Spice Coast Cruises - Houseboat, A CGH Earth Experience

I cant recommend this highly enough! We had wonderful trip.. the boat is beautiful and so relaxing. an old authentic houseboat. its comfortable and the rooms are large considering you are on a boat! they have AC and fly nets. The food is amazing, and the service has the perfect balance of being attentive but not feeling like they were hovering (which given the boat isnt huge is quite a skill). The views are obviously stunning and we stopped off for a little village walk as well.

nothing! we will be coming back

We were treated like royalty. We were a group of mixed nationalities Germans, Greeks and Indians. It was second time with CGH Spice Boat Cruises, we would come back again. Four nights was not enough, the clam backwaters that the crew take you to, is worth it. The food was exceptionally good, with authentic Kerala cuisine. The staff is also open to ideas of things to do along the trip, like visiting temples, taking short walks along villages. The highlight as always was the vallam tour along the small canals. The vallasadya is a once in a lifetime experience. The Fish Cuisine is exceptionally good. If you visit in November to December, it is a birdwatchers paradise, do not forget your binoculars and camera. The rooms are spacious and extremely comfortable, so is the toilet, even though small, it has all the basic amenities(more than you can find in a boat). It is always a pleasure to have a conversation with our captain Jaimon, he is of great help and knowledge when spotting birds along the route. The staff Sanal, Joshy and others were also exceptionally helpful. The two chefs Suresh and Praveen? are masters in Kerala cuisine.

AMAZING BOAT FOOD BEST OF INDIA

Morning

Amazing ship captains and cook on board with us. Good food!! Lots of knowledge of birds.

The boat ride is long and relaxing. Our kids (11 and 14) were old enough to get into birding and photography. Young kids might be harder to entertain.

Spending two nights on the houseboat was an unforgettable experience. Cruising through the peaceful backwaters while watching local life pass by was something truly special. The crew took great care of us and prepared delicious traditional Kerala meals on board. Everything was clean, comfortable and well organised. Watching the sunset from the deck and waking up on the water were memories we’ll never forget. A must-do experience in Kerala.

Nothing stay was 10 of 10. Highly recommend

Everything!! Beautiful traditional houseboat.

Nothing! Staff were so kind and attentive, even offering my partner a fishing cane and bait when he wanted to fish!

Exceptional food (go hungry - there was a lot of it!) Very friendly staff - accommodating, knowledgeable & very attentive The backwaters where we moored overnight was incredibly tranquil. The boat was very comfortable and well equipped Don’t be put off by the aircon hours, the room is kept cool with a fan & I slept incredibly well overnight

My only regret is not doing more than one night. Things to note: - it’s a boat & the cabin is small - it is perfectly well equipped & more than sufficient, but if you have a lot of luggage, you won’t be able to have it all open at the same time; - alcohol isn’t served aboard, so if you want to consume it, just BYO and the team will chill it for you without issue

Everything placed good

Nothing.

A brilliant concept, curated beautifully by CGH Earth. Makes one appreciate the untouched serenity of the Vembanad backwaters, delicious Keralam cuisine and ridiculously brilliant hospitality. Darvit, Sanal and Sam were absolutely wonderful friends and made sure we had the most pleasant stay.

The crew were absolutely wonderful, and I would highly recommend this experience — it was truly unforgettable. We went at the end of April when the weather was quite hot, but the team on board made sure we were comfortable at all times. The AC running throughout the night, and during the day, the breeze on the boat kept things surprisingly pleasant. The chef on board was also fantastic. Every dish was delicious, and the portions were incredibly generous! Overall, the experience had such a great atmosphere, amazing hospitality, and was one of the highlights of our trip to South India.

The whole experience itself was 10/10. Great food, staff, local village walk and incredible views.

Communication about payment was confusing and we nearly ended up paying twice. Direct payment on arrival would be better. On booking.com it says “full board” but this doesn’t include alcohol, which is extra.

A great experience! The staff were brilliant, the food was amazing.

Nothing!

Fabulous experience from beginning to end from the 3 crew members.

Heel fijn verblijf gehad. De crew deed erg hun best om er een onvergetelijke ervaring van te maken. De kok heeft een heerlijke lunch, avondeten en ontbijt bereid. Hele goede service. Ik zou deze accommodatie zeker aanraden!

