Discount Travel with Rotary Tours

If you work with Wipro, Cognizant, Infosys, TCS, Accenture you get Half Ticket and an additional 10% off

On packages organized by Rotary Club of Kuttanad

Snapshot of a Rotary Trip: 9 days 8 night tour

2 days at Munnar; 2 days at Kovalam

1 day each at Kochi, Thekkady, Allepey and Kanyakumari

Itinerary:

1^st day – Arrive at Kochi, transfer to hotel, noon tour of Kochi, visit Fort Kochi, Jewish Synagogue, Jew Town, Dutch Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church. Overnight stay at hotel

2^nd day – Drive to Munnar. Transfer to hotel, day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel

3^rd day – After breakfast, sightseeing in Munnar. Visit Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty dam, old Munnar town and local market. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel

4^th day – After breakfast, drive to Thekkady. Reach hotel at noon and take rest of day off or opt for a boat cruise down the Periyar river in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (This is not included in the package cost). Overnight stay at hotel

5^th day – Transfer from Thekkady to Kumarakom/Allepey houseboat. All meals on houseboat. Full day and overnight stay on the houseboat

6^th day – Drive to Kovalam. Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel

7^th day – Day at leisure. On payment basis avail of the resort facilities like Ayurvedic massage

8^th day – Drive to Kanyakumari after breakfast. Check into hotel by noon. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel

9^th day – Transfer to Thiruvanthapuram to catch connecting train/flight back home

Package Cost:

Budget    - Rs.40,290 for two. Rs.4000 for extra person

Standard – Rs.44,660 for two. Rs.4500 for extra person

Deluxe    - Rs.65,240 for two. Rs.5000 for extra person

Luxury    -  Rs.86,235 for two. Rs.8000 for extra person

Mode of Travel: Indica. A/c Indica for Deluxe and Luxury packages

Bus tickets can be arranged on request

Other Offers

Rotary also offers discounts on houseboat packages such as 15% off on deluxe 5 days 4 nights tours and if you like them on Facebook there's a 5% discount!

Contact

Call 09349178898 or 09447776841

Allepey Ahoy!

                                                 There's Something about Allepey!

                                                 Through A Houseboat Leisurely....

Allepey Houseboat

Allepey Backwaters

Allepey Houseboat

Allepey Houseboat

Allepey Houseboat

Allepey Houseboat - Dropping Anchor

Rest Pause at Allepey

Allepey Houseboat Stop

Allepey Houseboat

Serene Blue Backwaters of Allepey

Allepey Backwaters Sunset

Allepey Backwaters Sunset

Allepey Backwaters Sunset

                                                

Houseboat Cruises - Beyond Allepey

1. Kuttanad River Cruise

Kuttanad means low-lying. It is the Rice Bowl of south Kerala. Its spread is across the districts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Allapuzha (Allepey).

        
          Lower Kuttanad – paddy fields are below sea level and bunds keep out water from the crop.

         Upper Kuttanad – fields are slightly above sea level making cultivation easier.

The villages are situated higher than the paddy fields and interlinked canals and waterways.  4 rivers comprising Pampa, Achankoil, Manimala and Meenachil irrigate the fields, before mingling with the Arabian Sea.

Sightseeing at Kuttanad:

A cruise provides the unique sight of living habitats above the paddy fields  with narrow bunds of coconut palms and a view of  the network of canals above the land mass.  The Kumarakom falls within Kuttanad and offers a glimpse of rice fields, mangroves, coconut groves. Afloat on the lake of Vembanad, Kumarakom is flush with water lilies.

From Kumarakom, accessible by  boat is Pathiramanal (sands of midnight) home to the bird sanctuary. 

2. Kasargod Sightseeing & River Cruise

Kasargod in North Kerala has the Arabian Sea on the West and the Western Ghats to its North and East making for a breathtaking lush landscape.

Housboat cruise covers Chandragiri 4km away with a tour of the 17^th century ChandragiriFort. You will get a spectacular sunset view and a glimpse of the forests of the islands. Nearby is Valiyaparamba.What you get is a surround sound of greenery and the twitter of birds that have made it their watering hole.

Contact for Houseboat Cruises:

Bekal Resorts Development Corporation 

Call - 0467-2272007

Email: brdc@sancharnet.in

           

For trips from Sultan Canal to Parassinikadavu Mutthappan Temple in Kannur, is 8-10 hours.

Cost Rs. 2500-5000

3. Kozhikode (Calicut)

The houseboat cruise offers a view of the two piers and a lighthouse on Kozhikode beach. This is the beach where Vasco da Gama set foot in 1484. There’s a 1 hour stop-over at the Pazhassirajah Museum with its rare treasure of gold and silver coins used by Vasco da Gama and the British as well as bronze sculptures, paintings and murals.  The cruise moves through the backwaters fringed by coconut palms giving a glimpse of village life.

