10 Best Luxury Houseboats In Kerala: Cruise In Style!

Stretching along the coastline of South India, Kerala has a tropical, sultry landscape that abuts the azure of the Arabian Sea. If you are planning a Kerala luxury holiday with a backwater experience on a houseboat cruise, consider staying at one of the best luxury houseboats in Kerala which offers five-star luxury, exemplary service, lovely backwater views, and personal access to a private Jacuzzi for a heavenly experience in God’s Own Country.

Visitors from around the world coming to Kerala never want to miss the ‘once in a lifetime’ experience of cruising its backwaters via the best houseboats in Kerala.

10 Best Luxury Houseboats In Kerala For Your Next Trip

Offering customized services like honeymoon decorations, ondeck dining, delicious Kerala cuisine, kayaking and shikara rides, and endless gorgeous views of Kerala’s canals, lakes, and quaint village life, these Kerala luxury houseboats are designed to give you a memorable holiday experience.

Each of them offers something unique, so take your time and pick the one that best suits your needs, preferences, and budget.

1. Spice Routes Luxury Cruises, Alleppey

With ecologically designed boats, Spice Routes cares for nature just as much as it cares for its guests! They offer a backwater cruise in ultra-luxurious houseboats with endless rustic charm and regal amenities like exclusive check-in, premium onboard dining, immersive luxury, and interaction with the locals.

Remodeled into epitomes of luxury and comfort by expert craftsmen, their “kettuvallams” are spacious vessels with traditional thatched roofs, state-of-the-art decor, and modern furnishings in their large bedrooms, dining halls, and ensuite bathrooms with Jacuzzi and luxury products.

These houseboats offer a calm, soul-soothing experience of cruising the glistening backwaters of Alleppey along with services like 6 uber luxury air-conditioned houseboats, common lounge area, dining room, deck, and Wi-Fi, though they discourage the use of the latter so that you can truly connect with your peaceful surroundings and leave the virtual world behind!

Other services offered are shikara rides, fishing village tours, a 5-star dining experience with fresh produce, and on-deck Ayurvedic massage. It’s among the best luxury houseboats in Kerala courtesy of its seafood variety like fish, mussels, crab, and lobster caught fresh on demand and prepared by experienced chefs in the most exotic way to please your senses!

ALSO SEE – Best Time To Visit Kerala Backwaters

2. Pickadly Royal Suite Honeymoon Houseboat, Kumarakom

What is your take on the experience of watching the sunset over Vembanad Lake while relaxing in a Jacuzzi? That is exactly the experience that Pickadly Royal Suite offers for someone looking for a luxury houseboat in Kumarakom.

One of the trademarks of this luxury houseboat is its excellent meal plan which is a blend of southern Indian and international cuisine made using fresh local ingredients ranging from coconuts and tiger prawns to sweet bananas and the local, very tasty, red fibrous rice.

Royal Suite is one of the finest luxury houseboats in Kerala that will unfurl inspiring sights, extraordinary meals, and incredible meetings with locals to make it your most memorable holiday.

ALSO SEE – Houseboat Packages in Kerala

3. Discovery Houseboat by Malabar Escapes, Kumarakom

Floating through the silken waters of Vembanad Lake filled with colorful hyacinths, Discovery Houseboat is among the most eco-friendly set of luxury houseboats in Kerala as compared to other traditional vessels in the region.

The hull of this authentic ‘kettuvallam’ has been combined with an electric motor and you can enjoy the views of the Keralan backwaters from the boat’s sitting room or private deck while enjoying chef-prepared cuisine from the houseboat’s menu.

The view of rural Kerala that you can enjoy during a cruise in one of the best houseboats in Kerala is both unblemished and unparalleled.

ALSO SEE – Iris Holidays Kerala Houseboat Customer Review

4. Spice Coast Cruises Houseboat CGH Earth, Alleppey

Spice Coast Cruises is owned by the CGH group and operates different types of backwater services from one-bedroom houseboats to two-bedroom houseboats. Each of these luxury vessels has its legendary customer service enjoying which one can explore the backwaters in a spacious houseboat.

The chef produces some amazing food and the houseboat is comfortable. It has a bar and the front area is an open lounge canopied with cane and rattan.

ALSO SEE – Backwaters of Kerala Trip in 2024- What to Know?

5. Xandari River Escapes, Alleppey

Erstwhile Muthoot River Escapes, Raxa Collective, or Xandari River Escapes, are focused on promoting responsible tourism as well as providing their guests with the best experience of cruising Kerala backwaters so they can return home with fond memories of their holiday.

The houseboats of Raxa Collective possess a casual elegance with spotless wooden floors, large open-air windows, and wide wicker chairs. The bedrooms in most of the Raxa Collective houseboats are air-conditioned and in the evening, when the boats are moored in the lake, the sunset views are beyond beautiful! The calmness which settles in the water is to die for at night!

No other experience across God’s Own Country can match what one gets to experience on Raxa Collective, one of the best luxury houseboats in Kerala. An important element in its rich cultural heritage, these 5-star houseboats in Kerala have everything you can ask for.

Wondering whether you should go for a luxury Kerala houseboat package when you visit Alleppey? It depends! Some guests have told us that an average houseboat with average service could take away the charm out of your backwater cruise experience and they want the best luxury possible especially while cruising in Kerala backwaters, which is what Raxa Collective strives to provide!

ALSO SEE – 9 Useful Alleppey Houseboat Booking Tips

6. Blue Jelly Luxury Cruises, Alleppey

Blue Jelly Luxury Cruises is a range of 5 ultra-luxury houseboats, namely Topaz, Onyx, Opal, Amber, and Pearl, of which the last two will be ready by year-end. Some of the most luxurious vessels sailing over the canals of Alleppey, each of these boats has the finest decor and furnishings showing expert craftsmanship.