Tout était parfait, qu’il s’agisse du charme du bateau, de la gentillesse du personnel, du parcours dans les backwaters, des repas qui nous ont été servis ,

It was one of the best travelling experiences we’ve had! We spent 1 night on the boat which was perfect to soak up the stunning surroundings. The boat trip was so peaceful and beautiful. The staff were professional and friendly. There was so much food and it was all delicious and very high quality. The boat was so comfortable and the amenities were impressive (comfy bed, mosquito nets, aircon, shower). You won’t regret booking this!

We loved everything

Just beautiful

Nothing

This was honestly our highlight of Kerala. The whole experience - from the really warm staff, to the gorgeous views - was wonderful. The boat itself is beautifully decorated; the beds are huge and super comfy; there’s space to lounge in and out of the sun on deck; there’s hot water and AC, and remarkably decent WiFi! Where they moor all the CGH earth boats at night is so beautiful and peaceful. During the afternoon, we had such a wonderful cruise through the backwaters, and it was topped off by a bonus trip on a smaller canoe through the narrow canals. 100% recommend!

Nothing :)

SUPER RIEN A DIRE

Wundervolles Hausboot, sehr nette Crew, die uns jeden Wunsch erfüllen wollte und viele Vögel und Naturbeobachtungen gezeigt hat, super leckeres Essen, bequemes Bett… Wir würden diese Tour jedem empfehlen!

Wir waren wunschlos glücklich!

The quality of the service and the food. The kindness of the 3 staffs on board. Wonderful landscape, quiet navigation, perfect execution. Probably our best experience in Kerala.

Tutto straordinario !!!! Esperienza incredibile da fare almeno una volta nella vita !!!!

The staff were amazing, loved the food, great memories of the sunset

We enjoyed our day on the houseboat a lot, we got lots of information from the crew about the surroundings and nature, the food was amazing, outstanding service and hospitality! Next time we will do 2 days! 100% recommended and worth the price!

Everything was perfect

It was very comfortable and clean. It’s a wonderful experience in the tranquil waters around Alappuzha. So relaxing. A shame that we couldn’t berth overnight where we planned due to an electrical issue but the crew compensated by a walk around a village and a short journey the next morning.

Nothing really but they could expand their wine list beyond one red and one white.

Everything. Was sceptical when booked but turned out to be the best ‘tourist’ thing I’ve ever done. Basically a combo of long cruise on a lake, lux hotel and a (very good) private chef.

Nothing. Was brilliant.

The boat is well decorated and confortable, the crew was professionnal but the food was really good.

Overpriced! Due to a electric shutdown we had to come back in the middle of the afternoon to the departure location and stay the night there, meaning that we spent most of our cruise on the lake and not in the backwaters. The communication with the sales team is impossible it feels like talking to a chatbot (it must be one)... One crew member left in the night and nobody told us about it. We had to pay extra money to walk 20minutes on an island. We could feel the bedsprings.

The whole experience exceeded our (already high) expectations by far!

Nothing

The whole experience was magical. The food was incredible, staff were fantastic and the whole trip was so special.

Nothing! Loved it all!!

Great experience, with excellent food and very friendly and helpful staff.

Bathroom may need slight updating

Hospitality was good.

Incredible staff and food!

Make sure you bring a can of Deet!

Our boat was very traditional and with all the comfort of a luxury stay. A true experience.

Loved the overall experience - the location, cruise route, food and staff. It was amazing!

They could be a bit more relaxed about the check-out timing and early check-in could be informed a day in advance at least for us to plan accordingly.

Absolut fantastische experience - die Crew macht jede Minute zu etwas Besonderem! Essen und Unterbringung waren absolut perfekt und wir hatten sehr viel Spaß daran, mit dem Boot die Gegend zu erkunden!

Expérience exceptionnelle à bord de ces bateaux traditionnels des backwaters du Kerala. L’expérience d’immersion au cœur de la nature à la découverte d’oiseaux merveilleux est pleinement respectée. Pas de fantaisie sur ces bateaux qui ne proposent pas de TV etc mais plutôt une pleine expérience de déconnexion. L’équipage était vraiment très sympathique et professionnel. Ils ont su nous indiquer chaque recoin et oiseau des backwaters et l’expérience culinaire était plus que réussie avec des mets frais et parfaitement cuisinés. La chambre est très confortable. Nous avons séjourné deux nuits à bord ce qui nous a permis d’aller relativement profondément dans les backwaters, cette durée me semble minimale pour profiter pleinement de l’expérience. Probablement les meilleurs houseboats et le meilleur service des backwaters d’Allepey ! Merci pour ces souvenirs qui resteront gravés à jamais !

