Booking an Alleppey houseboat is a top item on every Kerala bucket list. But with hundreds of boats and dozens of options, how do you choose the right one?
As a Kerala-based travel agency, we’ve seen it all. A great houseboat experience can be the highlight of your trip, while a bad one can be… disappointing.
Here are our 10 essential, insider tips you must know before you make your Alleppey houseboat booking.
1. Understand “Overnight Cruise” vs. “Day Cruise” A Day Cruise (typically 11 AM to 5 PM) is great for a tight schedule. You get the cruise, see the sights, and have a traditional Keralan lunch onboard. An Overnight Cruise (12 PM to 9 AM the next day) is the full experience. You get lunch, an evening snack, dinner, and breakfast, plus you get to see the sunset and wake up on the backwaters.
2. Know the Boat Categories: Don’t Get Surprised Houseboats are generally categorized as Standard, Premium, or Luxury.
- Standard: Very basic, may not be well-maintained. We usually advise against this.
- Premium: The best balance of cost and comfort. Clean, modern bathrooms, and good service.
- Luxury: Features like glass-walled (A/C) living rooms, premium food, and even an upper deck.
3. The “A/C Timings” Trap This is the most common mistake! For most Premium boats, the bedroom A/C is only turned on from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM. If you want full-time A/C (especially in the hot summer months), you must book a Luxury boat or specifically request a “full-time A/C” boat, which will cost extra.
4. Houseboats Park at Night Your boat will not be cruising all night long. All houseboats must dock by 5:30 PM due to local regulations (it’s unsafe for small fishing boats). Your boat will park in a designated area for the night, and the cruise resumes briefly the next morning before checkout.
5. Consider Alleppey vs. Kumarakom
- Alleppey (Alappuzha): This is the bustling, popular hub. It’s famous for its narrower canals and village scenes. It’s the “classic” route.
- Kumarakom: This is on the other side of Vembanad Lake. It’s much quieter, with wide-open lake vistas and fewer houseboats. It’s known for its bird sanctuary and high-end resorts.
- Our Verdict: For a first-time, iconic experience, choose Alleppey. For a more serene, high-end, or “second-time” trip, choose Kumarakom.
6. The Food is a Highlight The price of your cruise includes all meals prepared fresh on the boat by your private chef. You’ll get a welcome drink, a full Keralan lunch (with Karimeen fish fry), evening tea with snacks, a full dinner spread, and breakfast. If you have any dietary restrictions, just tell your agent in advance.
7. Check-in and Check-out Times are Firm Standard check-in is 12:00 PM. Standard check-out is 9:00 AM the next day. If you arrive late, you’ll miss valuable cruising time, as the boat must still park by 5:30 PM.
8. What to Pack for Your Cruise Keep it simple. Pack an overnight bag with light clothing, sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent (essential!), and a camera.
9. The Best Time for a Backwaters Cruise The best time is from October to March, after the monsoons. The weather is cool, the skies are clear, and the water levels are high. It’s busiest (and most expensive) in December and January.
10. Don’t Just Book the Cheapest Option Your Kerala backwaters cruise is an experience, not just a room. The cheapest boats often cut corners on safety, hygiene, food quality, and A/C. It is always safer and more reliable to book through a trusted, registered travel agent who has personally vetted the boats.
Let Us Find Your Perfect Houseboat
Why risk your dream trip on a bad boat? At OneClick Vacations, we have partnerships with the most reputable, highest-rated, and most hygienic houseboat operators in Alleppey and Kumarakom.
Contact us today! We can handle your Alleppey houseboat booking or build it into a complete, hassle-free Kerala tour package.