Alleppey, the official name is Alappuzha, is known for its many beautiful rivers and lakes. There is not much to do in the town but you can do one very fun activity in Alleppey: spend 24 hours on a (private) houseboat.
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What does 24 hours on the houseboat look like?
Most houseboats include transfers. In the morning you will be picked up at your accommodation in Alleppey by tuktuk. It is often only a 15-minute drive to the “harbour” where all the houseboats are. Here you will meet the crew: one skipper and one cook. Just after this you will sail away. You immediately see the amazing environment where you will spend the next 24 hours: beautiful trees and nature and lots of (predatory) birds along the way. It is wonderful to sit here in silence, daydreaming and gazing outside to let daily life in India pass you by.
After a while, the boat will be docked. It’s time for lunch. The cook did an amazing job of preparing delicious meals for you. At our boat, the cook and the skipper ate at a different place from us, despite us asking several times for them to sit with us. It is simply not customary to eat together at such times, we heard later.
After lunch, you will continue sailing again through the beautiful surroundings. Around 5 p.m., the houseboat will dock to prepare for the evening. You may get off the boat here to take a walk, we definitely recommend this. The scenery is great and so you see the real local life. You walk among rice fields and past local cottages. Again, you will also see huge numbers of eagles, storks and many more birds.
After dinner, you can relax a bit on the boat. We had good conversations together and played some games (tip: check out the 15 most fun games for traveling here). Furthermore, it is wise to go to bed early, the alarm clock is probably early tomorrow.
So the second day you get up early. You cruise the rivers for about another hour while you have breakfast. After this, you have returned to the starting point. From here you can catch a cab back to Alleppey or, like us, to the bus station. The (almost) 24 hours are over and you can look back on a special, peaceful time.
Which houseboat in Alleppey is the best?
Many different houseboats can be found in Alleppey. Online, you see the most beautiful pictures everywhere, but beware, often the reality is a bit disappointing. We therefore recommend viewing the houseboat in advance. Don’t book the first pretty picture you come across, but put in some time to get to know the boat, as well as the crew. After all, you do get to spend 24 hours together in a small area so it’s nice if it clicks.
Almost all hotels in Alleppey have their own houseboat that you can book. Ask the owner if you can stop by the day before to see the boat. That way, at least you know where you will spend the 24 hours.
Would you still prefer to reserve the houseboat in advance? Then the Venice Houseboat Alleppey is the best option. The rooms are beautiful, the food is good and the “guide” is very nice. Depending on the number of bookings, you will share the boat with others, though.
How much does a houseboat in Alleppey cost for 24 hours?
Houseboat prices vary greatly. We paid 7000 rupees (€77) for the houseboat (for 2 people) in the off season. This includes 3 meals, spending the night and sailing. In high season, you often pay between 8000 and 10000 rupees for this. The type of boat also varies: there are large, small, luxury and less luxurious boats. This all adds up. On average, it is wise to count on about 8000 rupees for 2 people.
What should you bring on the houseboat in Alleppey?
Make sure you have at least something with you to entertain yourself. 24 hours is a long time with just the two of us.
- E-reader or a book
- Games
- Headphones
- Clean underwear
- Clean clothing
- Pajamas
- Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, body lotion, shower gel)
- Camera
All food and drink will be provided. You really don’t need to bring your own snacks, more than enough food will be prepared for you.
How to get to Alleppey?
From Kochi, it is only 1.5 hours by bus to Alleppey. Buses run throughout the day between these two cities so you can just go to the bus station at a time that suits you. After arriving in Alleppey, tuktuks are waiting to take you to your hotel. This often costs no more than 100 – 200 rupee (€1 – €2).
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