Never done an Alleppey houseboat before? Here’s the whole picture in one place.
What is an Alleppey houseboat?
A kettuvallam — a traditional Kerala rice barge converted into a floating hotel. You board in the early afternoon, cruise the backwaters, moor for the night, and check out the next morning. Meals are cooked fresh onboard and served to you as you drift.
How the tiers work
Boats are graded by comfort:
- Standard (Non-AC) — the essentials, naturally ventilated, most budget-friendly. See standard boats.
- Deluxe — air-conditioned bedrooms (AC 9 PM–7 AM), all meals. The popular all-rounder. See deluxe.
- Premium — on-demand AC and a wider menu. See premium.
- Luxury — full-comfort AC and the finest interiors. See luxury.
Boats also come in private (whole boat to yourselves) and shared (book a room) formats, from 1 to 5 bedrooms, plus day trips.
Timings
- Check-in: 12:00 PM
- Check-out: 9:00 AM
- Cruising pauses 5:00 PM–7:00 AM — the boat anchors safely for the night with the crew onboard.
What’s included
Overnight packages include all meals (Kerala, South and North Indian), the crew and captain, and the cruise itself. Small extras (a shikara ride, market fish) can be arranged onboard.
Costs
Prices start around ₹5,000/night for a shared room and rise with tier, bedrooms and season. All rates are ex-GST and vary by demand. See the full rates page.
How booking works
Pick a boat, then book on WhatsApp or send an enquiry. We confirm availability against the live schedule, then share a secure advance-payment link. The balance is paid at check-in — and because a human confirms every booking, you won’t get double-booked.
What to expect onboard
A gentle afternoon of cruising, a fresh lunch and dinner, a quiet anchored evening under the stars, and a peaceful morning. Bring light clothes, mosquito repellent and a camera. That’s it — the rest is just drifting.