Tour Packages
Alleppey Tour Packages
Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Alleppey Tour Packages
Browse 1 curated package for Alleppey.
Venice of the EastBackwater Capital of Kerala
Vembanad Lake
Kerala's widest backwater expanse
Houseboats
Overnight kettuvallam stays
Kuttanad
Paddy below sea level
Alappuzha Beach
Arabian Sea evening walks
Alleppey's hidden gems and fascinating facts
- Alleppey is the classic base for a Kerala houseboat night on Vembanad and the canals of Kuttanad.
- A slow cruise shows village jetties, coir work and paddy fields rather than a rush of sightseeing.
- The Nehru Trophy boat race on Punnamada Lake is Kerala’s best-known water carnival.
- Pair Alleppey with Kochi, Munnar or Kumarakom for a complete God’s Own Country circuit.
- ShikBaris Holidays plans chauffeur pickups from Kochi airport or Ernakulam with a paced houseboat day.
Everything you need to know about Alleppey
Alleppey (Alappuzha) is the heart of Kerala backwater holidays. Canals, lagoons and Vembanad Lake meet coconut groves and paddy — the landscape most travellers picture when they search for Alleppey tour packages.
A well-paced Alleppey trip is not a checklist. You board a kettuvallam, watch life on the banks, eat a Kerala lunch on the water, and sleep to the sound of the lake. From Madurai and Chennai we arrange private transfers, a checked houseboat, and an itinerary that still leaves time to walk Alappuzha Beach.
If you want a customised Alleppey holiday — family, couple or a longer Kerala loop — call +91 9 52 552 5552 or write to booking@shikbaris.com.
Table of content
About Alleppey
Geography
Alappuzha sits on Kerala’s central coast, a low-lying network of canals feeding Vembanad Lake. Kuttanad, to the south and east, is famous for paddy grown below sea level. The Arabian Sea forms the western edge; Kochi and Kottayam are the usual road links for Alleppey tour packages.
History
Alleppey grew as a port and coir town under the Travancore kingdom. Canals were cut for spice and coconut trade long before houseboats became a holiday. Punnamada’s snake-boat tradition and the Nehru Trophy (from 1952) still define the town’s festive calendar. Colonial warehouses along the beach road hint at the old export trade.
Climate and weather
Tropical and humid year-round. October to March is the most comfortable window for houseboats and beach evenings. The southwest monsoon (June–September) turns the backwaters lush; some travellers still cruise then, with rain gear and a slower plan. Summers are hot; start cruises early and rest at midday.
Cities
Alappuzha town is the hub: boat jetties, the beach, and markets. Nearby Mararikulam offers quieter beach stays. Kumarakom (Kottayam side of Vembanad) is a bird-and-backwater pair often combined on the same Kerala tour package.
Tidbits
- Location
- Alappuzha district, central Kerala, Arabian Sea coast
- Also called
- Alappuzha; Venice of the East
- Famous for
- Houseboats, Vembanad, snake boats, coir
- Best time
- October to March
- Nearest airport
- Cochin International Airport (COK)
- Languages
- Malayalam; English widely used in tourism
Essential tips to plan a trip to Alleppey
Travel documents
Carry a government photo ID for hotels and the houseboat check-in. Keep a phone copy as backup.
On the boat
Confirm AC hours, meals and the cruise route in writing. A one-night cruise is the classic Alleppey package; day cruises suit tight schedules.
Clothing
Light cottons, a hat and mosquito protection. Evenings on the deck can feel cooler after rain.
Payments
UPI works in town. Keep some cash for small jetties, tips and village snacks.
Getting there
Most Alleppey tour packages start with a Kochi airport or Ernakulam railway pickup. We can also start from Madurai or Chennai by road or train plus car.
Top reasons to visit Alleppey
A true backwater night
Sleeping on a kettuvallam is the reason people book Alleppey. You move at canal speed, eat a Kerala meal on board, and wake to mist on the lake — not a hotel corridor.
Village life, not just a view
From the deck you see fishing, coir drying and children on the banks. A short walk at a jetty adds toddy-shop tea and local bakeries to the cruise.
Easy to combine
Alleppey sits logically between Kochi and Munnar or Thekkady. One private car and a houseboat night make a clean 4–6 day Kerala tour package.
Beach plus lake
Alappuzha Beach and Marari give you sand after the canals. Couples often split one night on water and one in a beach-side stay.
Food on the water
Karimeen, prawn curry, appam and stew are part of a good boat menu. Tell us spice level and vegetarian needs when you enquire.
Best time to visit Alleppey
October to March is the prime season for Alleppey tour packages: cooler nights, clearer decks and reliable houseboat operations. Monsoon is green and quieter. April–May is hot; we plan earlier cruises and AC rest windows.
Winter
Best for first-time visitors, houseboats and beach walks. Book popular boat dates early.
Monsoon
Lush banks and fewer crowds. Carry rain protection; some outdoor stops may be shortened.
Summer
Hot and humid. Hill add-ons like Munnar help; keep Alleppey to a focused 1–2 nights.
Festival time
Onam and the Nehru Trophy (usually August, dates vary) need early stays if you want to be in town.
Best places to visit in Alleppey
Vembanad & the canals
The main experience: a private or shared houseboat through open lake and narrow waterways.
Alappuzha Beach
Pier, evening stalls and a simple seafront after the cruise.
Punnamada / boat race course
Home of the snake-boat spectacle; worth a stop even outside race week.
Krishnapuram Palace (near Kayamkulam)
A day add-on for mural art and Travancore history if your route heads south.
Marari Beach
Quieter sand and fishing-village rhythm, often paired with Alleppey stays.
Pathiramanal Island
A bird-rich islet on Vembanad, when boat timings and season allow.
Shopping in Alleppey
Coir mats, coconut crafts and Kerala spices are the honest buys. Alappuzha’s markets are better for everyday prices than jetty souvenir stalls. We can include a brief spice or coir stop on the road from Kochi without turning the day into shopping only.
Food and cuisine of Alleppey
Karimeen pollichathu
Pearl-spot fish roasted in banana leaf — ask if the boat can source it fresh.
Appam and stew
Light rice hoppers with coconut-milk vegetable or chicken stew.
Kerala meals on a leaf
Rice, thoran, olan and fish curry when you eat in town.
Tapioca and fish
A coastal pairing you will see on local lunch menus.
Art and culture
Snake-boat practice, church feasts and temple festivals share the calendar. Vallam kali is the cultural image of Alleppey; coir and coconut still shape work on the canals. A respectful houseboat visit means low speaker volume after dark and no litter in the water.
Explore our Alleppey tour packages or call +919525525552 — we will customise stays, a chauffeur and the pace.
FAQs
One night on a houseboat is the classic plan. Add a hotel night if you want the beach or a buffer before a flight.
Yes, with a private transfer and a known boat operator. Life jackets and a clear briefing are part of a proper cruise.
Yes. ShikBaris Holidays can drive or combine train plus car from Madurai or Chennai into an Alleppey tour package.
Yes — tell us in the enquiry. Kerala vegetarian meals and Jain-style requests can be planned with notice.
The Nehru Trophy is typically in August; exact dates change. We confirm stays once the year’s date is announced.
Stay connected:+919525525552booking@shikbaris.com WhatsApp
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+919525525552booking@shikbaris.com