Rien

The staff are friendly and the food was fresh and tasty. They considered our preference

The staff were so welcoming and looked after us amazingly well. Food was fabulous, the room was really cute with extremely comfortable beds, aircon as mosquito nets. We loved gliding around the backwaters and our trip to see the local village. We checked in at 1pm and left at 10am the next day. It was the perfect length stay. We appreciated that the staff kindly arranged a few local beers for us and that there were chess and playing cards on board. It was a perfect relaxing stay.

Nothing.

The staff was the best part! The navigators and chef were excellent. (Joshy, Sonal and Darwin) Their English was great, the food was amazing, the information they shared about the area was interesting. The boat was clean, there were plenty of clean linens and towels, the fresh juice and snacks were a nice perk. There crew even got a fishing pole for our son. They made our trip absolutely wonderful. The landscape is beautiful, we are so happy we got to experience this.

Amazing experience

Absolutely loved the whole experience, great food, people and location. Worth the price.

Great comfy boat. Super nice staff

Great customer service! Entire crew was wonderful and the property was very well managed and maintained. Thanks

My husband and I had a lovely experience on the houseboat with our crew (Thankaeken, Sam and Reji). They were kind, hard working and so friendly. The food was so delicious! We both agreed that it was the best series of meals that we have had in all of our travels through India. Thank you so much, this experience far exceeded our expectations ☺️ 10/ 10

The houseboat itself was inspired by old houseboat designs but was quite modern and very comfortable. The staff were excellent with the cook preparing lavish feasts for us - food was exceptional! They even had binoculars for bird watching - something I didn't know I would enjoy so much. Absolutely unforgettable experience.

Can't think of anything.

The highlight of our Kerela Holiday. Excellent service from all concerned. Our 3 boat staff were exceptional. Captains Joshy and Thankachan were so friendly, helpful, and informative and the chef Reji was a brilliant cook and fed us so well ( the Thali meal was the best we had in India). The converted rice barge was beautiful and comfortable ( aircon too) and they took us to loads of lovely and quiet places. Doing 2 nights is better as you see more natural places and quiet backwaters. It was also really good value and they took us to loads of places ( and on a small boat tour, to a church and cycling) and loads of food ( including afternoon tea and snacks).

Nothing - can't fault it.

The entire experience was fantastic- a must do

The boat route offers the best way to experience Alleppey. As you glide through tranquil waterways, you'll pass charming villages that provide an authentic glimpse into local life. The crew expertly navigates to a stunning spot for a breathtaking sunset, ensuring an unforgettable journey. The culinary experience on board is truly exceptional, offering flavors that are nothing short of extraordinary.

The only downside I would say is that the crew stays on the boat with you for the whole night. They sleep right outside your room, even though they are not disturbing, but it feels a little invasive.

We liked everything; the two captains, the cook, the boating, the lunch and dinner. The crew was kind enough to meet my wife's request and take us for a short stroll at an island.

No so much to dislike, but more a suggestion to clarify upfront: We heared from other tourists that at Spice Coast Cruises there would be a switch to a smaller boat that sailed narrower creeks. We learned during our stay that this is true for two nights stays only.

Very Pleasant crew, they took good care of us. Food was good and plenty. Good explanation of wildlife on the way and we were shown the highlights of the backwaters. Thank you to the great crew.

Very private, with a beautiful location. You’re given plenty of time to relax alone and the staff are always on hand to help. The staff also have great knowledge of local wildlife and can point out birds on route.

The bed wasn’t very comfortable as it’s two single mattresses next to each other with a gap between them. This really should be changed to one double mattress. The hot water is very limited meaning the shower goes cold fast.

Wonderful boat (the nicest we saw on the backwaters) and the best crew. Rooms were cosy both en suite. Food was wonderful and plentiful. Very knowledgeable captain who pointed out all the sights and birds on the way. Also loved the canoe trip exploring the smaller river ways.

We like everything, if there was one thing to maybe improve the accommodation would be to add a comfortable chair or two in the main area. If it’s raining then the outdoor lounging area is brought in and a comfy indoor chair would be a nice addition. (We had a rainy couple of days!)

