Best Kerala Houseboat Cruise in Alleppey – Spice Routes

Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon, Saffron, Tamarind, Cardamom, Fennel.

These are the names of the exotic spices whose intoxicating fragrance has drawn the world to what has been dubbed as the “Spice Bowl of the World”, in Kerala, India. The scent of spices lured the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, the Spanish, and the British to the shores of an exotic land that was rich in spices.

Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon, Saffron, Tamarind, Cardamom, Fennel, also happen to be the names of the houseboats that are part of the fleet of the Spice Routes Luxury Cruises based in Alappuzha which is also known as Alleppey in Kerala, India. Alleppey is also the best place to revel in the experience of the Kerala Houseboat cruise.

Alleppey is not only a major tourist attraction of Kerala but has a fascinating history that stretches way back in time. The town is known to have had trade relations with the ancient civilizations of Rome and Greece during the middle ages. It is also believed that Saint Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ landed in the vicinity of Alleppey in the year 52 AD and preached Christianity in the region.

Today travellers head to Alleppey in to bask in the Kerala Luxury Houseboats experience.

Lord Curzon, the British Viceroy of India between 1899 to 1905  made a visit to Alleppey. It is said that he was so mesmerized by the charm of the place, he exclaimed  “Here nature has spent up on the land her richest bounties. Alleppey, Venice of the East” 

The Kerala houseboat cruise – Spice Routes Luxury Cruises Experience

It was probably a generous dose of good Karma that saw us making our way towards God’s own country, Kerala, for the third time in the year. This time around it was to Alleppey, a place which had till now resided in the realms of our imagination. As we weaved our way across the hilly terrain of Kerala images of Alleppey houseboats flooded our imagination.

One thing that we had not experienced was the Kerala Houseboat Cruise. We were excited as we drove through the lush green countryside of Kerala towards our destination which beckoned with experiences waiting to be savored. The magic of a Kerala Houseboat Cruise on the mesmerizing backwaters of Kerala with the Spice Routes Luxury Cruises loomed tantalizingly on the horizon.

We were soon at the boarding point for the luxury houseboats of Spice Routes Luxury Cruises. The Spice Routes offer the service of premium luxury houseboats in Alleppey.

It was love at first sight!

The boats stood docked, their exteriors gleaming and reflecting the rays of the sun. We were at Chennamkary and the houseboats that were not out cruising stood in front of us. We looked with eagerness at the houseboat named Fennel. Fennel would be our home for the next couple of days. Our floating home on the water.

We were welcomed aboard with warm smiles and garlands and shown to our rooms.

Kerala Houseboat Cruise – The Rooms 

Fennel consisted of 3 luxury cabins with twin beds and attached bathroom. The room was equipped with air-conditioner, LCD, and comfortable twin beds. The attached bathroom with a shower enclosure was equipped with all required toiletries and bathroom slippers. What we loved was the large glass window by the side of the bed that gave a breathtaking view of the backwaters. One could lie in bed and watch for hours the activity on the waterway.

Kerala Houseboat Cruise – The Dining Cum Living Area

There was a dining cum living area towards the bow of the boat equipped with lounge sofas and a dining table where food was served. This area was our favorite hangout to chill while cruising.

The Kitchen

A narrow passage on the starboard side connected the living area to a neat and compact kitchen near the stern. The kitchen was well equipped and it was here that the chef whipped up some authentic delicacies. We also were treated to a cooking demonstration by the chef. We were really impressed by the orderly way in which the kitchen was organized.

Excitement tinged the air as we set sail. It was magical to stand on the bow of the houseboat as it glided through the serene backwaters and feel the air on your face. We would be cruising for about 4 hours after which we would be docking. We cruised along the backwaters of the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, feasting our eyes on the spectacle of exotic migratory birds that weaved around the waters.

The sight of a flock of birds merrily riding on a floating tree captured our imagination.  The Spice Routes Luxury Cruises Houseboats cruise on the Vembanad Lake. The boats dock for the night as boats are not allowed to ply after 6 pm in the evening. After a leisurely cruise which gave us an opportunity to experience the romance of the Kerala Backwaters in laidback luxury, we watched the sunset in majestic splendor on the western horizon and soon the boat was anchored. We settled down to indulge our senses in the romance of the evening.

After a tranquil sleep, lulled by the gentle bobbing of the houseboat we woke up to the sounds of the chirping of birds and views of canoes gliding away to their unknown rendezvous.

The day proved to be fascinating as we visited quaint villages, temples, and ancient churches. In the evening we took a canoe and glided through the waterways passing little villages, observing slices of their daily lives.

It was an exhilarating feeling to know that you do not have to rush back to your hotel or home as your home itself was moving with you.

After a very relaxing and rejuvenating experience, it was time to say goodbye to our floating home – Spice Routes, one of the best Kerala Houseboats. We took our leave with a bag full of memories to cherish for a lifetime. But not before taking one last look at Fennel, the Spice Routes houseboat Alleppey that had captivated our hearts.

The houseboats of Spice Routes Luxury Cruises

Fennel

We stayed in the houseboat named Fennel which is a three-bedroom one, but there are other options available with Spice Routes Luxury Cruises.

Clove and Cinnamon

Clove and Cinnamon are two other houseboats that have three bedrooms and are similar to Fennel

Pepper

Pepper is a houseboat equipped with two bedrooms

Cardamom

Cardamom is a premium houseboat equipped with 5-star facilities and large and spacious

Saffron

Saffron is dubbed as the Presidential Suite on the backwaters and is an ideal place to have the makings of an exclusive honeymoon. Looking at the tranquil surroundings and the exclusivity of the place this could be one of the most romantic honeymoon destinations to head out to in India.

