INDIA · DESTINATION
India’s best tours and day trips.
The 15 best Kerala backwater cruises, from a converted-rice-barge houseboat overnight to a morning village paddle through the palm-lined canals.
Sail Kerala’s backwaters on a non-motorized country boat, stop for coconut/coir crafts, then enjoy a hearty vegetarian lunch in Cochin.
Most Popular“Nice relaxing tour of the backwaters, informative guide, and a tasty vegetarian meal to finish.”
Cochin to Alappuzha private shikara canoe cruise: paddy fields, coconut palms, village life, and AC transfer in 6 hours.
“Excellent trip! Best boat to go by as wasn’t too big and could go down the smaller backwaters. Also being a private tour it was the best value for money! Guide was very informative Definitely recommend this trip!!”
Private Shikara boat ride in Alleppey with village stop, canal cruising, and sunset views, plus English guidance for great value.
“Everything was on time and the precommunication was great. A very relaxing experience, on comfortable boat. It was great to have a small boat because we were able to sail in the narrow, more hidden canals of the villages.”
Fort Kochi sights in 4 hours from Cochin Port: nets, Portuguese churches, palace murals, and a real taste of spice-filled Jew Town.
“Tour was excellent. Shehab our guide was knowledgeable and amusing, he even sang us a few songs. We really enjoyed the walk to the Chinese fishing nets and seeing the fishermen selling their fresh fish.”
Private houseboat cruise from Cochin to Alleppey backwaters with a 2.5-hour ride, Keralan lunch, AC transfer, and a small crew onboard.
“one of the best tours we have experienced in Asia. fantastic boat, lovely crew, delicious lunch, a genuine look at life in Kerala. highly recommend this tour!!”
A 5-hour private Shikara cruise through Alappuzha/Alleppey backwaters, with villages, birds, and Chinese fishing nets, plus comfort and photo stops.
“Bel tour, I canali più piccoli sono I più belli e meno trafficati ma sé non fosse stato per il nostro amico che ha fatto qualche domanda in lingua avremmo girato in silenzio perché la guida non ci ha dato informazioni sul posto.”
Private 4-day tour from Cochin to Munnar and Alleppey with Eravikulam views, tea stops, and an overnight houseboat on the backwaters.
“Worst tour we’ve ever experienced! We were contacted by five different people through WhatsApp and I didn’t know who was actually going to be or guide until the morning of departure. Our guide could speak English but he just didn’t talk much unless we asked specific questions. He ended up being just a driver. We…”
A 5-day Cochin tour pairing Munnar tea country, Periyar wildlife, and an Alleppey houseboat stay, with key Fort Kochi sights.
“not worth his money, driver poor English, was only driver no guide. Always wanted to drop me off at shops where he had an advantage. At 2 pm you were dropped off at your hotel (which was a 20 minute drive from the center) I had to force the organization to be able to visit…”
Motor-free Kerala backwaters from Kochi with banana-leaf lunch, village demos, open-canoe canals, and chai tea snacks.
“Loved every minute of it, the rides, the lunch and the way everything was taken care of and explained to us.”
Private Alleppey backwaters houseboat day from Kochi with AC pickup, 4-hour cruise, and authentic Kerala lunch onboard.
“Nice food and helpful crew. Most relaxing but the gangplank for boarding could have been more than a plank. Thank you”
Half-day Cochin backwaters eco boat ride from Fort Cochin with a covered traditional boat, village coir making, and vegetarian lunch.
“The tour guide was very knowledgeable and a very nice man. He took us back to his home where his wife had made us a vegetarian lunch which was delicious and his family were lovely people. We all thourly enjoyed ourselves.”
A 4-hour guided Cochin loop through Mattancherry, Jew Town, spice sights, Fort Kochi Chinese Nets, and landmark churches with an English guide.
“Tour was good and the guide was very nice and informative”
Private 5-day Kerala tour from Cochin: tea country in Munnar, Periyar wildlife, and an Alleppey backwater houseboat cruise with an English guide.
“Mr Shareef was great, very lovely and drove us around wonderfully and felt very safe at all time. The only constructive piece of feedback is before travel and on the tour, having a more comprehensive itinerary and timings - some thing advertised on the tour we’re not available when we went. In addition, no activities…”
5-day private Kerala tour from Cochin: Munnar tea hills, Periyar wildlife by boat, and a classic Alleppey houseboat cruise.
“The entire package was well coordinated and showed us many wonderful and beautifull places. The Houseboat Cruise Tour was well worth it. All is good,very good memorable trip.”
A private 8-hour Munnar day tour with a Pothamedu hill trek, old-town culture, tea museum tasting, Kerala sadya lunch, and Vattapara waterfalls.
“This was an amazing experience! our guide Raj was very knowledgeable about all there is to know about Munar and answered all our questions about all the history, flora and fauna! The variety of places and activities was fantastic, we enjoyed a beautiful walk through the tea plantations, a home made tea, a personalised tour…”
Every city, every region, and the great circuits in between.
