Kalappura Houseboats & Tours

I liked the food, the crew and the manager were extremely friendly and helpful.

I think the boat trip was a little bit short.

Nous avons adoré notre séjour sur ce Houseboat. Les paysages sont sublimes, les repas délicieux et l’équipage aux petits soins. Le bateau est très bien entretenu et propre, un vrai bonheur d’y passer 24h. Merci!

An unforgettable experience. The boat itself is beautiful — rich woodwork throughout, two spacious bedrooms with big windows, a glassed-in dining and sitting area, and an upper deck perfect for photos. Anthony acted as our contact and agent and the three-man crew of Sudheesh (captain), Jayan (cook), and Tinu (helper) were exceptional. Jayan cooked incredible Kerala meals served on banana leaves — fresh fish and scampi we'd chosen ourselves at a canal-side market that afternoon, plus chicken curry, vegetable curry, and breads that kept appearing. Tinu even cleaned our mud-caked shoes overnight without being asked. The early morning small-boat trip through the narrow village canals was a highlight — watching women wash clothes on the canal steps, fishermen casting nets at dawn, and ducking under low bridges in the half-light. Worth every rupee. Book Anthony's boat if you can.

This houseboat experience was wonderful. Definitely gives you a good feel for the backwaters. The food was wonderful and the make you feel like royalty.

The only disappointing thing was where we were parked for sunset and the night. We couldn’t even see the sunset and we stayed there for the night. It was far from glamorous and after such a beautiful day on the water it was disappointing to be docked in such a random location just along a street.

The food was absolutely incredible! And the staff super. Everything about it was amazing and we had a magical time. Best Kerala style food I had the whole trip.

Exceptional time. Communication was excellent from the time of booking, and the staff on the boat looked after us incredibly well. The boat was comfy and spacious, with plenty of space to sit inside, or outside (both in and out of the sun). The food was also incredible. Obviously, this is all framed against the backwaters - and it is definitely worth doing the extra boat trip.

What an amazing experience! Such a luxurious boat . The staff were awesome

Nous avons adoré le repas. Le chef était excellent, poisson super frais. Anthony était très attentif au détails ( allergies, préférence culinaire). Il nous a aussi aider pour trouver un taxi alors que nous étions déjà dans une autre ville. Chapeau pour le customer service!

Nothing

Had a wonderful overnight stay with Kalappura Houseboats. Not only was the boat exceptionally well maintained, it was clean, the room was spacious (enormous bathroom and suite), and it docked in a quieter area overnight. All staff - from booking, through to the onboard staff offered outstanding hospitality. The onboard meals were freshly prepared and delicious. Highly recommend this to anyone considering a houseboat stay.

Nothing - loved it all.

美しい景色のなかで、静かでゆったりした贅沢な時間が過ごせました。なにか特別なイベントがあるというよりは、とにかくリラックスする感じです。船長さんもシェフもフレンドリーでした。シーフードが美味しい。朝の小さいボートでのお散歩も、より色んな景色が見れて素敵でした。 夜停泊していた時に、隣にあった他社のボートから大音量の音楽が流れてきていたため、それを止めてほしいと伝えたところ、現地の人同士でうまく話してくれて隣のボートも静かにしてくれました。 私は1人で貸切ボートにしましたが、他の人と同乗するプランもあるようです。どんな人が同乗するかわからないので、貸し切りにして良かったと思います。次は両親を連れていきたいです。

何もない

We had an amazing stay here, the houseboat was incredible, so well maintained and the staff went out of their way to make sure we were looked after well. We had an afternoon cruise, walked around a local village at sunset and a sunrise small boat tour. The food was really lovely and they made everything to your preference - would stay again!

Nothing!

