Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets!

Uma Nair · Nov 28th, 2008, 18:12

Hi,

We are planning for a day in a boat house in late Jan... We are thinking of spending a night in the boat, and I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good one... I called a couple of people and checked some stuff out online, but i wasnt really sure if what i saw would be what i am getting.

Also, one company quoted around 7-8k for a day n night trip with an AC room. Is this a likely figure, or am i being taken for a ride? Just wondering coz i read somewhere that 5k tops should be the price, but am not sure if it changes with the month....

Any suggestions/advices would be most appreciated...

Thanks,
Uma

VJRD · Nov 29th, 2008, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uma Nair

Hi,

We are planning for a day in a boat house in late Jan... We are thinking of spending a night in the boat, and I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good one... I called a couple of people and checked some stuff out online, but i wasnt really sure if what i saw would be what i am getting.

Also, one company quoted around 7-8k for a day n night trip with an AC room. Is this a likely figure, or am i being taken for a ride? Just wondering coz i read somewhere that 5k tops should be the price, but am not sure if it changes with the month....

Any suggestions/advices would be most appreciated...

Thanks,
Uma

Uma,
The rate fluctuates as season changes so expect a rate betwn 6k to 8k per night for one couple A/C house boat.In late jan season is again low so I Would suggest check the rate one week before. Or go there book boat on the spot and negotiate.
VJRD

s.evans670@btinterne · Dec 22nd, 2008, 08:29

hello guys as were spending some time in Varkala how far is it to were we can can catch a ferry to allappey

vandy · Dec 22nd, 2008, 08:35

Good day Steve,

Hire a car to take you to Kollam, from there you can take a Backwater ferry to Allepey.

Pretty sure the ferry would leave in the morning.

Safe Travels

vandy

s.evans670@btinterne · Dec 22nd, 2008, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by vandy

Good day Steve,

Hire a car to take you to Kollam, from there you can take a Backwater ferry to Allepey.

Pretty sure the ferry would leave in the morning.

Safe Travels

vandy

Cheers Mate, No doubt as we get closer Il be looking to pick your brains a bit more, Thanks again Steve

gOgOIndia · Dec 30th, 2008, 03:54

Hi Steve

I am doing the same thing in february. Staying in varkala and leaving to go to allepey for a houseboat. i am getting an early train to allepey from varkala. The train leaves at 6.55 and arrives in allepey at 8.37. seemingly the train station in varkala isnt very far a taxi can take you in 10mins.

its an option

alan1111 · Jan 8th, 2009, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach

EDITOR'S NOTE: This post has been promoted to the Articles section. You can read it in its entirety at: http://www.indiamike.com/india/artic...se-on-budgets/

Hi,

Could anybody tell me what is the frequency of ferry from kottayam to alleppey. I would be reaching kottayam 6 in the morning (by train). what is the earliest time for a ferry to alleppey

Thanks in advance!!

boatmasterlondon · Feb 5th, 2009, 05:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelika

I've done the private houseboat tour two times.
January 2001 and February 2002.
Okay there were mosquitos esp. during dawn, but not so much, that they can spoil this great tour.
If you wear longsleeve shirts during dawn and maybe a long trouser, I think everything will be okay.
Be sure you have a mosquitos net in your houseboat room.
Using mosquito repellant is also good.

Have a great time!

you know you can buy a mosquito suit, long sleeved top and trousers made up of a very fine mosquito netting, small enough to stop sand flies too. you can soak the mosquito netting in repelant too.

i am going to paddle this stretch of water in my canoe, i might have to wear my mosquito suit and hat.

i may even camp out alongside the riverbanks or countryside in american army hammock with built in mosquito net too, if i cant find any cheap hotels, but with good piloting and planning i hope to know my planned stop off points near budget rooms.

cheers.

boatmasterlondon · Feb 5th, 2009, 05:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashank.aggarwal

The ones we commonly see are not exactly silent ones..they are sort of modeled on scooter engines...as the one we have gets repaired by our local neighborhood scooter mechanic...

However there are newer models available...which are completely silent..infact they have been around for some time..but in larger models..and were very expensive...so only corporates, hotels, housing societies etc used them..

