Highlights aboard Kerala Houseboat
India
What are the houseboats of Kerala?
Originally used for trade, these vessels have been transformed into luxury houseboats. They combine authenticity with modern comfort and allow you to explore the canals and lakes of Kerala in an exclusive way. It is a unique experience that gives you a different angle on Indian life, far from the busy cities and right next to the daily rhythm of the river.
When is the best time to have this experience?
The best season to visit Kerala is from December to March, when the climate is cooler, dry and pleasant, with temperatures between 24°C and 32°C. From June to September is monsoon season, when the weather is warm and humid but still suitable for the houseboat experience. We visited Kerala in February and the conditions were excellent: clear skies, mild evenings and the backwaters at their most photogenic.
Why did we choose Cruiseland?
We chose Cruiseland Houseboats thanks to the strong reviews about their crew, boats and food. Honestly, the recommendations did not exaggerate. From the very first moment, the team conveyed reliability and professionalism, and the boats were exactly as promised: well maintained, spacious and with a level of detail that you usually only find in higher-end stays. We did not regret the choice for a single moment.
One night aboard the Cruiseland Kerala Houseboat
Can you imagine travelling back in time for a day to live in one of the floating houses of Kerala? Reddish sunrises, dinners with freshly cooked spiced curries, and sunsets that paint the backwaters gold. That is exactly what we found on board a Cruiseland Houseboat, and the experience went beyond what we expected.
The Kerala backwaters are a network of canals, rivers and lakes that stretch along the southwest coast of India. From the boat, you watch life unfold along the banks: fishermen casting their nets in narrow canoes, women washing rice paddies, kids waving at the boat as it goes by, and water buffalo crossing the river without breaking the silence.
Cruiseland operates with a fleet of traditional kettuvallam houseboats. These are the original rice barges of Kerala, restored and adapted into luxury floating villas. The exterior keeps the wooden-coir aesthetic, while the interior offers modern bedrooms with private bathrooms, air conditioning and quality finishes. The crew is composed of a captain, an engineer and a cook, and each one is dedicated to making the experience as comfortable and authentic as possible.
The food on board deserves a special mention. Every meal is freshly prepared by the cook using fresh, local ingredients. The fish is brought straight from the river, the vegetables come from the surrounding fields, and the spices are blended in the boat’s own kitchen. Curries, rice dishes, fresh chapati and traditional Kerala desserts: we ate well from the first lunch to the last breakfast.
Types of Houseboats
Deluxe One Bedroom Room
The One Bedroom Deluxe houseboat is well suited for a romantic getaway. It has a double bedroom, a private bathroom, an open living area with a small kitchen, and a chill-out space, all decorated in traditional Kerala style. The right setting to relax while the boat moves slowly through the backwaters and the day unfolds at its own pace.
Deluxe two to three bedroom rooms
The two-bedroom houseboat is ideal for small groups, families or friends looking for comfort and space. Each room has air conditioning and gives you privacy, while the rest of the boat is built around shared spaces with broad views over the canals. There is a dining room, a sitting area, a small kitchen and a deck where the crew prepares the meals throughout the day.
The boat is run by a captain, an engineer and a cook. The captain navigates the canals and chooses the best stops for sunrise and sunset, the engineer keeps the boat running smoothly, and the cook prepares all the meals on board using fresh local ingredients. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the level of comfort is comparable to a good hotel, but with the added value of waking up in the middle of the backwaters of Kerala.
An incredible experience you can't miss
From the moment we boarded the houseboat in Kerala, we knew this was going to be something different. The crew picked us up in the morning and, as we sailed through the canals surrounded by rice paddies and small fishing villages, we got a quick briefing about the boat, the route for the day and the meals planned for the trip. The transition from the rush of the previous days in India to the slower rhythm of the boat was immediate.
The first half of the day went past slowly: looking out at the water, watching the villages on the banks, reading on the deck. Lunch was served around 12:30: fresh river fish prepared in three different ways, traditional curries, basmati rice, chapati, and small Kerala desserts. The cook came out to explain each dish, which added a bit of context to every plate.
The afternoon brought a stop at one of the smaller islands, where we walked through a local village, met some of the families who live in the area, and saw how rice is processed locally. Back on board, the boat continued its route until we anchored for the night in a quiet stretch of canal, with the sun setting over the water.
Dinner was served on the deck, just as the sky turned dark and the only light came from oil lamps placed around the boat. The sound of crickets and the occasional bird were the only soundtrack of the evening, and the silence after dinner was almost meditative.
The next morning, the boat was already moving by the time we woke up. Breakfast came with strong coffee, fresh fruit and traditional Kerala dishes. By 11:00 we were back at the starting point of the trip, with a strong sense that the houseboat experience had lived up to every recommendation we had received.
A Cruiseland Houseboat in Kerala is one of the things we recommend without hesitation. The combination of food, calm, crew and the landscape itself makes this one of the small experiences of India that genuinely stays with you for a long time.