For Malabar Houseboat Cruises

Contact: Mavila Resorts - 0495-2352447

Email: keralacruises@aol.com

      

Houseboat Cruise Packages

Housboat Allepey View

 

• 2 day cruise from Kollam to Allapuzha (Allepey)

          At 2 noon take houseboat from Kollam and overnight at resort.

          Next day check out from resort at 2:30 noon and take DTPC luxury cruise to Allepey

          Sights to see: Kerala villages, sunset at Neendakara

          Cost: Rs. 5500-6500-8000 for 2/4/6 persons + taxes extra

• 2 day cruise from Kollam to Allapuzha

          Travel by coach bus at 9am to Monroe Island, then take a canoe cruise, 

          then 9:30-1:30 pm take a canal cruise in a country resort, then 2:00pm back at Kollam, 

         check in at 2:30 noon on thehouseboat and end at 6pm by checking in for at a resort.

         Next day check out of resort at 12:30 noon and go to Allepey by DTPC’s luxury cruise.

         Sights to see – coir making, bird watching, prawn farms            

         Cost: Rs. 6500-7500-8500 for 2/4/6 persons  + taxes extra

• Ashtamudi isles

• Round trip Kollam to Kollam from 11am-5pm

          Cost: Rs. 4000-4500-5000 + taxes extra  with lunch for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom                

• Sleepover cruise

         Travel from  Kollam by houseboat from 2 noon-6pm and 6pm-7am overnight stay

        Arrive at Kollam next day at 7 am.

        Cost: Rs. 4000-5000-6000+taxes extra with breakfast & dinner  for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Sunset Cruise

          Travel from Kollam by houseboat from 5 pm to 6:30 pm, overnight stay from 6:30pm-6:30am

          Arrive at Kollam next day at 7:30 am.

          Cost: Rs. 3000-4000-5500 + taxes extra  with breakfast & dinner  for 2/4/6 persons 

          for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Prestige Houseboat Cruises city to city

          DTPC offers prestige houseboat cruises connecting cities on the baclwaters:

• Kollam to Kollam – 22 hours one day cruise with overnight stay

          Cost: Rs. 6500-8200-9900 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

          Full day cruise - Kollam to Alumakadavu to Kollam or Kollam to Amrithapuri to Kollam

          Cost: Rs. 5000-6000-7000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• One way 22 hour cruise – Kollam to Thottappally

         Cost: Rs. 7000-9000-10000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Kollam to Allapuzha (Allepey) one way one day and overnight stay

         Cost: Rs. 10,000-12,000-14,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Kollam to Allapuzha (Allepey) to Kumarakom or Kottayam 2 days and overnight stay

         Cost: Rs. 14,000-16,000-18,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Kollam to Allapuzha (Allepey) to Kochi 2 days and 2 nights

         Cost: Rs. 18,000-20,000-22,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Houseboat cruises from Allepey Boat Jetty

          Tourists can customize starting and check out points. Rs.1000/- extra for A/C (6pm-6am) boats:

• Round trip Allepey to Allepey 24 hours

         Cost: Rs. 6,000-7,000-8,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Allepey to Kumarakom 24 hours

         Cost: Rs. 7500-9,000-10,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Allepey to Kochi 24 hours

         Cost: Rs. 8500-10500-12,500 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Allepey to Thottappally 24 hours

          Cost: Rs. 8,000-10,000-12,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Allepey to Kollam 24 hours

          Cost: Rs. 10,000-12,000-14,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Kochi to Kollam 48 hours

          Cost: Rs. 18,000-19,000-21,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Kumarakom to Kollam 28 hours

         Cost: Rs. 14,000-16,000-18,000 + taxes extra for 2/4/6 persons for 1/2/3 bedroom

• Canal Tour

•          Halfday Backwater Village Cruise to Munroe Isles – 9am to 6:30pm

                   Cost: Rs. 400/- per person . Group bookings separate special rates

                   Sights to see: Munroe isles are 8 islands in the midst of Kallada river, Ashtamudi lake 

                   and Sasthamkotta Lake in Kollam district with intertwining canals. 

                   Village life, coir making, boat building, fishing, migratory birds 

                   like kingfisher, woodpecker, egret,  bee-eater 

                   as well as spice plantations of pepper, nutmeg and clove.

