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“I’m so lucky we got a chance to take this cruise. Arya was a wonderful guide, kind, funny and informative about the local community and wildlife. Highly Recommend”
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.
“Wonderful boat tour in Allepey!! I did a last minute booking on the website for the 3-hour ride. The owner was very reactive. The ride and the driver were perfect. Shibu the driver showed us the local culture and lifestyle, he is a great photographer, he explained us very well everything. It was really amazing!…”
Fort Kochi sights in 4 hours from Cochin Port: nets, Portuguese churches, palace murals, and a real taste of spice-filled Jew Town.
“From booking to meeting Chris and the team dockside just excellent.”
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.
“The trip was organized and executed so well! We requested a trip day before going to Alleppey from Kochi and didn’t know what would come out of it. But once you pay, you get the managers contact number and he responded so quickly to any questions or concerns we had. The trip itself was so…”
Private 4-day tour from Cochin to Munnar and Alleppey with Eravikulam views, tea stops, and an overnight houseboat on the backwaters.
“The whole package was well coordinated and showed us many beautiful places. The houseboat tour was well worth it. All in all, a very good trip.”
A 5-day Cochin tour pairing Munnar tea country, Periyar wildlife, and an Alleppey houseboat stay, with key Fort Kochi sights.
“Tour included driver, sightseeing, hotels, and backwaters afternoon boat cruise/ overnight stay on houseboat. all other excursions and lunches/ dinners were extra. Driver was excellent, very savvy in traffic, friendly and knowledgeable with good communication in both Tamil and English. He provided excellent suggestions to alter our plans based on personal interests and activities that…”
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.
“Abhi picked us up in a/c car from Le Meridien Kochi, before time. Michael’s house boat was awesome. Michael greeted us personally with orange juice. Mann cooked us delicious lunch, rice, 🐠 fry , chicken curry, cabbage fry, gobi Manchurian, sambar and papadam. It ends w snacks onion pakora and tea coffee. 3 1/2 hrs…”
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 tour is amazing, you are guaranteed to have amazing pics throughout your trips. I am very happy.”
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.