It is a single-bedroom houseboat with a living room, dining room on the upper deck and a Jacuzzi. If you are thinking of a honeymoon houseboat in Alleppey and a houseboat with a jacuzzi in Kerala then Saffron fits the bill perfectly. Spice Routes ensures that this is one of the best amongst Kerala houseboat honeymoon packages.

All the Spice Route Luxury Cruises houseboats are airconditioned and ensure that one can admire the beauty of the backwaters minus the heat

Kerala houseboat cruise packages

The Kerala backwaters houseboat cruise packages are best experienced with Spice Routes Luxury Cruises. They have standard one-day and two-day packages and also can customize packages based on need. The packages include a stay, food, and guided tours of villages that dot the backwaters of Kerala.

The Service aboard The Spice Routes Luxury Cruises

• Each houseboat has a 3 member crew which consists of the Captain who steers the boat through the tranquil backwaters, a cook, and an assistant
• The Captain whose name was Shashi was a hand’s on person who did a lot more than steering the boat, he was the one who discussed the menu and had the food prepared based on our preferences
• Overall the service was bang on and the crew were ever smiling and ready to help

Food Served on The Spice Routes Luxury Cruises | Kerala Houseboat Cruise

There is a choice of the best vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine on offer. The best part is that the food is prepared based on individual preferences.

From seafood to authentic Kerala vegetarian cuisine to continental breakfasts, the food is what your palate wants.

Sustainable Tourism by The Spice Routes Luxury Cruises | Kerala Houseboat Cruise 

Sustainable tourism is practiced by the Spice Routes Luxury Cruises in its various aspects. Generation of employment for the locals, use of local produce including vegetables, spices, fish and other seafood for cooking, and an environment-friendly waste management system are some of the ways that the Spice Routes Luxury Cruises is promoting sustainable tourism in the region.

What Will it cost to experience a Kerala Backwaters Houseboat Cruise with Spice Route | Kerala Houseboat Cruise 

It is generally thought that Kerala houseboat rates are exorbitant, however, we find the Spice Routes offerings reasonable and complete value for money. The entire experience of spending some indulgent time relaxing amidst the natural beauty of Kerala in a houseboat is indeed something that is really invaluable. To know about Kerala backwaters houseboat rates and get details of the cost and book a package click here.

Kerala Houseboat Cruise – The Verdict

The entire experience of a laidback cruise pampered by the crew was enjoyable. It is a unique experience and probably one of the best ways to immerse oneself in the ethereal beauty of God’s own Country, Kerala. We would definitely recommend the Spice Route Cruise Experience to our readers. If you are thinking of 5-star houseboats in Alleppey to give wings to your dream Kerala Houseboat Cruise experience,  then Spice Routes definitely a place to head to. Spice Routes Luxury Cruises are among the top 10 houseboats in Alleppey.

Tips to  Make the Most of your Kerala Houseboat Cruise with Spice Routes Luxury Cruise

• The winter months from November to February is the best time to visit Alleppey and embark on Alleppey houseboat cruise as the weather is pleasant though it does tend to get a little hot in the later part of the day, of course, the air-conditioning takes care of that
• The best way to enjoy the cruise is to completely switch off from television and social media and enjoy the bounty of nature
• The Wi-Fi may be a little sketchy as the boat is cruising, but we are sure you will hardly care about it

Kerala Houseboat Cruise – How to Get to Alleppey and the Spice Routes Luxury Cruise

Cochin International Airport (COK), Airport Rd, Kochi, Kerala 683111

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

• Alleppey is situated at a distance of about 83 kilometres from Kochi International Airport and the Spice Routes Luxury Cruises boarding point is about 19 kilometres from Alleppey
• Alleppey is situated about 146 kilometres from Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala State
• The nearest airport to Alleppey is Cochin International Airport which is well-connected to all major cities of India

If you are planning a trip to Alleppey in Kerala, India then you can book a cheap flight through Cleartrip or Makemytrip or CheapAir or Priceline right here to reach Kochi. You can fly to Kochi and then from there, you can travel to Alleppey/Alappuzha by road. Some of the options to reach Alleppey could be by self-drive car or cab or bus.

Kerala Houseboat Cruise – Book your luxury cruise at Spice Routes 

You can choose to book your luxury cruise at Spice Routes either through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or  makemytrip or  goibibo or  Booking.com or  HotelsCombined or  Agoda  and get good deals on your stay to save huge and get the best deals on booking your stay.

Have you been on a Kerala Houseboat Cruise? Have you experienced the romance of the backwaters of Kerala in a luxury houseboat? If not, you must do it at least once in a lifetime. Do you have questions like:

What are the best Kerala houseboat packages?

Where can I do the Kerala houseboat booking?

How is the experience of the Kerala houseboat stay?

What to look forward to on a Kerala backwaters houseboat?

Are the Kerala backwaters tour package prices reasonable?

Then do connect with us through our comments section and we will be more than happy to answer your questions related to Kerala Houseboat Cruise. Happy cruising!

We were hosted by Spice Routes Luxury Cruises. However, the views and opinions expressed here are our own based on our experience of the Kerala Houseboat Cruise.
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Sandy & Vyjay

Sandy & Vyjay are a husband and wife duo who are travel content creators. They are co-founders of this travel website and are one of the leading travel content creators in India.

Sandy & Vyjay quit their successful corporate careers to pursue their passion for travel and writing full-time. Their dedication has earned them the “Best Travel Writer” award and numerous accolades on both national and international stages. Focusing on India’s destinations, heritage, and culture, they are passionate advocates for nature and the environment. Through their content, they promote ecotourism and sustainable travel, inspiring others to explore and preserve the beauty of India.