We had the most incredible experience on our houseboat tour. From the moment we stepped on board, we felt like royalty; the entire crew greeted us one by one with a handshake, which set such a warm, personal tone for the trip. The intimacy of the boat was a huge plus—there were only two other guests on board, and they were lovely company. The food was nothing short of exceptional. We loved the traditional touch of eating off banana leaves, and the arrival coconut water was so refreshing. A real highlight was visiting the fish market to hand-pick our dinner for the crew to prepare; you can’t get fresher than that! Do not miss the 6:30 AM sunrise canal tour. It was an extra cost, but worth every penny. A tiny boat picked us up right from our deck "bang on time" for a 2-hour journey through the small canals. It was easily the most beautiful thing we’ve ever seen. That and the views of the boat, this one is definitely unmissable.

The only thing to watch out for is the fish market visit. While we loved the experience of picking out our own dinner, the prices were extremely high—clearly 'tourist prices.' We decided to just go with the flow and let it go because we were having such a great time, but if you’re on a budget, I’d definitely recommend putting your haggling hat on! Don't be afraid to negotiate the price down

Typical boat as per picture and many similar on the lake. Arrival was stressful as we were told arriving at 1pm was ok even though there was another couple already aboard. However then Anthony kept calling to get us to arrive sooner and ended up having a problem with our driver who refused to adjust the agreed plan for time and place for drop off. Beware as boats clearly try and please everyone and promise many things but there can be a conflict between what one couple wants and another couple would like. Example, if one wants massage , the others have to wait for an hour whilst massage takes place. Jose was a breath of diplomatic fresh air and thanks to him, and him alone did we all end up having a good trip.

They should just be straight talking to all and not try and please everyone when it is clearly not feasible. Also lots of the ‘special features’ like “private entrance”, “salon” etc are basically your own door to a cabin and a Shared sitting area with all on the boat. I found the whole trip disappointing as we just sailed around the water until we went to anchor up. The small boat was at 6am in the morning which was a pity as it is the only time you get to see and ‘meet’ real People and how they live around the lake. Way too early but a good aspect of you can make it

This was an unforgettable trip. I arrived by taxi who communicated with the owner for me and I was met at the planned meeting place. This trip is one not to miss out on. The boat is so well looked after and the chefs created the most delicious and filling meals. My room was large, very clean and a super comfy bed. There is room to be outside on the boat as well as inside to be protected from the sun. A morning optional small boat excursion around the narrow water ways was planned. The whole experience was incredible. And definitely worth it.

Nothing. Loved it all

Unforgettable stay in probably the most beautiful house boat on the back waters of Kerala. From the very first minute to last we felt incredibly well looked after. The food, the views, the staff with their constant attention for every detail provided the best possible experience. There’s only one conclusion possible, because Kerala is God’s own country so this must have been God’s own boat.

Had a great 1 night stay on the houseboat. Was on a 3 bed boat, but only two couples. Lots of space for us to feel alone, for example two terraces on upper deck so we could spread out. But also dinner together so could also chat. Bedroom was comfy, AC was good. Food delicious. Would definitely recommend!

Très beau séjour. Nous avons eu la chance d'avoir voyagé sur les backwaters avec Kalappura houseboats and Tours.nous avons eu le bateau pour nous deux avec une très belle terrasse en hauteur et donc une vie magnifique sur les backwaters. Le personnel était adorable. Et le repas très fin était absolument exquis. Nous sommes très reconnaissants pour ces quelques jours de vacances.

Rien.

A beautiful houseboat, one of the loveliest looking boats on the Kerala Backwaters. Lovely accommodation, friendly helpful crew, great food, much to see.

I didn’t love the plastic grass.

A lovely houseboat with gorgeous bedrooms and decked areas. Delicious food. The sunrise small boat trip was a highlight.

Nothing

Our room was reasonably comfortable. The best part of the experience was the sunrise ride on a small boat through the village backwaters.

The food was ok but the quantity was rather limited.

