Destination · Kerala
Alleppey and Kumarakom: The Backwaters
Vembanad lake and its canals, experienced two ways: a houseboat night from Alleppey (Alappuzha), or a lakeside resort stay at Kumarakom. Marari beach is a short drive away for an optional coastal night.
Setting
Vembanad lake and the canals
Recommended stay
1–2 nights
From Thekkady
Approximately 4 hours by road
Onward
Kochi airport 1.5–2 h · Marari approx. 30–45 min
Overview
One lake, two ways to stay
The backwaters are a network of lakes, rivers and canals behind the coast, with rice paddies below water level, villages on narrow strips of land and life conducted by boat. Alleppey, on the southern shore of Vembanad lake, is the houseboat harbour: converted rice barges cruise the wider waterways and moor overnight, which is the classic way to see the canals. Kumarakom, on the eastern shore, is quieter: lakeside resorts with their own jetties, sunset over the water and a bird sanctuary on the point.
Neither is compulsory. Some guests want the houseboat night; others prefer two nights in one resort with a canoe trip into the small canals by day. Many combine them: a night at Kumarakom, then the houseboat, then the coast. Your quotation sets out which arrangement is included.
Why visit
Why visit the backwaters
Unlike anywhere else
A landscape of water, paddy and coconut palms that can only be seen from a boat.
Rest after the hills
Flat, slow and warm after Munnar and Thekkady; the pace drops here on purpose.
An easy finish
Kochi airport is 1.5 to 2 hours away, and Marari beach is next door, so the journey can end gently.
Key experiences
Alleppey, Kumarakom and Marari
Choose one, or combine them; the drive between Alleppey and Kumarakom is about an hour around the lake.
Also worth considering
- A day cruise or a village canoe trip instead of an overnight houseboat, for those who prefer a hotel bed
- Alleppey town, with its canals, lighthouse and old coir warehouses
- The Nehru Trophy snake-boat race, usually held in August (the date is announced each year), spectacular and very busy
- A homestay on one of the canal islands for a slower, more local stay
Planning your visit
Planning your visit
When to go
October to February is the most settled; March to May is hot and humid on the water; the monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain, and some houseboat and resort operations reduce. Water levels and weed growth vary with the season, so the look of the canals changes through the year.
How long to stay
One houseboat night is the usual choice. Two nights, resort plus houseboat or two resort nights, suit families and seniors, and anyone who wants a day of nothing.
Houseboat or resort?
A houseboat is one recommended way to experience the backwaters, not the only one. Choose a resort if anyone in the party prefers a fixed bed, air-conditioning through the night, more space or easy access; choose the houseboat for the cruise and the moorings. We will advise once we know who is travelling.
How the backwaters fit into a journey
The backwaters follow Thekkady or Munnar on Kerala Classic, Ghats to Coast and Coffee, Hills and Backwaters. From here the journey ends at Kochi, at Marari, or continues south to Varkala and Kovalam (3–4 hours). For a short trip, Kerala Backwaters & Beach combines Kumarakom, an optional houseboat night and Marari in four nights, and Munnar, Thekkady & Kerala Backwaters adds a backwater night after the hills.
Private vehicle options
A sedan, an Innova Crysta or similar MPV, or a Tempo Traveller for groups. Your chauffeur brings you to the houseboat jetty or resort and collects you on disembarkation; the vehicle waits for the night or returns, as your plan requires.
For transport only, see car with driver.
Relevant journeys
Journeys that include the backwaters
Each of these journeys ends on the backwaters or passes through them:
Senior and family considerations
The backwaters are restful, but boarding a houseboat means a short walk along a jetty and a step onto the boat.
- Houseboats have steps between deck levels; a resort suits anyone unsteady on their feet
- Children enjoy the houseboat; a canoe trip is the quieter alternative for very young ones
- Mosquito protection matters in the evening on the water
- A second night in a resort lets the group rest before the drive to the airport
Tell us about mobility needs and we will recommend the boat or the shore accordingly.
Questions
The backwaters: your questions
Planning a South India Trip or Need a Vehicle?
Tell us your dates, group size and where you want to go. We reply with a clear plan and quotation — no obligation.