Alleppey Honeymoon Guide: Houseboats, Backwaters & More

Alleppey, officially Alappuzha, is one of Kerala's favourite honeymoon spots because of one experience: a night together on a private houseboat, drifting through the backwaters past palm-lined canals and paddy fields. Plan two or three days here: one night on a houseboat, and a day or two for the beach, the villages and the lake.

This guide covers choosing the right houseboat, the best time to go, what to see, and the small details that make the trip go smoothly.

Why couples choose Alleppey

• Privacy: a private houseboat is your own floating cottage, with a crew who cook for you and stay out of the way.
• Slow pace: after the rush of the wedding, a day watching the water go by is exactly what most couples need.
• Easy to combine: Alleppey sits between Kochi and the hills, so it pairs well with Munnar, Thekkady or Kovalam on a longer Kerala trip.

The houseboat: how it works

The traditional kettuvallam was a rice barge. Today's houseboats keep the curved wooden hull and thatched roof, with bedrooms, a bathroom, a sit-out deck and a small kitchen.

Overnight cruise. Most couples book a one-night trip. You board around midday, cruise through the afternoon with lunch and tea on board, and anchor for the night. Houseboats stop cruising at around sunset (usually about 5:30 pm) and stay anchored until the next morning, a rule that keeps the water clear for local fishermen setting their nets after dark. Dinner and breakfast are served on board, and you are back at the jetty by the next morning.

Day cruise. If you only have a few hours, a day cruise gives you the backwaters and a lunch on board, without the overnight stay.

Choosing the right boat for a honeymoon

• Ask for a private one-bedroom boat. Some operators put couples on a larger boat with other rooms locked, or on a shared boat. Say clearly that you want a private one-bedroom houseboat.
• Check the AC hours. On many boats the air conditioning runs only at night. If you want it all day, ask for a boat that offers that.
• Confirm what's included: meals, tea and snacks, drinking water, and the check-in and check-out times.
• Ask about the route. Boats that go into the quieter canals of Kuttanad feel far more peaceful than ones that stay on the busy stretch near town.
• Look at recent photos and reviews of the actual boat, not just the company. Condition varies a lot.
• Tell them it's your honeymoon. Many operators decorate the bedroom or arrange a candlelit dinner on deck, sometimes at no extra cost.

Book with a well-reviewed operator, preferably one whose boat is approved by Kerala Tourism, and avoid paying the full amount to someone you have only spoken to on the phone.

When to go

• October to February is the most popular time: pleasant weather and green paddy fields. Book early for December and January, when prices are highest.
• The monsoon (June to September) brings heavy rain, but the backwaters are at their greenest, crowds are thin and houseboats are cheaper. Many couples love it, as long as they don't mind a few wet hours.
• March to May is hot and humid. It's the quietest and cheapest season.

If your dates fall in August, look up that year's Nehru Trophy Boat Race on Punnamada Lake, when long snake boats with over a hundred rowers race each other. It's crowded but unforgettable. Dates are announced each year, usually for a Saturday in August.

What to see beyond the houseboat

Kuttanad. The countryside around Alleppey is Kuttanad, often called the rice bowl of Kerala. Farmers here grow rice around 1.2 to 3 metres below sea level, on land reclaimed from the lake and protected by dykes. It is recognised by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Seeing canals running higher than the fields beside them is one of the strangest and most beautiful sights in Kerala.

A canoe ride. Houseboats are too big for the narrowest canals. A small canoe or country boat takes you through village waterways, past homes, temples and children waving from the banks. Early morning is best.

Alappuzha Beach. A wide, easy-going beach with the remains of an old pier and a lighthouse. Good for a sunset walk.

Marari Beach. North of town, quieter and prettier, with resorts set among coconut palms. A good place to spend the night after your houseboat trip.

Pathiramanal. A small island in Vembanad Lake, reachable only by boat, known for its birdlife. The name means "sand of midnight".

The public ferry. For a completely different view of the backwaters, take one of the State Water Transport Department's public boats from the jetty in town. It's slow, basic and very cheap, and you travel alongside people going about their day.

Temples and churches. The Sri Krishna temple at Ambalappuzha, known for its sweet palpayasam, and the old churches of Champakulam and Edathua are all close by.

Food to try

• Karimeen pollichathu: pearl spot fish marinated in spices and cooked in banana leaf. Ask your houseboat cook for it.
• Kerala fish curry with red rice.
• Appam with stew, a classic breakfast.
• Tender coconut water, fresh from the tree.

Vegetarian couples are well looked after; tell the houseboat in advance.

Practical tips

• Getting there: Cochin International Airport is the nearest airport. Alappuzha has its own railway station, and there are frequent buses from Kochi.
• Pack: light cotton clothes, sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent for the evening, and a light jacket if you'll use the AC.
• Money: carry some cash for canoe rides, tips and small shops in the villages.
• Respect local customs: dress modestly when visiting temples and villages, and ask before photographing people.

Combining Alleppey with the rest of Kerala

A popular week-long honeymoon route is Kochi → Munnar → Thekkady → Alleppey → Kovalam. Our older guides cover Munnar, Kumarakom across the lake, and Kovalam on the coast.

Still looking for the right person to take there? Browse Hindu, Christian and Muslim brides from Kerala, or create your free profile on FreeMarriage.com.