Amazing service and friendly staff! Food is top tier

The houseboat was very clean, comfortable, well equipped and well maintained. Comfortable beds, good climate in the rooms as soon as the AC was running (obviously only while docked for the night) and fans available all the time. Hot water showers (also only while docked) and en-suite bathrooms in all rooms. Lovely dining and living area, large upper deck that offered an airy and shady place to take in the amazing views. Nice front and rear upper sitting areas. The food (lunch, afternoon snacks, dinner and breakfast) was included in the price, was prepared by the cooks on-board and was absolutely excellent. They also took all our special wishes (like less spicy food for our young kids) into account. Crew was generally extremely kind and helpful. Communication with the booking staff was also excellent and very straightforward. We had the premium package which included a sunrise trip in the early morning on s smaller boat and this was very enjoyable and highly recommended. All in all it was an excellent and very worthwhile experience.

A minor thing was that we were parked for an hour during the afternoon because one of the other guests on the boat wanted to get a massage and we waited for them. This felt like a bit of a waste of our time, especially considering the pretty high price that we paid for the experience. The only other thing that I would criticise is the lack of life jackets during the early morning excursion on the small boat (especially for the kids). Not a real issue thanks to the attentive crew but still felt a little bit too laidback for my parenting style.

The boat was very comfortable, the staff were excellent, the food was delicious. The overall experience was thoroughly enjoyable! So good that I'd do it all over again! I'd highly recommend Kalappura houseboats, Jose and Anthony were lovely and made the booking experience easy!

The only thing I was a little disappointed about was the location, I expected to be going through quieter areas, more remote areas on the boat. I'm not sure if this is possible on such a large houseboat though!

Recommended, me and my son enjoyed quiet and relaxing time with a crew that took care of everything we needed. The food was great and the room was comfortable.

From the moment I booked our trip Anthony the owner was extremely communicative and spoke very good English. The boat was easy to find and as I was travelling with a girlfriend they changed the room into a twin. The boat was clean and roomy with several decks to see the view from. Sonny the captain was competent and Devin the chef created some great dishes toned down for our palette. Overall a fantastic relaxing experience.

I took an overnight trip on Jose's one-bedroom houseboat, which was lovely. The boat is beautiful and immaculately kept; I really liked that the front lounge area is open at the sides so you can feel the breeze and there's no glass between you and the sounds and sights of the backwaters. The bedroom on the other hand is like a hotel, with a/c and hot water and most importantly completely mosquito proof! Joseph the captain pointed out many things of interest as we passed, and Jayan the cook made me three delicious (and very filling!) vegetarian meals; both are very pleasant and professional people to travel with. I also really appreciated that Jose and the crew took time to work out how to help me on and off the boat safely, as I have mobility issues that can make that sort of thing quite worrisome - they even cleared away some invasive water weed so the boat could get really close to the bank. I was alone this trip but it would be even better for a couple; in fact if I'm ever able to come back with my wife I hope we can spend two or more nights on the water because it's just such a relaxing and recharging experience.

La communication était excellente, avant, pendant et après l’expérience. Tout était très professionnelle et agréable: ponctualité, propreté, qualité de la nourriture, service, etc. Nous avons aimé la possibilité d’aller se promener dans une rizière et un village. Un grand merci à toute l’équipe!!

Expérience quand même coûteuse, mais mémorable!

Everything was so relaxed and comfortable, all the staff were friendly and helpful

Peaceful cruise through the canals. Food was great, as were staff.

I have enjoyed our trip with Kalappura Houseboats, it was a smooth experience. Good views, excellent typical Kerala food and a very nice crew. You get to see the small villages and waterways. Booked upgraded package, worth it. I recommend it.

Nettes Ankommen und Willkommenheißen, tolle Tour mit wunderschöner Natur und Einblicken, leckere Verköstigung, abendliche Spaziergängen, super Personal, spannende Kajaktour. Insgesamt eines unserer Highlights auf unserer Reise!

We had an incredible experience on Kalappura Houseboats! The houseboat was immaculately clean, spacious, and tastefully decorated. The crew was friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure our comfort. We spotted local birds, watched the sunset, and even took a dip in the water. Jose and his team made sure at all times that we had everything we needed at all times and paid attention to all the details.

