Champakkulam Church etc. It is one of the most heavenly backwater cruises of Kerala.
You can even customize your travel route and take routes that best suits your purpose of visit!
Planning to hire a houseboat for your honeymoon?
If you intend to spend your honeymoon in a Kerala houseboat then you can demand special extravagant arrangements such as flower decoration, candle light dinner, scented candles etc. to make your honeymoon worth the recall. You can also add the plush tourist destinations like Marari Beach, Munnar etc in your itinerary.
Is it required to pre book houseboat?
If your trip to Kerala falls during peak season, we suggest you pre-book the houseboats. However, in the off season, you can book the houseboats on the spot but the reputed operators’ boats will get booked ahead of time. Alleppey and Kumarakom both have tourist counters where you can book the houseboats in advance. You can see the different houseboats there, negotiate with the operators and choose the one that you feel is suitable for your taste and pockets!
How to choose a great houseboat?
Typically, there are three types of houseboats:
Double deck houseboats: These houseboats have double decks, as the name suggests. Well here you can enjoy the mesmerizing view from upper deck! Because they are bigger, they can hold more people. Typically this consists of two bedrooms with a bathroom attached to it, there is a different living space with a TV set and a music system for your entertainment along with a sundeck. The Lower Deck consists of 2 spacious bedrooms, each of which can sleep up to 2 adults and 3 children. It also contains a dining area (which often includes a television), and a sit-out area. This boat can be booked by 2 groups simultaneously. Across the two decks, they ensure that your privacy is never invaded!
Houseboats with a sun deck: Unlike traditional houseboats that have both an upper deck and a sun deck, these houseboats do not have an upper deck −just a sun deck where you can soak in the beauty of the scenic backwaters as the boat moves now and then. The reception area typically leads to a staircase that goes up to the sun deck, which is open or glass covered.
Houseboats without an upper deck: The Coconut tree; The different parts of coconut tree is used to make these houseboats. These boats look, by appearance, like a two-bedroom house with a kitchen and a sitting area.
You can head for any of these three types of houseboats and have a lovely trip because they all have a different experience to offer!
What is the menu of the houseboat?
Food is an important element of any trip. The meals were served with a fresh preparation inside the houseboat. North Indian, South Indian and Continental cuisines feature on the houseboat but their speciality is of the humble Keralite cuisine. Refreshment drinks made of coconut water, among other items. It is certainly the local fish fry that steals the show. The cooks are masters of non-veg items. But you can make lists of foods according to your own preferences. I mean, the cooks work for you! (Houseboat Food Menu)
The safety precautions:
It is advisable that you take some measures to protect yourself. Make every effort to avoid a late check-in, we almost lost out on a major part of the cruise. Do not leave your boat in entirely desolate regions; moor your boats in areas you feel comfortable. From 6 at night, attempt not to guide since the sky gets misty and it limits sight which can prompt mishaps. At night, have the crew close the doors and windows by sealing it shut to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.
Thus, keep these tips in mind at all times to ensure that your trip is truly unforgettable! Just bear in mind it is your safety and your pleasure that concerns us most!
