KOCHI · KERALA
Kochi’s best days out.
The 15 most popular backwater boat & shikara cruises in Kochi. The pick of what travellers actually book, with prices, run times and who runs each one.
Quiet, non-motor backwater cruise from Fort Cochin with a village craft stop for coir weaving and a vegetarian banana-leaf lunch.
Most Popular“I really enjoyed everything! The food was delicious off the banana leaf as well. Excellent guide, and a very peaceful time on the water.”
Glide Kerala backwaters from Kochi on a non-motorized punting boat, with Vaikom villages, banana-leaf veg lunch, and tea.
“A wonderful day on a punting boat, very well organized by Wilson Tour and well balanced in terms of experiences and timing. Peaceful but never boring. I was afraid to spend 6 hours on this tour but I did not feel it at all. Our guide Meera is a darling and is very knowledgeable. Lunch…”
Glide through Kerala backwaters on a non-mechanized country boat from Fort Cochin, with a village stop and vegetarian lunch included.
“If you don’t have time for the full houseboat trip with overnight stay this is a relaxing boat ride around the backwaters outside Kochi. We had an excellent lunch and our guide was lovely. Highly recommended”
A low-impact backwaters day from Kochi with a quiet non-motor boat, village walk, craft demos, and an included vegetarian lunch.
“Had a nice experience on this tour. It’s a pretty simplistic and relaxing tour. They even helped organize a munnar day trip for me the following day which was great also. Thanks guys.”
A budget-friendly Shikara boat cruise through Alleppey backwaters, with flexible hours, narrow canals, and optional temple, massage, and food stops.
“Wonderful and relaxing 2 hour Shikara boat cruise through the Alleppey Backwaters. We were able to experience real village life with families fishing and farming rice paddies. Highly recommended to take shikara instead of Houseboat to experience the narrow canals and backwaters of Alleppey.”
Shikara canoe cruise from Cochin to Alleppey backwaters for paddy fields, village life, and calm canals, with easy port pickup.
“Really enjoyable day. Both driver and shikira driver were lovely. Would def recommend to anyone wanting to see the allepy backwaters.”
Hourly shikara cruise through Alleppey backwaters from Rajiv Boat Jetty, with canals, villages, lake views, and optional photo help.
“The views and overall experience was Ok.”
Experience Kochi’s backwaters by bamboo-pole shikara, visit village workshops for coir and weaving, and enjoy a traditional vegetarian Sadya lunch.
“Excepcional , lo aconsejo a todo el mundo. Un diez en todo”
Private Kochi tuk-tuk plus a one-hour backwaters cruise from the cruise terminal, with key sights, included entry fees, and pickup.
“Very helpful and courteous driver. Took us to lots of places. the bAckwater cruise was lovely very relaxing”
Houseboat backwaters from Kochi with Chinese fishing nets, cruise-port pickup, lunch and bottled water. Calm Kerala shore day.
“Long journey but worth it. Very serene cruise with a lovely lunch. Beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife.”
Fort Kochi harbor cruise to Mattancherry: Chinese fishing nets, palace and synagogue views, dolphin chances, plus a short heritage walk.
“The guide was really impressive with his knowledge and likeable personality.”
Quiet Cochin backwaters tour with no-motor canoe time, banana-leaf vegetarian lunch, village crafts, and chai with snacks from Fort Kochi.
“Loved every minute of it, the rides, the lunch and the way everything was taken care of and explained to us.”
Backwater cruise from Cochin Port by shikara or houseboat, plus Fort Kochi Chinese fishing nets and a Keralan lunch or snacks.
“Very relaxing time on the river/lake saw a birds, herons bee-eaters and kingfisher.”
Full-day canoe and shikkara cruise from Kumarakom at sunrise, with bird sanctuary, Kerala meals, village life, and optional toddy.
“We had an amazing day, starting at sunrise with a boat trip through the backwaters with Sanu, stopping for tea at a local shop and finding a wide variety of birds. After a couple of hours we returned to their base for a delicious Kerala style breRead more”
Private 2-day Alappuzha houseboat cruise from Cochin, with Kerala meals onboard, backwater views, and a quiet night at sea.
“Excellent service with a lovely captain George. We had amazing food and a relaxing cruise on the private houseboat. We had AC at night which was very needed and slept very well, with private toilet and shower on board. Option to do an extra boat tour around the smalls canals which I recommend doing! We…”
From the Fort Kochi lanes to the backwaters and the tea hills, every way in.