Amazing experience,we had excellent service.food was fantastic.It was very peaceful on the lake The staff were all lovely,Jose was really friendly and easy to communicate with us. I believe it was a good value for such an experience.

We had a fabulous stay on Jose's houseboat. The staff were all lovely, Jose was really friendly and easy to communicate with. The food was absolutely fantastic and there was an opportunity to hop ashore and buy some extra seafood from the fish market (not that you really need it as the included food is so plentiful! But we couldn't resist buying some extra big juicy tiger prawns.) It all felt very private and personalised to our needs. We stayed on the two room boat with another couple. The boat itself is comfortable and looks beautiful in the traditional style, compared to some of the bigger boats we saw. The smaller morning boat ride through the little waterways was very special and a highlight of our trip. Jose also helped us organise a sunset kayaking trip which was fab. All in all a magical stay.

Such a lovely small houseboat (for two people), clean and comfortable. The food was incredible throughout with huge portions, catering to our vegetarian requirements. We were given a good deal taking into account our budget which was much appreciated. A real highlight of our trip.

Nil

The food was delicious. The staff was incredibly hospitable. The room was large and comfortable. No bug issues! The boat had a beautiful open balcony in the front and back and also a covered area with speakers and a fan. It was perfect to enjoy the backwater scenery and surroundings. I cannot praise them enough.

N/A

Had such a lovely 1 night stay on this boat. Very clean and comfortable with great views. The captain and chef were so nice. Fresh seafood on the water. What more could you ask for.

Antony was excellent helping us with our booking. The boat was great, good AC, comfortable. Kitchen was clean. Lunch was excellent! The scenery was great, and the morning extra small boat tour is a must. The team got ice and fruit for us to make cocktails which was greatly appreciated. The local indian style breakfast was tasty. Beds were comfortable and the boat was very clean.

Lunch was outstanding. Dinner could have had a lot more effort put in. The food was nice but very simple, there was no table setting and we asked the chef to play some music to add some atmosphere which helped. The dinner experience could have been improved. Some of the glasses could have been washed better.

Had a great time living on a houseboat for a night. The staff is exceptionally nice, the food our chef prepared was top-notch - he is a really fun guy. We had a memorable experience.

Mosquitoes and wall lizards after dark

All the meals served on the houseboat were delicious. Staff worked super hard to provide us with a unique experience. The boat was in excellent condition and our captain made us feel safe at all times. When we berthed for the night we were able to witness the sunset. It was incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I hope to be able to come back one day.

Unfortunately, the mosquitoes for us were the biggest problem. We would have loved to have opened our bedroom window but could not for this reason.

It was a wonderful experience we had with Kalappura Houseboats. The food was amazing and the staff were very helpful. The country boat ride in the morning through the small water channels was a new experience for me. The seafood dishes were very tasty and diverse.

An absolutely anazing experience from start to finish. A very clean and well organised boat. Our bedroom was quite large with en suite bathroom, the mini fridge was loaded with ample drinks and even chocolate all included in our premium package deal. Lunch and evening meal was home cooked and just delicious!! There were 3 staff onboard at all times who were friendly and helpful and making tea for us at our request. In the morning we did a small riverboat cruise to see the sunrise and that was amazing as we went through narrow waterways showing local people starting their day. Plenty of information given along the way too. Back on the houseboat after sunrise to a scrumptious breakfast!! There were mosquitoes in the evening but for our room a repellent was provided as were indoor slippers. All in all a great experience! Would book this trip again in the future and recommend it. We shared our trip with a mother n daughter who were great company!

Nothing

Lovely staff and food was amazing. Great smaller boat ride through the narrow back waters with jovial and welcoming staff there as well. Special requests accommodated with care and amazing communication before and during the stay. Multiple areas to relax on board.