• Group Tours

• Luxury/Speedboat/Safari boat for 50/4/8 persons can be booked

          Cost:  Rs.1500-1500- 7500 per hour

• Housboats for 15/15/8/10 persons can be booked

         Cost: Rs. 950-950-800-750 per hour + 10% tax extra

For Information:

• Call: Tourist Information Toll Free – 1800-425-4747
• Email: info@keralatourism.org deptour@keralatourism.org
  
  DTPC Office KSWTD Boat Jetty - Telefax: 91-474-2750170

All You Need to Know about the Houseboat Cruise

Houseboat Cruise Duration
Be sure you know the duration of the cruise included in the package. Is it 20 hour, 4 hour cruise time. Remember the less the number of hours, the less the actual cruise. The longer the duration booked, the more leisurely the pace of the houseboat. The more leisurely the pace, the greater the enjoyment, what’s the point of a houseboat speeding!

         Tips

• Book in advance as at a given point of time houseboats may not be available for the duration you want and you will have to settle for less.

• Houseboats operate on various areas of the backwaters. So be specific about what you wish to see on the cruise. Is it the general local populace habitation then it will be a different part of the backwaters. Is  it elephants, then it will be Elephant lagoon cruise. Knowing where you want to go will help you get the correct tour operator point office for it.

Precautions for Houseboat Cruises in Kerala

• When the sun sets, the mosquitoes strike. Be prepared. The houseboats light the mosquito coil but since it’s open waters there’s only so much that can be done.

• Houseboats have tiny bathrooms and naturally no hot water. Tall people will be in a bit of a spot. Senior citizens may feel very uncomfortable.

• Wear cotton clothes for house boating. It gets very warm at noon. 

         

• Getting on and off the houseboat is by a plank. Wear sturdy shoes or ankle support footwear.  Senior Citizens may find this difficult.

Food on Houseboat

• The houseboat crew comprises two men – one for steering the boat, one acts as the cook. They are locals and their knowledge of English/Hindi is limited. But they’re really courteous.

• The food is the best you’ll eat and probably the only place you’ll get the authentic kerala cuisine like thoran - coconut with vegetable.

• All houseboats offer simple Kerala cuisine comprising veggies, salad, fruits, rice, rotis, curds for lunch/dinner. Breakfast will be idlis with tea/coffee. Evening tea will have snacks like pakoras. 

• There’s a fixed menu. You cannot make demands. If you want special food/North Indian, check with the tour operator if this is available, once on the boat you have to accept what is offered.

Warning

• Those who don’t like enclosed spaces should not opt for houseboat overnight stays. The windows in the room cannot be opened. The doors need to be closed against the mosquitoes. The rooms regardless of size with everything closed can get claustrophobic.

Room on Houseboat Allepey

• There’s no entertainment. The TV does not offer satellite, only a few houseboats offer this facility. VCDs/DVDs available may be of films mainly of the local language.  

Kerala Houseboat Cruise Tips

You can opt for 

Day cruise – 11:30 to 5pm or 

Overnight cruise - 12:30 am – 9 am.

      

•       The check in time for houseboats is before 12 am as there are booking formalities, paperwork. 

      

•       Carry the photo ID and if booked through a travel operator keep the travel voucher copy.

Tip on Houseboat

Houseboat cruise does not mean the boat cruises throughout. There are stops for the crew’s noon nap, stops for the night halt.

5 hour Day cruise would be 4 hour cruise as there is a stop for crew's noon nap

Schedule - 5 hour on Houseboat Day Cruise

• 11:30 am check in

• 1:00 noon – stop

• 3:00 pm – start off

• 5:00 pm – tea

• 5:30 pm – Check out

 In a 20 hour cruise, the actual cruise is approximately 4 hours 30 minutes. 
There are stops for crew's noon nap and overnight halt

Schedule - 20 Hour on Houseboat - Overnight Stay

• 12:00 am - Check in at Houseboat Cruise Office

• 12:30 am – Set off

View of Allepey from Houseboat

• 1:50 noon - Lunch 

          Comprising rice, salad, dal, rotis, coconut and cabbage veggie (Thoran), curds, pineapple

Lunch on Houseboat Allepey - rice, salad, dal

Lunch on Houseboat Allepey - Pickle, Thoran, Beans veggie, curds

• 2:30 – 3:15 – Crew's noon snooze stop

Noon snooze stop Houseboat Allepey

• 4:00 pm - Tea

Evening tea on Houseboat Allepey - Onion pakoras and ginger tea

• 5:15 - Evening stop for overnight halt

• 7:15 am - Breakfast - Idlis with tea

• 7:45 - Set off on return journey

            

      

• 9 am – Check out from Houseboat

Types of Kerala Houseboats

         There are single decker houseboats and double decker houseboats. 

Single decker Houseboat Allepey

      The double decker offers a top deck for viewing. 

Double decker Houseboat Allepey

      The economy/budget houseboats are non-Ac. They will have pedestal and/or overhead fan. They have smaller deck/ beds and rooms and no cushioned seats in the deck area and no separate dining space. 

