Private Full-Day Kerala Backwaters Houseboat Tour With Lunch & Pickup From Kochi
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Kerala Backwater Houseboat Private Day Cruise with pickup from Kochi is ideal for anyone who has a day (10 to 15 hours) to spend around Kochi. Enjoy a private, seven hour houseboat day cruise in Alleppey or Kumarakom with Kerala lunch, tea, and snacks. Along the way you'll also behold sights of backwater village life and a number of activities. While on the cruise, enjoy Kerala food on a banana leaf for lunch from our Chef and dine on traditional Kerala snacks in the evening like banana fritters and sukhiyan.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required and 7 people for the special family package
A maximum of 14 people per booking
What To Expect
We will pick you up from anywhere in Kochi and we will drive to Alleppey or Kumarakom as per your preference. If you are not staying in Kochi, you will be picked up near Princess Street in Fort Kochi. If you are arriving in the airport, Cochin Airport Pickup is available as well. Our driver will pick you up by private A/C car and from there you will be driven to Kumarakom or Alleppey where you will check in to the Kerala houseboat . Enjoy a tender coconut welcome drink as the crew get ready for the cruise. Set out on an enchanting overnight backwater cruise in traditional Kerala style "Kettuvallam" Houseboat. While cruising in this floating vessel, let your eyes enjoy the scenes of the Kerala countryside as you skim past children waving at you, mowed down paddy fields, local inhabitants as they make coir products, rustic homes, ferry transporting fish and coconut and swaying coconut palms. You will be served a traditional a Kerala lunch in a banana leaf at noon along with fish prepared in Kerala style. You may enjoy the lunch while the houseboat is cruising on these backwaters. Take a siesta or enjoy the scenes along the shores in the afternoon. Some of the typical scenes you will see include a ferry boat moving along with school children, people working in paddy fields, or a tuk tuk moving along the shore. Around 4 PM, you will be served tea along with snacks like banana fritters and biscuits. Check out from the houseboat in the evening and return back to Kochi by 7 PM after a wonderful day spent enjoying Kerala's famous backwaters. Go back with many memories of this beautiful and unique backwaters of Kerala. We will customise the houseboat day tour for an early check in and early checkout based on your departure from ship or airport. Please note that you will be provided with a trusted driver who can communicate with you and understand English. This individual is not a guide. If you are looking for an English speaking guide, please book the tour option with guide. The guide will be with you from Kochi Pickup will Kochi Drop. Italian/Russian speaking guides are also available at a nominal extra charge.
Options
Houseboat Day Cruise
Houseboat Private Day Cruise
Houseboat Day Cruise -7 Pax
Houseboat Day Cruise for 7 Guests with pickup and drop from Kochi without including the guide
What‘s Included
5-Hour Boat Cruise
Private air-conditioned vehicle with Chauffeur to go from Kochi to Alleppey and back only for your group
Afternoon tea
Bottled water
Pickup and drop-off in your hotel Kochi/Fort Kochi or Kochi Airport
Lunch
Snacks
English Speaking Guide if you are booking the tour option with guide
Alcoholic drinks (Available to purchase on prior request)
Expenses of any personal nature (Phone calls, laundry, and camera entry fee, etc)
Tips, Porter Charges, Airfare, Monument Entry Fee
Any additional expenses incurred due to any flight delay or cancellation, weather conditions, political closures, etc
Requirement for serving soft drinks and mild beverages will invite additional cost as per tariff, direct payment by guests.
Any other services not specified above
Pickup points
Kochi Port
Kochi Airport
Kochi (Cochin) India
Meeting points
Kochi (Cochin)
Kochi (Cochin) India
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
22 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Good way to spend the day
T R,Aug 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Exactly as advertised- I was picked up from hotel and driven to a houseboat. The food was delicious and it was a very relaxing way to spend a few hours on the lake.
Wonderful relaxing experience
mumtazp2022,Jun 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful experience on the Kerala backwater houseboat tour. Great driver who picked us up from the hotel and drove us to the houseboat. The houseboat was lovely the the driver and cook on board prepared a lovely lunch for us. Such a lovely relaxing experience. Thank you.