But now smaller ones are available..and even though they are expensive than their noisy counterparts, but atleast they give an option to domestic/small user...

once the genny is in the engine room or boxed in with soundproofing rubber, the noise does'nt usualy escape. just giving a low level soothing hum, you dont realy notice it.

well at least that is what it is like on a dutch barge i work on in the river thames, london.

olivegreen · Feb 24th, 2009, 12:14

we need a good 3room a/chouse boat from allepey to kumarakom. suggest me a good one.we are 9 adults & 2 kids.

Davehelen · Feb 25th, 2009, 20:53

We need to get from kochi to alleppey - are there boats from kochi that we can just got on ? I have read the thread but it says from quilion.

How much are we talking and where in kochi do we need to go to ?

Is the route ok - pretty ?

vandy · Feb 26th, 2009, 07:41

G'Day Davehelen,

As far as I am aware only Motor Boats(Speedboats)
Ply this route.

Most people take a car down to Allepey, it approx
1 and a half hours drive if the traffic is OK.

You can also take the train or Bus.

rgds

vandy

chitra0828 · Jun 21st, 2009, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by kira

I did a mini-backwater "cruise" in Kerala on a rickety canoe type boat in '99 and had an amazing experience (albeit injured my feet when we got off at various points because someone had stolen my shoes and I had to walk around barefoot). I especially enjoyed stopping along the way and talking to the villagers......I was deeply impressed by their joy and optimism despite living in poverty (they said it was because of their faith in God)

This sounds very interesting Kira. How did you find the canoe boat? Did you come across this by chance, or book it?

Beach, I clicked on your picture of a country boat, but it said "picture not in database". Could you possibly repost this?

vandy · Jun 22nd, 2009, 19:20

Picture of Country Boat.

vandy

sari_pari · Jul 17th, 2009, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by htid

I'm not sure what it is to be honest, I just e-mailed saying we wanted to spend a day on a houseboat and could he arrange it for us, he got back saying it would be a 7 hour thing and costs 475/person. Sounds just right then, thanks for the info

hey there ,,,, do u have the details of the boat u used? how was ur cruise on that little cost of Rs475?

Feb 24th, 2009, 12:14	#100
olivegreen Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: CHENNAI-NANGANALLUR Posts: 23	allepey to kumarakom we need a good 3room a/chouse boat from allepey to kumarakom. suggest me a good one.we are 9 adults & 2 kids.

Feb 25th, 2009, 20:53	#101
Davehelen Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorkshire, England Posts: 80	We need to get from kochi to alleppey - are there boats from kochi that we can just got on ? I have read the thread but it says from quilion. How much are we talking and where in kochi do we need to go to ? Is the route ok - pretty ? __________________ http://davehelen-smithsontour.blogspot.com/

Jun 22nd, 2009, 19:20	#104
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 1,144	Picture of Country Boat. vandy Attached Thumbnails

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Nov 28th, 2008, 18:12	#91
Uma Nair Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2	Hi, We are planning for a day in a boat house in late Jan... We are thinking of spending a night in the boat, and I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good one... I called a couple of people and checked some stuff out online, but i wasnt really sure if what i saw would be what i am getting. Also, one company quoted around 7-8k for a day n night trip with an AC room. Is this a likely figure, or am i being taken for a ride? Just wondering coz i read somewhere that 5k tops should be the price, but am not sure if it changes with the month.... Any suggestions/advices would be most appreciated... Thanks, Uma

Dec 22nd, 2008, 08:29	#93
s.evans670@btinterne Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: liverpool uk Posts: 155	hello guys as were spending some time in Varkala how far is it to were we can can catch a ferry to allappey

Dec 22nd, 2008, 08:35	#94
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 1,144	Good day Steve, Hire a car to take you to Kollam, from there you can take a Backwater ferry to Allepey. Pretty sure the ferry would leave in the morning. Safe Travels vandy

Dec 30th, 2008, 03:54	#96
gOgOIndia Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 15	Hi Steve I am doing the same thing in february. Staying in varkala and leaving to go to allepey for a houseboat. i am getting an early train to allepey from varkala. The train leaves at 6.55 and arrives in allepey at 8.37. seemingly the train station in varkala isnt very far a taxi can take you in 10mins. its an option

Feb 26th, 2009, 07:41	#102
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 1,144	G'Day Davehelen, As far as I am aware only Motor Boats(Speedboats) Ply this route. Most people take a car down to Allepey, it approx 1 and a half hours drive if the traffic is OK. You can also take the train or Bus. rgds vandy