Alleppey backwaters · one night on board
Kerala Houseboat Stays: A Night on the Alleppey Backwaters
Board around midday, drift through the canals of Kuttanad, and wake up on still water. Here is what the night involves.
Romantic Kerala from ₹29,999 per couple · Personalised itinerary in 24 hours
Updated 10 October 2026
What is an overnight houseboat stay in Alleppey like?
An overnight houseboat stay in Alleppey lasts about 21 hours. You board around midday, cruise the backwater canals through the afternoon, usually moor before dark, and disembark at about 9 am after breakfast. Lunch, dinner and breakfast are served on board. Melo Tours includes the night in five Kerala packages, from ₹21,999 per couple.
- Time on board
- About 21 hours, midday to 9 am
- Meals
- Lunch, dinner and breakfast on board
- Boarding point
- Alleppey (Alappuzha)
- Included from
- ₹21,999 per couple, Munnar & Alleppey
Is an overnight houseboat stay better than a day cruise?
For most couples, yes. The overnight stay includes dusk and dawn, the two quietest hours on the backwaters, and a day cruise is back at the jetty before either.
| What you get | Day cruise | Overnight stay |
|---|---|---|
| Time on the water | Roughly 5 to 6 hours | About 21 hours, noon to 9 am |
| Meals on board | Lunch | Lunch, dinner and breakfast |
| What you see | Canals and villages by day | The same, plus sunset, a night on the water and sunrise |
| Suits | Travellers short on time | Honeymooners and anyone who wants the full experience |
Every published Melo package with a houseboat uses the overnight stay. If you would rather sleep on land, tell us and we will personalise the plan.
Should you board a houseboat in Alleppey or Kumarakom?
Board in Alleppey unless you have a reason to choose Kumarakom. Alleppey has the larger choice of boats and more varied water: Punnamada Lake, narrow village canals and the paddy fields of Kuttanad, farmed below sea level. Kumarakom, on the eastern shore of Vembanad Lake, is quieter and known for its bird sanctuary.
All our published packages board in Alleppey. A Kumarakom stay is arranged as a personalised itinerary, with a quote within 24 hours.
Which Kerala packages include a houseboat night?
Five of our six published packages include one night on an Alleppey houseboat, always after the hill stays. On Romantic Kerala it is the final night of the honeymoon.
| Package | Duration | Houseboat night | From (per couple) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munnar & Alleppey | 3 Nights · 4 Days | Night 3, after two nights in Munnar | ₹21,999 |
| Romantic Kerala | 4 Nights · 5 Days | Night 4, after Munnar and Thekkady | ₹29,999 |
| Kerala Grand Tour | 6 Nights · 7 Days | Night 4, before two nights in Kovalam | ₹39,999 |
| Kerala Premium Escape | 7 Nights · 8 Days | Night 4, on exclusive hire | ₹49,999 |
| Kerala Complete Circuit | 9 Nights · 10 Days | Night 5, on exclusive hire | ₹69,999 |
To compare the trips, see our Alleppey houseboat packages; for choosing a route and season, read the Alleppey houseboat guide.
What are the cabin and the food like on board?
Expect an air-conditioned bedroom with an attached bathroom, an open deck for sitting out, and Kerala food cooked on board, with fish curry at lunch. Tell us about dietary preferences when you enquire. On the Kerala Premium Escape the boat is hired exclusively for you.
A night on an Alleppey houseboat, hour by hour
Boarding at noon and disembarking at 9 am are fixed in our packages; the hours in between are approximate.
- 1
Around 12 noon · Boarding
Your driver brings you to the jetty after the morning drive from Munnar (about 3.5 hours) or Thekkady (about 3 hours).
- 2
Early afternoon · Lunch on the water
A Kerala lunch with fish curry, served on deck as the boat moves through canals and past villages.
- 3
Late afternoon · Canals and paddy fields
The slow part of the day: coconut palms, paddy fields and village life on the banks.
- 4
Sunset · Mooring
The boat ties up for the night, typically before dark.
- 5
Evening · Dinner on board
Dinner is cooked and served on the boat. After that the backwaters are quiet.
- 6
Sunrise to 9 am · Breakfast and goodbye
Mist on the canals, breakfast on deck, and off the boat at 9 am, where your cab is waiting.
When is the best time for a Kerala houseboat stay?
October to March is the most comfortable time on the water; April and May are the hottest weeks on deck.
| When | Weather | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|
| October – March | Calm water; clearest skies from December | The best months. December–January fills about 6 weeks ahead. |
| April – May | Hot and humid by mid-afternoon | Workable, if you do not mind a hot afternoon on deck. |
| June – September | Monsoon: heavy showers, vivid green banks | Atmospheric and quiet. Alleppey's snake-boat races are traditionally held in August. |
CURATED PACKAGES
Kerala Packages with a Houseboat Night
Prices are per couple, starting. Every package is private and personalised to your dates.
7 Nights · 8 Days
Kerala Premium Escape
Munnar · Thekkady · Alleppey · Varkala · Kovalam
from ₹49,999per couple
VIEW PACKAGECOMMON QUESTIONS
Kerala Houseboat Stays: Your Questions, Answered
Are meals included on the houseboat?
Yes. On every Melo Tours package with a houseboat night, lunch, dinner and breakfast on board are included, beginning with a Kerala fish curry lunch soon after you board at 12 noon. You disembark at 9 am the next morning, after breakfast on deck.
Can I book only a houseboat night with Melo Tours?
No. We arrange houseboat nights as part of a complete Kerala trip, not as standalone rentals. The shortest is Munnar & Alleppey: 3 nights and 4 days, with two nights in Munnar and one on the backwaters, from ₹21,999 per couple.
Does the houseboat keep moving at night?
No. Houseboats on the Alleppey backwaters typically moor before dark and stay tied up until morning, so you sleep on still water. The cruising happens in the afternoon and again for a short while after sunrise.
Where do you go after the houseboat on a Melo Tours trip?
After disembarking at 9 am, Munnar & Alleppey and Romantic Kerala return to Kochi for your onward journey. Kerala Grand Tour continues to Kovalam, about 4 hours south, and Kerala Premium Escape and Kerala Complete Circuit drive on to the cliffs at Varkala.
How far is the Alleppey houseboat jetty from Kochi airport?
Alleppey is roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by road from Kochi airport. On our packages the houseboat follows the hill stays, so you arrive by private cab from Munnar or Thekkady.
Start Planning
Plan Your Kerala Trip
Share your travel dates, style, and must-see places. We'll turn them into a Kerala journey that feels smooth, personal, and worth looking forward to.
Start on WhatsApp
The fastest way to start planning. Tell us where you want to go, who you're travelling with, and your preferred dates.
Chat on WhatsApp- ✓ Verified stays
- ✓ Local experts
- ✓ 24/7 support
Prefer a Form?
Send Your Travel Enquiry
Share a few details and our team will send a tailored itinerary and quote.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted by our travel team. We respect your privacy.