Often called “royal water chariots” by guests, these luxury houseboats offer amazing views of palm-flanked backwaters and villages, credible services, and are equipped with all the modern amenities.

Some of these include a royal lobby, award-winning hospitality, a Jacuzzi offering panoramic views of the picturesque backwaters, spacious washrooms, an upper deck with comfortable couches, a Suite room, dining space, conference room, and the Royal Lobby.

They have a separate kitchen facility with skilled chefs and ample staff that whip up delightful culinary experiences infused with the richness of Kerala cuisine and global flavors every day!

ALSO SEE – Getting from Kochi Airport to Alleppey in Taxi, Train & Bus

7. Leia Cruise, Kumarakom

Leia Cruise on the Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom is, hands down, one of the best luxury houseboats in Kerala in every sense. This luxury air-conditioned houseboat has 3 ultra-regal bedrooms (including a honeymoon suite), a spacious living area, an air-conditioned dining area, and a rooftop for surreal moon dining experiences and gorgeous sunsets!

The gigantic, lavish boat can accommodate up to 9 adults at a time for an overnight stay and can cater to around 75 individuals for day cruises, business conferences, special events, and parties. The rooms also have private balconies overlooking the vast lake bordered by swaying palms and thatched huts in the distance.

Activities offered on the boat include open-air moon dining to let guests enjoy local and international culinary delights prepared by expert chefs under the moonlight with the stunning Vembanad Lake and Pathiramanal Island in the backdrop.

The houseboat also provides guests with assisted kayaking sessions with gear so they can get up close and personal with Kumarakom’s lovely backwaters and natural surroundings. Guests can also go cycling and explore the nearby village life.

 

8. Lakes & Lagoons Tour Co. Houseboats, Alleppey

Lakes & Lagoons is the first ISO 9001-2015 certified houseboat tour company in Kerala. This exotic fleet of luxury houseboats operating in Alleppey strives to offer the best in backwater cruising while allowing guests to soak in the real natural treasure of Kerala’s best backwater destination.

Standing out amid the visually pleasing blue of the lake and the resplendent green of the surrounding palms and vegetation, this backwater cruise brings people closer to nature as well as Kerala’s local village life.

Lakes & Lagoons’ fleet of houseboats has both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms complete with all modern amenities like fully furnished bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, spacious and comfortable sundecks, and a fully-equipped kitchen manned by Kerala’s most experienced chefs.

The cuisine served in the houseboat is purely local and includes the many specialties of Lakes & Lagoons, including curries prepared with locally grown organic vegetables, Pearl Spot (Karimeen) fry, Cassava (Tapioca), and fish curry made from the day’s catch cooked in an exotic blend of spices.

ALSO SEE – Shikara Boat in Alleppey- Pricing, Time, Cruise Options & Routes

9. Kumarakom Lake Resort Houseboats, Kumarakom

Float over Kumarakom’s surreal Vembanad Lake in sheer bliss by staying in Kerala’s traditional houseboats, or ‘kettuvalloms’ designed to offer you world-class comfort, delicious local food, state-of-the-art furnishings, impeccable hospitality, and uninterrupted views of Kerala’s backwaters all around you!

Styled with local materials and thatched roofs to give you the sense of sailing in a traditional Kerala home, these lavish houseboats of Kumarakom Lake Resort have been equipped with every luxury and modern amenity possible.

They offer guests ample opportunities to lounge over the tranquil waters of Lake Vembanad and experience the timeless serenity of rural Kerala along its banks.

Whether guests onboard are lounging on the sheltered deck, enjoying a luxurious bath, dining on exceptionally prepared Kerala cuisine, or simply relaxing in their rooms, they’ll always have an uninterrupted view of Kerala’s most beautiful and peaceful backwaters and be reminded of its undisputed magnificence!

Amenities offered here include a personal crew with an experienced chef, air-conditioned bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, dining rooms, television, electronic safe, housekeeping services, tea/coffee makers with condiments, free Wi-Fi, and luxury baths.

10. Rainbow Cruises, Alleppey

Kerala government-approved Rainbow Cruises operates a fleet of 25 gold-star-rated houseboats equipped with state-of-the-art luxuries, safety measures, and the highest regard for cleanliness and hygiene. These 100-foot-long boats come with luxurious furniture, bedrooms with attached baths, an open lounge, a deck, and a kitchen. A multilingual guide is also made available on deck to assist guests during tours.

One of the finest luxury houseboats in Kerala, this floating holiday home on Alleppey’s picture-perfect backwaters delights guests with a royal blend of nature, traditional splendor, home-like comfort, and endless pampering. The well-trained crew takes great care of the guests’ demands and well-being, in addition to providing quality experiences of touring Kerala’s backwaters.

Amenities include air-conditioned rooms with ensuite baths, unmatched hospitality, 24-hour on-call services, a kitchen with an experienced chef, conference rooms, day fishing and night fishing, a sheltered deck, and advanced safety systems.

The houseboats serve Indian and ethnic Keralite dishes that are a blend of home-style cooking, savory spices, and garden-fresh ingredients, including Sadya, payasam, Karimeen Pollichathu, Fish Molee, Puttu & Kadala Curry, Appam & Mutton Stew, and fresh coconut water occasionally.

 

ALSO SEE – Alleppey Or Kumarakom: Which Is Best For A Kerala Houseboat Cruise?

 

Have you enjoyed a backwater holiday in any of these luxury houseboats in Kerala? If not, start planning one right away!

Pick from the best luxury houseboats in Kerala listed above and you’ll end up having the most memorable experience of cruising Kerala’s breathtaking backwaters while constantly getting pampered with lavish services and delights! And if you know of any more Kerala luxury houseboats that ought to make the list, let us know in the comments below.