Kerala Backwater houseboat ride
Mumtaz R,Jun 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent experience. Very relaxing backwater boat trip. Lovely food on the boat prepared fresh by the cook. Very enjoyable experience
Tranquil journey, lovely Backwater Brooks team and delicious food
GoPlaces54945636855,Jun 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We started the day with a taxi pickup from Monesh, who was incredibly friendly and made a great effort to speak to us about the area and point out any areas of interest. When we arrived at the boat, we were received warmly by the Backwater Brooks team. We then sat on the apartment like room and watched the water go by. The lunch was served around 13:00, which was a delightful array of dishes, including fried fish from the river; during this time we stopped next to the Chinese fishing nets on the river side. We then were served tea at near 16:00, arriving back to dock at 16:30; realising at this point that we did a massive circle around the backwaters. After this we were driven back to our hotel. It was incredibly relaxing and we even had a nap along the way. Something to note is that we thought the boat trip was 7hrs long, but it appears that includes the maximum amount of time taken for the taxi to & from the hotel - for us this was 2hrs each way!
A visit to “gods own country”
paulgray1,Feb 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I picked Iris holidays as a group of 8 were stopping overnight on a cruise. Of course the cost of the cruise tours were extortionate so I did a bit of research looking at reviews on TA and emailed Iris holidays to do a Kochi city tour on the day of arrival and a visit the next day to the back waters and lunch on a houseboat. They were very efficient and the arrangements were made. We were duly met on our arrival by our driver mr Ratheesh and Arun our guide for the afternoon. None of us had visited Kochi before and we absolutely loved it. It’s very laid back with lovely architecture and friendly people, we got the most out of it with Arun who was really nice with great English so were able to get the most out of the city tour. I will just warn you that the Indian immigration comes onto the ship and you have to jump through hoops to get clearance. We were told that we had to be back onboard curtailing our backwaters visit by a couple of hours but fortunately Mr Ratheesh was brilliant and picked up earlier to drive the 70km to pick up the boat and bring us back in good time. The boat trip of 4hours was marvellous with a lovely, calming trip interspersed with passing party boats whose passengers loved interacting with us as a group making it a truly marvellous day. Iris holidays sent me a WhatsApp confirming the arrangements for the two tours with “welcome to gods own country” - I thought that only Yorkshire folk claimed that for themselves but Kerala might be jostling them for that honour.
Top Notch Kerala Experience By Iris Holidays
simplysuhel,Jan 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00To prepare for our Kochi-Alleppey tour I called a friend of mine (originally from that region) to get some tips. As it happened he happened to be friends with the folks at Iris Holidays and connected me while we were on the phone. Since then the entire experience with Iris Holidays has been exceptional. Everyone from the owner to every employee was super responsive and helpful. Understood our family's specific requirements and crafted an itinerary accordingly. I must add this was at 4 days notice during peak season! Right from airport pickup at Kochi, dropping us off at our resort in Alleppey, a half day houseboat tour in Alleppey, another day of sight seeing in Fort Kochi area to dropping us off at the airport - couldn't have asked for more. We recommend both the houseboat tour and the Fort Kochi visit. Food is incredible across Kerala, but these two stood out. The backwaters lived up to the high expectations. Special call out to Saranya and Cijil for being so professional and prompt in their communications and bias for action.
Very relaxing day on the...
Douglas S,Apr 11, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Very relaxing day on the backwaters. The food was excellent. Transport to and from the hotel was very easy.
Top notch Experience
krshs,Mar 1, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a wonderful trip nicely done by Iris Holiday. This is the second time but they maintain their standard. Thanks a lot Iris Holiday
Kochi Backwaters
mstravelerperth,Apr 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an amazing tour organized by the company. The drive Mr Saju was very helpful and accommodated us in all our request. Saju was careful in taking us to place which were comfortable and accessible to me with a walking stick. The food on the boat was amazing. The also helped us with the food request for kids. The back water tour is a definate recommendation for anyone visiting kochi.
Beautiful tour!
Jenn M,Jan 27, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour and amazing way to see the backwaters! The tour and pick-up/drop-off were very easy. The staff was great and very friendly. The food was fresh and delicious, easy to eat both vegetarian and non-vegetarian and there were many different options for differing tastes. I think a day tour is the perfect amount of time to spend on the backwaters. I'd highly recommend.
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Operated by Iris Holidays