Great boat - lots of places to sit , we had a 1 bedroom one which was perfect . Food was superb with your own chef. We stopped off to buy some extra prawns and chef cooked them for us . Friendly owner who kept in contact

Nothing

Worth taking the morning rising sun trip but meant not having enough time to shower, and there wasn't any hot water. Had to pay extra for this.Food OK although wanted to charge extra for seafood, requested no sqid but was brought sqid. Wanted spicy food but this was lacking. However, was given a discount. Would not recommend any more than 1 night.

The expectation of the experience did not match the reality and felt that you had to pay more on top for items to bring it up to what was expected. Strange arrangements for payment by card at the end of stay, had to dive to petrol station 1k up the road.

Knowledgable and friendly staff, delicious food, authentic exterior, modern interior, every little detail thought of like electric fly swatters to indoor flip flops in all sizes.

Nothing - it had it all

We had a personal chef to ourselves- he did a grand job at each meal. Breakfast was toast, omelette, fruit, idli and sambher, tea/coffee.

Please provide hand towels too. Please also fix the soap dispenser - it was hanging off the tiles.

Excellent service. Friendly staff. Great value. Excellent communication.

Nothing

This was the boat trip of my dreams. A gorgeous boat with every facility you could wish for. The captain and cook were always on hand to offer what ever you required but at the same time never overbearing. The meals were utterly delicious and cooked fresh all day everyday by Jose. The constant beauty of the backwaters navigated by Joseph, the captain, was the icing on the cake. Finally I must add that all correspondence with the owner was responded to extremely quickly and efficiently.

The houseboat itself was great (and the food some of the best I've had in Kerala), but the trip down the small canals of the backwater is what made the trip so special.

It was super clean and had fantastic facilities! The food was incredible and fresh and I felt like they thought of everything for a comfortable experience.

Nothing it was all really good!

My partner and I had an incredible 2 night stay with Kalappura Houseboats. Everything was arranged seamlessly via Antony on WhatsApp, including transfers to and from the boat - which involved a long drive from our previous location. We had a private 1 bedroom houseboat which was beyond our expectations, it has all the modern amenities including WiFi, hot water and drinking water. Jose welcomed us and explained everything and the boat crew (Joseph and Jalan) were available throughout the trip for anything we needed. All meals provided were excellent and they will cook up fresh fish/shellfish if you want to purchase this from one of the canal side stores. We would definitely recommend the sunrise country boat tour where you are taken around some of the smaller canals which the houseboats can’t go down.

Nothing

-comfortable room -very cozy top deck -good food -well organized in advance

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We had the best stay on the boat! Jose and his team made sure at all times that we had everything we needed at all times and paid attention to all the details. All meals were cooked freshly on board and were from the locals cuisine, which we really enjoyed. In the morning we went on the village tour and we were pretty much the only people. During other parts of the tour we saw many other houseboats. In comparison ours was one of the more luxurious and nicer looking ones. I would definitely recommend the stay on the boat!

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We had a amazing time! The food was good and the room super spacious and clean.

We could not be any happier with the Houseboat experience, everything was flawless, Jose the kindest host, we enjoyed the tranquility, sunset and sunrise, birdwatching and the amazing staff and food onboard. Highly recommended!

Excellent attentive service, great food and comfortable, clean facilities

All the food prepared for us was of excellent quality, absolutely delicious and loads of it. We were relieved when we found leftovers were used up by the crew and families because as good as it was we couldn’t eat it all.

Nothing. Was perfect.

