Kayaking in Kochi: Sunrise, Sunset & Floating Tea Break

You paddle yourself, not watch from a boat, and halfway through, you float in the middle of the water drinking tea.

Kayaking in Kochi's Kadamakkudy backwaters is a two-hour guided paddle at sunrise or sunset, where you operate your own kayak through calm waters, stop for a floating tea break surrounded by nature, and see traditional Chinese fishing nets and fishermen at work. The backwaters here stay quiet and untouched, unlike busier tourist spots, and guides lead beginners and experienced paddlers alike.

The experience

You meet at a designated point, get fitted into a kayak with safety gear, and paddle out into Kadamakkudy's backwaters: the stretch of Kerala's waterways that stays peaceful because fewer tourists find it. The water is flat and still enough that you can hear the paddle strokes and the calls of fishermen working the traditional Chinese nets along the shore. Sunrise or sunset is when you go, so the sky reflects off the water as you move through it, and the light hits the village houses and palm trees on the banks.

Midway through the two hours, your guide brings the kayaks to a stop in the middle of the water. You float there while someone brings out tea or coffee and local refreshments. A break that happens nowhere else on a kayak trip, sitting on the water with nothing but backwater around you. After you've had your fill, you paddle back the way you came, the rhythm of it settling into something meditative by the time you reach the shore.

The guide speaks English or Malayalam and stays with the group the whole time, making sure the pace works for everyone. This is an activity for people who can paddle (not a boat tour where you sit and watch), so you're doing the work, but the backwaters are calm enough that beginners manage it without strain.

What’s included

• Kayak fully equipped for safety and comfort.
• guide in English or Malayalam.
• tea or coffee and local refreshments during the floating break.
• two-hour paddle through Kadamakkudy backwaters at sunrise or sunset.

Options for this experience

2 options

Kochi Kayaking Tour: Sunrise, Sunset and Floating Tea BreakGuide in English or Malayalam · 5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 17:00

With transfersGuide in English or Malayalam · 5 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 17:00

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

Information

Lasts 2h, runs every day, 5 start times, from US$ 88.64 per group, with a live guide in English and Malayalam, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: 05:00, 05:30, 16:00, 16:30 and 17:00

Book up to2h before

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Malayalam

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by GV Trip Buggy

Is this one for you?Choose the sunrise slot if you want the earliest light and the quietest water. Sunset paddlers see the sky change color as they return. Both work for beginners, and the calm backwaters here mean you're paddling, not fighting the current.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Malayalam.

What's the difference between kayaking here and kayaking on a busier backwater route?

Kadamakkudy's backwaters stay quiet and untouched because fewer tourists venture there, so you paddle through calm water without the noise and crowds of the main tourist channels. The village life (fishermen, nets, houses) is visible and unhurried.

Do I need kayaking experience to book this?

No. Guides lead beginners through the whole trip, and the flat, still water of Kadamakkudy makes paddling straightforward even if you've never done it before. The two-hour duration and calm conditions suit all fitness levels.

What happens during the floating tea break?

Your guide stops the kayaks in the middle of the water, and you float there while tea or coffee and local refreshments are served. You stay in the kayak, surrounded by the backwater and the landscape, for a break you won't find on other water activities.

Can I choose sunrise or sunset, or is one time set?

You choose sunrise or sunset when you book: both times offer the same two-hour paddle and floating tea break, just at different hours of the day. The light and colors differ, but the route and experience are the same.

What do I see along the way?

Traditional Chinese fishing nets working the water, fishermen at their daily work, palm-lined banks, village houses, and the backwater landscape of Kerala. The guide points out the local life and explains what you're seeing as you paddle.