Kochi Tuk-Tuk Tour: Chinese Fishing Nets & Fort Kochi

Navigate Kochi's narrow lanes by tuk-tuk and reach the landmarks larger vehicles can't

A four to five hour tuk-tuk tour of Kochi designed for cruise passengers, with pickup and drop-off at the port. The tour covers the Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, the Dutch Palace, Jew Town and the Dutch Cemetery, guided in English. Tuk-tuks access the spice-filled lanes and hidden corners of Fort Kochi that full-size tour buses cannot reach.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Chinese Fishing Nets20m · entry included
2. St. Francis Church20m · entry included
3. Dutch Cemetery15m · entry included
4. Indo-Portuguese Museum20m · entry included
5. Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica20m · entry included
6. Mattancherry Palace20m · entry included
7. Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town20m · entry included

Kochi city sightseeing by tuk-tuk

• Pickup from cruise ship port
• Visit Chinese fishing nets
• Explore Fort Kochi beach
• Tour St. Francis Church
• See Dutch Cemetery
• Visit Indo-Portuguese Museum
• Explore Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica
• View Dhobi Khana public laundry
• Visit naval history museum
• See Cochin Tirumala Devaswom temple
• Visit Jain place of worship and pigeon feeding
• Tour Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
• Visit Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town
• Shop for spices in Jew Town
• Drop-off at cruise ship port

The experience

The tour starts with pickup at the cruise terminal and moves straight into Fort Kochi's oldest quarters. You'll see the Chinese fishing nets: the 20-meter mechanical structures operated by teams of fishermen using counterweights and ropes, a method introduced by Chinese explorers in the 14th century and now found almost nowhere else in India. From there the tuk-tuk navigates to St. Francis Church, built in 1503 and one of the oldest European churches in India. Vasco da Gama was buried here before his remains were moved to Lisbon fourteen years later. The narrow streets mean the vehicle can slip through lanes where larger tour buses stop.

The route includes the Paradesi Synagogue in Jew Town, the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth, built in 1568 and surrounded by spice shops and antique dealers. You'll pass the Dutch Cemetery, consecrated in 1724 and now managed by the Church of South India, and the Mattancherry Palace (also called the Dutch Palace), which holds Kerala murals and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi. The guide shares stories and insider knowledge about each stop, and you have time to wander the spice-filled lanes and explore local galleries and street art. A stop at a local eatery lets you sample Kerala's authentic flavors.

The tour wraps with drop-off back at the cruise port, timed so you're back before the ship departs. All fees and taxes are included, and the operator provides photos taken during the tour. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at the cruise port.
• tuk-tuk transport through Fort Kochi's narrow lanes.
• visits to the Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church, Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town, the Dutch Palace, Dutch Cemetery and local galleries.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• photos taken during the tour.
• a stop at a local eatery to sample Kerala cuisine.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (30 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (12 to 29 years) · Child (4 to 11 years): free · Infant (under 4): free

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by United kochi tours

Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks for four to five hours. The tuk-tuk's narrow frame reaches the spice lanes and backstreets of Fort Kochi that buses cannot, and port pickup gets you exploring immediately rather than hunting down transport.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

59 verified traveler reviews

5 ★58

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 29 years); Child (4 to 11 years): free; Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What are the Chinese fishing nets and why are they in Kochi?

The Chinese fishing nets are stationary lift nets: huge mechanical structures holding horizontal nets 20 meters or more across, operated by teams of up to six fishermen using counterweights and ropes. They were introduced by Chinese explorers who landed in Kochi in the 14th century and are now found almost nowhere else in India, making them a distinctive landmark of the city.

How long does the tour take and will I be back in time for the ship?

The tour runs four to five hours with pickup and drop-off at the cruise terminal, timed so you return before the ship departs. The operator coordinates the schedule around cruise ship arrivals and departures.

What is Jew Town and what will I see there?

Jew Town is the historic spice district of Mattancherry, centered around the Paradesi Synagogue, built in 1568 and the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth. The area is filled with spice shops, antique dealers and narrow lanes where the tuk-tuk can navigate while larger vehicles cannot.

Is the guide included and what language do they speak?

A live guide in English is included throughout the tour, sharing stories and insider tips about each landmark and the hidden corners of Fort Kochi.

What is the Dutch Palace and why is it called that?

The Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, is a Portuguese palace in Mattancherry that features Kerala murals depicting portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi. It has been included in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.