Call 01306 744 656 or
Call 01306 744 656 or
The highlight is lunch; deliciously spiced lentil curry as you gaze over the backwaters…
Today around 300 houseboats cruise Alleppey’s backwaters, but our seven kettuvalloms (as they’re locally called) have had a style revamp. While the exteriors are traditionally crafted with local coir and bamboo, inside there’s beautiful cane furniture, jack wood panels, woven mats and a day bed where you can lounge in the sun. Mod cons include air conditioning in the bedrooms for those overnighting and solar panels for extra sustainability.
On a half-day excursion, our Deluxe house boats drive you around Alleppey’s sun dappled backwaters as you soak up the whimsical scenery from the deck or through the large picture windows. Starting at Pallathuruthy town, we drift past Champakulam, a village that hosts one of the oldest snake boat races in Kerala and where you can see a docked ‘snake boat,’ named after its long, thin, shape and originally used in combat for its agility and ability to hold 100 men. Nowadays they take around 14 months to build and at great expense so there’s great excitement whenever we see one. Then there are the quintessential Keralan scenes that unfold quietly under the palms and among glistening paddy fields. People wash their clothes on the river edges, children run along the banks after school. Toddy shops, ancient churches, and rice barges filled with produce pass by. Locals pause their conversations to wave at you, it’s a warm inviting community.
For many, lunch is the main highlight. This is usually a deliciously spiced lentil sambar curry using seasonal vegetables like pumpkin, okra and carrots. It is served alongside Kerala’s speciality pearl spot fish as well as a chicken dish. Even the locals tell us they crave our cooking which is a huge compliment for us. Our chef just has this special touch.
We then do a U turn and travel back on the other side, a patchwork of lagoons, lakes and canals. Every cruise is different. It’s like a cricket match which is held every day, there’s always something to watch.
Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Malcolm, who's travelled extensively in India. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember.
Freephone an expert 01306 744 656