Jose is the owner and is in site for alot of the time.  We were helped alot by Tina, food cooled by Suda. They were friendly informative and the right amount of interaction. Jose was very friendly and gave me a lesson on tying a dhoti.  Above and beyond service level from everyone. The arrival communications were rec'd via WhatsApp and nothing was really out. Jose also has 2 houseboats and is able to slot you into a number of options.   We did a sunrise tour 6.00 - 9.00 and it was amazing.  We saw village life in the small canals from a small boat of 6 people.  The boat cruises along slowly and it was a very special local tour  Our 2nd tour was an overnight boat.  We arrived at 12 and disembarked at 9 the next morning.   The boat was very good, high quality for us and another couple.  Food was tremendous including fish and prawns.   Beer was booked and available on board.  We both loved the calm trip and feel it was good value and worth a day or two. Close to the bus station and multiple temples. Nice and quiet at night and serene in the day. The food here is fantastic. We had a choice of European (eggs, toast, jam and butter) or Kerala sambar, idlii and dosa. We stayed for three days and requested what we wanted the night before. We had two evening meals and the food is exceptional, mixture of vegetarian, fish or meat on request.  Water is provided and beer is 250rs for a bottle. The food could be cooked to your taste and we had different levels of heat and spicing.  Nothing was too much trouble and the portions were generous. We had a large double bedded room with AC and fan.  The room was extremely clean. Bedding good quality and pillows nice and firm. We had an ensuite bathroom(wet room) which was spacious. There's a separate kitchen area with fridge and kettle. 

Nothing really, the homestay and everything else was perfect

I loved the food, the scenery, the relaxed atmosphere.

The cockroach.

Amazing boat with super facilities and staff. Such a relaxing way to spend the day and evening, just watching the world go by in beautiful surroundings with fabulous food and facilities. Jose went above and beyond and I would recommend using this company over others- I chose by recommendation rather than price and it did not disappoint- even lots of hot water that you don’t we’ve get in some hotels.

Nothing

We did not stay in the houseboat but in the homestay and did a tour with Jose on the backwaters. Room was good value for money and the hosts are friendly and very helpful, making time to find out bus timings or just have a chat. We did the morning countryboat and houseboat tour and everything was well organized and the crew very friendly. Because the tour is in the early morning, it feels like you have the backwaters to yourself and not sharing it with other tourists!

Absolutely beautiful houseboat with 2 rooms. Great rooftop deck for relaxing with speaker. Delicious meals throughout. Backwaters are beautiful. Jose is a fantastic host. Couldn’t recommend any more

Our stay on the houseboat was incredible! The staff was exceptionally welcoming and attentive, making us feel right at home. The organization was flawless, and everything ran smoothly from start to finish. The boat itself was beautifully maintained, with clean, comfortable rooms and great amenities. The food was a highlight. Authentic Kerala flavors, freshly prepared and delicious. A perfect way to experience the backwaters! Highly recommended, and we’d love to come back.

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Friendly staff and good fresh foods.

Staff was great, the houseboat and the rooms are clean and well organized with cozy areas to relax and enjoy the view, they provide 3 meals a day with snacks in between, view is amazing. Jose and Anthony were super helpful and also helped us book a taxi to the airport. They are all very hospitable, and they are focused on giving you the best experience possible. Highly recommended.

You can travel in the small villages around when the boat is docked. It is a nice place to walk, but there is nothing exciting.

We had a wonderful houseboat tour in Alleppey, Kerala, and it was nothing short of magical. The houseboat was new and very comfortable, offering two terraces with breathtaking views of the serene backwaters. The food was fantastic and Jose, Antony, and the crew did everything to make are stay memorable and went above and beyond by arranging a birthday cake and local sparkling wine, making our celebration truly special. I highly recommend opting for a two-day tour to fully immerse yourself in the beauty of the backwaters and explore the charming villages along the way. The morning tour in a small boat was a standout experience, offering an intimate glimpse into the daily life of the locals. If you're looking for a unique and relaxing escape, this houseboat tour in Alleppey is an experience not to be missed!

Loved it all from start to finish

Nothing it was great

Honestly, couldn’t have asked for a nicer stay. We booked the premium package, which was more expensive but included extra fresh seafood options and a sunrise canal tour in a smaller boat. It was so worth it. The chef is a literal magician, his food is that good. The ambiance is cosy and relaxing, with A/C and good WiFi. The captain will point things out as you go. Perfect romantic getaway for two people and could not recommend it enough!

I’ve suggested a gangway be added to connect the boat to shore as you do have to jump in and out. People with mobility concerns might struggle, but they may also be able to accommodate you.

