If you’re planning a trip to God’s Own Country, understanding the different Types of Houseboats service in Kerala is the first step toward booking a cruise you’ll remember forever. From honeymooners who wish to travel in a single bedroom boat to large families in need of a five-bedroom luxury houseboat, there is something here for all kinds of tourists.In this guide, we will take you through all the types of houseboats in Alleppey and Kumarakom to help you choose one according to your budget, number of passengers, and ideal vacation experience.
Why the Types of Houseboats service in Kerala Matter
To fully experience the beauty of the backwaters of Alleppey and Kumarakom, which is a network of lakes, canals, and lagoons in Kerala, the use of a traditional rice boat that has been converted into a houseboat, otherwise known as kettuvallam, is ideal. However, not all houseboats are alike; because of differences in terms of the number of bedrooms, facilities available, food served, and other factors, houseboats are divided into different categories. Knowledge of the various types of houseboat services in Kerala will help you get value for your money without spending too much on unnecessary things.
Rajadhani Holidays, which has over a decade of experience navigating the backwaters of Alleppey and Kumarakom, offers different types of houseboats to cater to travelers’ different needs. Here are some examples.
1. Single Bedroom Houseboats — Ideal for Couples and Honeymooners
If one is planning a romantic holiday, the best among all house boat facilities in Kerala would be the single bedroom houseboat facility, suitable for one family or honeymoon couples, usually consisting of:
- One luxuriously furnished bedroom with a separate toilet facility
- One cozy private sit-out from where one can enjoy the floating of backwaters
- A music player and beautifully decorated drawing room
- Specialized service by the crew on board
This house boat type is recommended if you want privacy and tranquility in your trip. Couples especially opt for this type of houseboat for anniversaries and honeymoons in Kumarakom.
2. Two Bedroom Houseboats — Perfect for Small Families or Friends
In case you travel with your spouse and another couple, or as a family of four people, then two bedroom houseboats are just the right fit for your holiday needs. There is a separate bathroom for each room and a common area for living and dining in which you can relish your meals during your cruise through the waters of Vembanad Lake and its associated channels. It is one of the most popular categories of houseboats in Kerala owing to the same reasons.
3. Three Bedroom Houseboats — Great for Groups and Extended Families
Are you planning to travel with a total of six people? In that case, a three-bedroom houseboat is the perfect choice for you as it provides each person with individual privacy while still making it possible for all of you to dine together, go sightseeing together and spend your evenings talking on the sundecks. Such houseboats will have an extra large common area along with a full-equipped kitchen onboard as well as extra deck space where everyone can take time out to see the passing paddy fields, coconut plantations and villages along the bank.
4. Four and Five Bedroom Houseboats — Built for Big Families and Groups
If your group consists of eight to ten members, the most convenient of all Kerala houseboat services will be four and five bedroom houseboats. These houseboats are like floating villas and have many attached bathrooms, dining halls, living halls and deck space for everyone. These are often the choice for family get-togethers, celebrations or even corporate retreats.
5. Deluxe Houseboats — Comfort with a Traditional Touch
Deluxe houseboats represent a good compromise between basic and luxury class of vessels. The boats are built in a traditional kettuvallam style from ecologically safe materials such as bamboo, coir, and areca wood but equipped with all the modern conveniences including private bathrooms, comfortable beds and even a dedicated crew that includes a chef, driver, and cabin attendant. The deluxe option provides the best choice for tourists who are seeking to get an authentic backwaters tour experience but cannot afford luxury facilities.
6. Premium Houseboats — A Step Above the Ordinary
Premium houseboats provide additional comfort in terms of higher quality interior design, air-conditioned rooms, better furnishing, and a more specific menu that is based on such typical dishes as karimeen (pearl spot fish) curry, prawn fry, and rice with tapioca.
7. Luxury Houseboats — The Ultimate Backwater Experience
Coming right at the top of all other type of houseboat services in Kerala is the luxury houseboat. This houseboat offers:
- Fully air conditioned bedrooms with interior decoration
- Contemporary insect free and absolutely privacy assured cabins
- 24 hour kitchen service with multi cuisine choice
- High quality furniture, deck chairs and personalized hospitality
The best category of houseboats to enjoy your special occasions such as anniversary, proposal, or milestone birthdays in the most romantic ambiance of the traditional Kerala houseboat is definitely the luxury houseboat.
8. Day Cruise Houseboats — For Short, Scenic Trips
Everyone cannot afford time for overnight trips in their holiday. Day cruise houseboat trips are specifically designed for people who want to experience the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey and Kumarakom in few hours. Day cruise trips generally include traditional Kerala style lunch in the course of sight seeing in the canals.
What’s Usually Included in Kerala Houseboat Packages
Regardless of which type you opt for, most Kerala houseboat packages comprise the following:
- A team of three people: one cook, one driver (captain), and one cabin helper
- Greeting drinks on arrival
- Organic and freshly cooked food — breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner — prepared onboard using local produce
- Sailing through backwaters, paddies, and village jetties
- Safe steel-built construction with traditional look made of bamboo and coir
How to Choose the Right Houseboat for Your Trip
With so many types of houseboats service in Kerala to choose from, here is how you can make a decision easily.
- Traveling with your partner? A one-bedroom or luxurious houseboat would be perfect for romance.
- Small family or a couple traveling together? A two-bedroom houseboat will give you value for money.
- Family or friends traveling together? A three, four or five bedroom houseboat will suit you.
- Looking for a unique experience within limited budgets? A deluxe houseboat would serve your purpose.
- Looking for five star treatment for a special occasion? Premium and luxurious houseboats are your best bet.
- Don’t have enough time? A day cruise can still take you around Kerala’s backwaters.
Best Time and Places to Book a Houseboat in Kerala
Both Alleppey and Kumarakom continue to be the most sought-after places for backwater trips. While the former has earned a nickname of the “Venice of the East” due to the interconnected canals here, the latter allows a more relaxed, peaceful trip on the vast Vembanad Lake. The best time for taking a cruise will be between September and March as the weather will be nice and the water calm making it the perfect period to travel by any type of the boats mentioned above.
Conclusion
Having knowledge about the various Types of Houseboats service in Kerala – from cozy 1-bedroom to luxurious boats of all kinds – helps in planning a trip on the backwaters better suited to individual preferences. No matter whether one is traveling as a honeymoon couple, family with ten members or a single person preferring a peaceful one-day cruise, Kerala backwaters offer houseboats suitable for every occasion. With over ten years of operation in Alleppey and Kumarakom, Rajadhani Holidays provides a wide choice of deluxe, premium and luxurious houseboats that will help each visitor make a memorable and comfortable backwater cruise.