I liked the eco friendly decor, the friendly staff, fresh meals, and the whole experience

There wasn’t really anything O didn’t like. It’s an expensive stay - but it is exclusive.

Staff and food were amazing Great experience

Alcohol/beer to be included in the price and to have a stock on the boat, we didn't know how many beers we would want in the morning when we arrived and ended up only having one bottle, but that's only a small issue Maybe some more board games?

Thank you for a wonderful time. Great experience that we will not forget. very peaceful, calm and relaxing on the boat. The backwaters are amazing. The boat was nice and clean and great air conditioning in the bedroom. Great staft - Kind, friendly, attentive. Loved the food thank you - lots of it and great to taste the Kerala food. Catered for vegetarian as well as meat/fish eaters. Santosh, Praveen + Davit looked after us so well - we willnot forget this!

Not that we didn’t like but the bathroom was a bit outdated.

Everything was absolutely perfect. I felt like a princess from the moment I stepped on the boat. The decoration is beautiful, the food is delicious, and the staff is friendly and caring. Kerala backwaters ate beautiful!

Incredibly comfortable boat. Staff went over and above. Food incredible.

Nothing!

The staff were excellent and looked after us really well. They arranged WiFi on board for us and even stopped off to buy us some wine to drink with our meal on our last night. We saw some amazing birds and learned a lot of interesting facts about the Backwaters. The food was delicious and we didn’t have the same dish twice. We even ate traditional Keralan festival food. We had a boat to ourselves and were very lucky with the weather. It was a relaxing time. We felt really sad to leave.

Nothing

Food was fantastic, some of the bet meals we ate in India. Beds were very comfy, staff great

We took the 1 night route, it felt as though there may be some nicer areas to sail on rather than the route we took. We arrived back at the overnight park up spot quite early so it felt as though we spent a lot of time moored up there when we could have had more time out on the water

Beautiful boat, incredible crew, wonderful scenery

Better provisions for special dietary requirements- we were asked about this but I don’t think our needs were fully catered for

Wow wow wow

Perfect in every way

It was amazing , we had the boat to ourselves and 3 staff… we saw sunset and sunrise in the backwater.., all the birds… no words for how amazing it was

Slightly over faced by too much food.. otherwise faultless

Amazing boat and very good staff

Poor communication with host. I waited for answers to my msg 8 and more hours :/

Boat was nicely furnished and the staff really friendly and helpful. The food on the boat was excellent and there was plenty of it and lots of choices. They asked before hand if there were any dietary requirements. The trip round the backwaters was really nice, very relaxing and enjoyable.

Check in time was a bit confusing, time given online different to what told in email, all within an hour of each other but we delayed the arrival as a result and was the only boat at the jetty, waiting for us, so could have been earlier as originally planned.

Fabulous rice barge

This certainly met expectations: a wonderfully relaxing one night stay. The staff were the highlight, wonderfully helpful, friendly and also discrete. The food was also excellent and the pace of the cruise around the lakes and canals just right.

The bedroom was quite small (though the bed was very comfortable).

The boat staff were excellent - very informative but also keen to ensure our stay was entirely comfortable, fun and friendly. The boat was just perfect with a great open space at the front for dining and also for taking in the sun and chatting to the captain. The bedrooms were just lovely and there was plentiful hot water in the tiny but entirely serviceable en-suite shower rooms . As for the food ? Superb- Rahul was a great chef and Vinu’s, with his good command of English and a keen sense of good service was excellent to have in the boat - he made the trip.

Although we understood why we’d gone back to the start the night before the end of our trip ( power for the a/c) it did feel as though our 2 day trip was really just a 30 hour trip even tho’ we went back out the following morning .

Incredible scenery, the most lovely staff & very attentive, so much lovely authentic food, air con in the bedroom, charming decor

Everything was great!

The whole experience from the ambience, scenery, food to staff, services

This was an absolutely outstanding accomodation! The experience was so relaxing and the staff were incredibly accomodating. The food served on board was delicious. Highly recommend - could not fault!

nothing!

This was a fantastic experience! The boat looks amazing, the rooms are very comfortable and cosy. The whole crew was very helpful and even though we were all in the same boat, we were given a lot of privacy. The food was absolutely amazing, the cook did a very good job! And the views... Just unforgettable...