The whole experience was blast! In our opinion the boat we were at was better than many others we saw because it had and open rooftop where you could see this paradise while the breeze refreshes you. We tried new Indian foods, although a bit spicy they were excellent. Staff was amazing and very helpful and they offer you the possibility to do an excursion in a smaller boat to reach the smaller canals for a little extra money. WE LOVED IT!

We stayed in the premium boat house. It was great experience, the room / attached bath were clean and tidy. The crew was very polite and offered humble service, food was very tasty. Thanks to Jose and Anthony for making it overall memorable.

very nice houseboat in the traditional style - all done with natural Material. Staff was very friendly and welcome with jasminflowers and fresh coconut was really friendly and made us feel at home. Manager Josef thought carefully about who fits to whom so we had a cozy boat with another couple and just two bedrooms which provided a private and quite atmosphere. Food was excellent and the Chef took care about any additional wishes. Not to forget the cold drinks in the minibar and the connection to electricity during nighttime - means good AC without the noise of a generator! Finally pick up worked out perfectly including with all luggage. Cruise was wonderful and the short duration was compensated with a magic early morning tour with a small boat to the smaller canals. We can really warmly recommend Kalapura houseboats. Having been able to compare with many other houseboats we consider ours as one of the prettiest. Thank you so much all staff and wishing u all the best! Rahel and Helmut Switzerland

all was fine

The property was stunning! Definitely felt like we were on the best boat. It was so beautiful and perfect.

Nothing we didn’t like

It was so beautiful and the whole experience was so scenic! The boat truly felt like a home on water and we were so well looked after! Would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Alleppey!

Nothing!

Great route, very beautiful scenic routes. Staff were friendly and unintrusive. Food was good and the boat was very cosy. Would highly recommend.

The only negative was the the fact that there was an upgrade package which we feel wouldnt have been worth it

Very comfortable and spacious boat. Food was very nice. Staff friendly.

It’s very homely feeling at the property

Nothing

A trip on the Kerala backwaters is a bucket list experience and Kalappura made it unforgettable. We had a warm welcome from Jose and the crew. They were polite, friendly and professional throughout. The room was comfortable and had a double bed and private bathroom. The food was great and plentiful. The highlight of the tour is of course the beautiful surroundings of Alleppy. It was so nice to sit on deck and take in the view. Jose also arranged for us to have a smaller tour in the evening (no extra cost) on a narrow boat which could go further into the canals to see local villages and wildlife. Overall, an excellent experience.

The breakfast was awesome as we preferred Kerela’s traditional food & it was so delicious & tasty. The location feels like a home & the owner along with his entire staff were so polite, hospitable & made us feel like we were in our own home. The rooms & bathrooms are hygiene in both homestay & houseboats. Even the captain & chef of the houseboat are so polite & hospitable that we didn’t even got a single thought that we came here for the first time. Really, they treat us like their own family. Thank you so much for this wonderful service which made a memorable moment to be remembered..!!

NA

- Very clean. - The cook Mr JN was just phenomenal! Very good prawn and crab fry, dahl, rice everything!! - Very organized and responsive staff. Crew and contact person. - Facilities were complete. Had everything including hotwater, wifi, a/c, speakers

- there is a time limit for a/c. If you wanted extended hours you’d need to upgrade to another package. I understand it’s to save electricity and all but with the very hot and humid we were so desperate to just get in the room and refreshed whenever we wanted. - Would have liked to have more guided conversations around the history of houseboats or insights into village life.

I was a little worried about our stay on the houseboat as there are so many to choose from. However, as soon as I stepped on the boat I knew I had made the right decision. It is spotless and tidy. It is well kept. The owners met with us both to share the history of the houseboats and the local area. We had a wonderful cook and captain who took care of us throughout our stay. We were on a one bedroom boat which I highly recommend and we paid an additional fee for a trip down the narrow side canals the next morning: you must do this as you see local village life. The bed is enormous and all clean and comfortable. We wouldn’t hesitate to book this houseboat again. There are many on the water but many are large and not well maintained. This boat is very clean and offers a more authentic experience.

