20th February 2016
Throwing us right in the luxury deep end, one of our first stops on theKerala Blog Express was a night aboard a houseboat cruising the regions backwaters. A cruise on the Kerala backwaters, whether it be a day trip, overnight or for a few days is a must do when visiting the area.
Boats cruising on the Kerala Backwaters
Thankfully there aren’t any mega ships on the Kerala backwaters so our group of 30 bloggers plus hosts were separated and shuttled off to our houseboats. Some of these had three bedrooms while others had two. I was lucky to travel for the night on a Spice Routes houseboat. This company has five boats ranging from deluxe to their premium service with five star facilities. Our super luxury boat had three rooms and a large dining and living area. Perfect for an evening of relaxation to take in our beautiful surroundings.
Spice Routes – Kerala Backwater Cruises
Our cruise set off from Alleppey and we glided along the water as though it was silk. There are around 1400 houseboats cruising the Kerala backwaters, however there was still a sense of calm and peacefulness as we went along. The boats are based on rice barges and all modern conveniences have been thought of to ensure your stay is magical. Our open plan living area with floor to ceiling windows meant we could keep cool (the boat is fully air conditioned) but still be able to view the beauty of the area.
The lounge and dining area of our Spice Routes houseboat
Our bedroom included soft, good quality bedding, an overhead fan, TV, cupboard space and a spacious private bathroom. A few toiletries are provided for guests convenience. The towels were lovely and fluffy. We were very impressed with the room and both slept well during our stay on the boat.
Twin share room on Spice Routes Cruises
Incase you were wondering, you don’t become a captain when you cruise the Kerala backwaters. Your boat will include a crew who will take care of all your needs. Our three crew members were extremely friendly and hospitable. Their cooking skills – AMAZING! We enjoyed lunch, dinner and breakfast while on the boat. All dishes were traditional Kerala fares and we were left feeling very satisfied after each meal.
Our crew and Betty from Betty Travels
Cruising is not permitted after sundown so we met up with the rest of our group when the boats were docked for the evening. We were all travelling with different cruise companies and I can honestly say that the boats looked to be much of a muchness. Docking just before sunset meant we were able to settle in and watch the magic happen in the sky.
Sunset on the Kerala Backwaters
Words don’t really do this activity much justice so you’ll just have to experience this for yourself one day!
The beautiful Kerala Backwaters
Fisherman setting off in the morning
