Alleppey Houseboat: 3-Bedroom Luxury Backwaters Overnight

A Night on Kerala's Backwaters Without Leaving Your Floating Room

You board a private 3-bedroom houseboat in Alleppey and spend the day cruising through narrow canals and wider rivers, including a 1-hour detour in a country boat through Kuttamangalam's smallest waterways. Lunch, dinner, breakfast, and evening refreshments are included. The boat anchors overnight between 5:30 and 6 p.m., with air-conditioning from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and departs the next morning after breakfast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Houseboat trip through Alleppey backwaters

• Board private 3-bedroom houseboat
• Pass St. Mary’s Church
• Travel through Vembanadu Lake
• Navigate narrow canal in Kainakari village
• Lunch at Meenappalli Kayal lake
• Pass famous snake boat race river
• See local homes, temples, restaurants
• Take 1-hour country boat trip in Kuttamangalam canal
• Houseboat moves to overnight halt location
• Overnight stay on houseboat with A/C at night

The experience

You're not going to wake up in a hotel room. The houseboat drifts through the Alleppey backwaters, and the first thing you notice is how quiet it is: no traffic, no horns, just water lapping against the hull and the sound of a village waking up somewhere across the paddy fields. The 3-bedroom luxury houseboat is your base for the night, and it moves through a network of canals that most tourists never see: Kainakari Village, Kuttithod, and eventually Kuttamangalam, where the waterways narrow so much that even the houseboat has to stop and hand you off to a smaller country boat for an hour. That's when you actually see the backwaters: the paddy fields, the local schools, the way people here live pressed right up against the water.

The day unfolds without rush. You leave in the morning and cruise through some of Kerala's most photographed stretches: the Vembanadu Lake section, the 75-foot-wide Pamba River where snake boat races happen every year, and the narrower canals lined with temples and local homes. Lunch happens at 1:30 p.m. at Meenappalli Kayal, a small lake in the middle of everything, and it's included. The houseboat halts between 5:30 and 6 p.m. for the night, air-conditioning kicks in at 8 p.m., and you get dinner, evening tea or coffee, and breakfast the next morning. All part of the package. WiFi is on board if you need it, though most people don't.

What makes this different from a day trip is the overnight stay itself. You're not rushing back to Kochi by evening. You're anchored in the backwaters, watching the light change, eating dinner on the deck, and waking up to the same view you fell asleep to. The houseboat sleeps up to six people across three bedrooms, so it works for families or small groups who want their own space but don't want to coordinate separate hotel rooms on shore.

What’s included

• Your overnight stay includes lunch at Meenappalli Kayal, dinner, breakfast, evening coffee or tea with snacks, and mineral water throughout the day.
• The 1-hour country boat excursion through Kuttamangalam canal is included, as is WiFi on board.
• Air-conditioning operates from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. during your overnight stay.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private luxury houseboat with 3 bedroomsUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · 12:003-bedroom houseboat: premium stay with a sun deck. It has 2 en-suite bedrooms and a lobby/dining area, with air conditioning 24/7, and sleeps a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 6 adults. Canoe ride: this programme includes a one-hour private canoe tour on the Kuttamangalam canal. Luxury: full-time air conditioning in the room and lobby, a variety of authentic food, free Wi-Fi and more. Duration: 21 hours, with the tour starting at 12 pm and the cruise continuing until 5:30 pm, then the next day from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. The boat is stationary from 6 pm until 8 am the next day. Full board: starting with a welcome drink, an authentic lunch, evening refreshments, dinner, and breakfast the next day. Boat cruise: a houseboat cruise through the famous Alleppey village and canals, including the most famous village, Kainakari.

Luxury houseboat with 2 bedroomsUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English · 12:00Houseboat for 4 adults in 2 rooms: 2 bedrooms, an attached washroom, a lobby that doubles as a dining area, and an open top floor with a sun deck, with air conditioning around the clock. It sleeps a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 adults. Alleppey village and canal tour: a cruise through the village and canals, with village walks and a canoe tour through narrow canals. Luxury: full-time air conditioning in the room and lobby, a variety of authentic food, and free Wi-Fi. Duration: 21 hours, with the tour starting at 12 pm and the cruise continuing until 5:30 pm, then the next day from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. The boat is stationary from 6 pm until 8 am the next day. Full board: beginning with a welcome drink, an authentic lunch, evening refreshments, dinner, and breakfast the next day. Boat cruise: a houseboat cruise through the famous Alleppey village and canals, including the most famous village, Kainakari.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 29 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by SreesTours

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to experience the Alleppey backwaters without the logistics of coordinating hotels, meals, and transport. The houseboat handles all three, and the overnight anchor means you see the water at different times of day instead of racing back to shore by evening.

Traveler reviews

4.89★★★★★★★★★★

19 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's included in the houseboat trip?

Lunch, dinner, breakfast, evening coffee or tea, snacks, mineral water, and WiFi on board. The 1-hour country boat ride through Kuttamangalam canal is also included.

How long is the overnight stay?

The houseboat halts between 5:30 and 6 p.m. and departs the next morning after breakfast, so you get one full night on the water.

Can the houseboat go through all the canals?

No. The houseboat cruises the main waterways, but the narrowest canal at Kuttamangalam requires a smaller country boat, which is provided for 1 hour as part of the trip.

Is air-conditioning available?

Yes, A/C runs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the overnight stay.

How many people can stay on the houseboat?

The houseboat has 3 bedrooms and accommodates up to 6 people.

Is WiFi available on board?

Yes, WiFi is provided on the houseboat.

What time does lunch happen?

Lunch is served at 1:30 p.m. at Meenappalli Kayal, a small lake in the backwaters.

Do I need to inform the operator about the country boat in advance?

Yes, the 1-hour country boat ride should be confirmed before the trip begins.