Nothing

Staying on a houseboat is a wonderful and unique experience, to have it private just for us as well was really special. This is definitely what you are paying for. The welcome, the food, snacks, tea and coffee was all wonderful, we had lunch, snacks, dinner and breakfast all on the boat, there was always plenty available and the chef was lovely. The captain was also really nice, answering all of our questions. The boat ride itself is peaceful and a lovely way to see the backwaters.

This is not luxury so don't expect that, it is a lovely local experience. Just a note, once the boat docks, and it gets dark, covers are pulled all around the boat, this does make it hotter, which meant we went to our room very early. There is an expectation that it's time to go to bed around 9pm, so it's really about the boat trip and food. The bed isn't very comfortable which is fine for one night, but just something to note. And there electricity cut off for over an hour in the middle of the night which mean the AC went off. We were warned in the notes this could happen but of course, but during the peak heat season this was tough, we were just grateful the electricity came back on.

Excellent service from staff and Jose Food was incredible Boat is smaller so perfect for going down the small canals and under bridges unlike the 2 storey boats that cannot fit down. Bedroom is beautiful boat itself is amazing We got to experience things the large boats cannot. We stopped at the boat yard and to see the toddy tapping we saw lots of local life. We were the only houseboat parked for the night and the sunrise was amazing. Honestly this is an experience of a lifetime and we highly recommend. The attention to detail is amazing. We are youtubers kay and Gogo for full vlog of our experience.

We loved everything

We took a breakfast cruise in a large, gorgeous, traditional houseboat: Jose’s pride and joy! We cruised for 3 hours and were treated to a delicious South Indian breakfast and stunning views of the backwaters. Wildlife, greenery, village life all await those who choose to take a tour on this boat. The boat is luxurious, spacious and made of traditional materials - bamboo and betel wood - which takes you back in time. A captain and cook accompany you as you explore the waters, treating you to snacks and offering information about the locations. We would highly recommend booking a boat tour with Jose. His rates are very reasonable and he is an interesting fellow with lots of knowledge to share about the backwaters of Alleppy. Thank you, Jose!

A superb experience! I liked that the boat was traditional/heritage feeling: lots of wood used inside and with a large open deck area (shaded from the sun). It get like stepping back in time. It was very easy to be comfortable and relax. The captain and cook were both friendly and attentive while giving plenty of space and privacy. The feeling of relaxation and peace from being on and cruising around in the boat was sublime! I would very much recommend a stay here.

They were very accommodating to our vegan diet and made us feel at home. They even made sure to get in soya milk for us! The team are friendly, the captain super knowledgable and the chef’s food is amazing - there was air con, WiFi, water bottles all that you need and the view first thing in the morning was incredible. Great route with a mix of smaller and larger canals and a big lake and they helped our driver to find the location.

Nothing

This is a must-do if you are near Alleppey. Everything is taken care of for an idyllic private cruise. Just step on board, have a coconut on deck and enjoy the views. The chef even harvests the banana leaves to use for plates on the way for the authentic Kerala experience.

I really enjoyed my stay here. Jose and the staff were so lovely and really reliable. The room was clean and comfortable with fan and A/C. It had all essential private bathroom facilities including hot water. My room looked out on to their back garden which was very pretty. The home is surrounded by lovely plants, flowers and trees and it’s in a quiet area only a 10 minute walk into town. The breakfast was really good and I got to sample their delicious Keralan food for dinner on their terrace each night. Jose went out of his way to give all the information I needed and booked some great boat trips at a really good price which were fantastic! Jose really thinks about each individual to ensure the best experience. The small boat trip was amazing seeing the life of the locals living on the backwaters and watching the wildlife. Amazing sunrise and sunset! Great home, great staff, great food, wonderful experience. Thank you Jose and family and all the staff for a magical stay.