Economy/Standard/Budget Houseboat Allepey

      The deluxe ones are with Ac and fans, a lounge cum dining area, an open deck with cushioned seats.

Deluxe Houseboat Interior Allepey

      There are also super deluxe which will have even larger room space and offer eco-disposal systems and linen with crockery. 

          The houseboat usually has two rooms with attached bathroom. But if hired for two people, one room will be used by the crew. For more people, there are three/four and five and even ten bedroom houseboats also available, even some with conference halls.

Houseboat Allepey Long Viewing Deck Meeting Space

Afloat on a boat in Kerala… Beyond Houseboats

Ferry Boats in Kochi

      Kochi, the ferry is the best option to avoid the traffic jams. The ferry travels over the waterways that link the various isles that make Kochi. The jetty points have bus stops usually bang outside so you can just hop on for the onward destination point or else take the autos after haggling.

      

      The Kochi ferry is of two types:       

      

• There are the only passenger ferries. 
•  There are also the roll-on, roll-off ferry for two wheelers, light vehicles as well as standees, limited depending on the space. But there are lengthy queues for these. 

Ferry jetty points are:

• Ernakulum Main Boat
• High Court (Ernakulum)
• Vypeen (Vypeen  Island)
• Bolgatty (Bolgatty Island)
• Embarkation (Willingdon Island)
• Terminus (Willingdon Island)
• Mattancherry
• Customs (Fort Kochi)

The passenger ferry timings:

Check timings call – 0484-2360215. Ticket window opens 10 mins prior to ferry start time

• High Court to Vypeen Island and High Court to Bolgatty Island:Every 20 minutes from 6:00 am to 10 pm

• Fort Kochi to Vypeen Island:6:00 am to 10 pm

• Ernakulum to Embarkation (Willingdon Island)/Fort KochiMorning - 6:00; 6:30; 7:10; 8:00; 8:40; 9:10; 9:40; 10:10; 11:00; 11:40;
  Noon – 12:30; 1:00; 2:40;
  Evening – 4:00; 4:50; 5:10; 6:10; 7:00;
  Night – 8:00; 8:50;

• Fort Kochi/Ernakulum (Willingdon Island) to ErnakulumMorning - 6:30; 7:00; 7:50; 8:30; 9:10; 9:40; 10:20; 10:40; 11:40;
  Noon – 12:10; 12:50; 1:20; 2:10; 3:10;
  Evening – 4:40; 5:15; 5:40; 6:40; 7:20;
  Night – 8:20; 9:10;

• Ernakulum to Mattancherry (This is the area of the Jewish Synagogue and Dutch Palace)Morning - 7:10; 9:40; 11:05;
  Noon –2:00; 3:20;
  Evening – 5:40;

• Mattancherry (This is the area of the Jewish Synagogue and Dutch Palace) to ErnakulumMorning - 7:50; 10:25; 11:45;
  Noon –2:40;
  Evening – 4:00; 6:20;

• Ernakulum to Vypeen: The frequency is more. Every 20 minutes and even 10 minutes apart.From 5:30 morn right till 10:30 night. 

• Vypeen to Ernakulum: The frequency is more. Every 20 minutes and even 10 minutes apart.From 6:00 morn to 10:00 night.

      Boating in Munnar 

       

      Mattupetty Dam Point: 9am – 5:30 pm. Call Indo-Swiss Project - 0486-242201

• Speedboat that seats a max of 5 costs Rs. 200 for a ride of 15 mins.

•  Safari boat that seats 25 costs Rs. 300 for a ride of 30 mins.

       Old Munnar river cruise: Call District Tourism Promotion Council - 0486-231516

•  Boat per person per hour = Rs. 30
•  Motorboat for 9 persons for 30 minutes = Rs. 180
•  Pedalboat for 2 for 30 mins = Rs. 40
• Pedalboat for 4 for 30 mins = Rs. 80
• Watercycle per person for 30 mins = Rs. 100
•  Surfbike for 15 mins = Rs.50

Boat Cruise sans frills

Available for cruises in Kochi, Kottayam, Kollam, Kumarakom, Allapuzha (Allepey): If you don't want to houseboat and wish for just the cruise without the frills then you can opt for just a plain boat cruise.

Advantage of boats

•         You pay for the cruise only

Disadvantage

•         Only the roof is covered. So the sun beats down from the sides and it can get very taxing

 Different kinds of plain boats

•          There’s the boat with either plastic/cane/wooden chairs or others with lounge seats, tall people have to sit hunched though or lounge as they are lounge seats:

Boat cruise - Allepey

 

•          There’s the deck chair boat

Deck Chair Boat - Allepey