Each houseboat is a little different but will all have a covered dining/seating area, a small outside deck and simply furnished ensuite bedrooms. The most traditionally styled are converted rice barges (kettuvallam), with an open-sided dining and seating area for an authentic, back to nature experience. Others are more recently built with larger windows, more space and an enclosed air-conditioned dining area – ideal for comfort in the hotter months, as well as to keep the insects at bay. 

We also offer a number of premium houseboats which combine the looks of a traditional barge with the standards of a comfortable hotel. Your travel consultant will be able to help you choose the right one for you!

Board your houseboat and meet the friendly crew, including a captain, an oarsman and a chef, who will take good care of you during your stay. Our houseboats are booked on a private basis and all meals are cooked on board following local recipes. 

Whilst none of the vessels have an alcohol licence, guests are welcome to bring along their own alcohol.

Cruise gently through the serene waterways, enjoying the gentle breeze and catching glimpses of surrounding village life. Watch the fisherman and shell harvesters at work, children going to school in canoes and women washing pots, all of the daily rituals which help to showcase the connection between water and life in this region. 

Enjoy a traditional Keralan meal for lunch, usually consisting of fresh fish and locally sourced vegetables. Depending on your schedule there may be opportunities to disembark and stroll though a village or farmstead or alternatively sit back and watch the world go by.

To avoid disturbing the fishermen at night, your houseboat docks at dusk in time for you to watch an unforgettable sunset. The crew will then transform the deck into a floating restaurant, with the aroma of delicious Keralan curries filling the air.

After your feast, there’s time to relax on the deck before retiring to your cabin for a restful night’s sleep. The crew of three all sleep on board.

Dawn breaks with the gentle rocking of your boat and the sound of the morning chorus. Observe life on the riverbanks come to life as you enjoy breakfast on board before saying farewell to your crew as you disembark. 

For many, one night is not enough, so why not add an additional night to travel further into smaller canals and waterways?

_{Please note: Trailfinders does not offer this experience to children 5 years and under.}