One of the best places to plan a luxury holiday is in God’s Own Country. A backwater cruise is something you experience while in Kerala.
There are a lot of options when it comes to luxury houseboats and some of the best houseboats in Kerala are considered to be in Alappuzha (Alleppey) and Kumarakom.
If you want to just relax on the sun deck of a house boat or refresh your mind by cherishing nature and engaging in activities like fishing; a Kerala backwater cruise is the perfect getaway.
Alappuzha and Kumarakom are the starting points for the houseboat rides. Both places have something beautiful and different to offer and thus, it is reasonable for the tourists to get confused as to which one they should choose.
Below are certain factors that you can take into consideration while choosing your luxury backwater cruise in Kerala:
- Price
There is a difference in the prices of an Alleppey houseboat and a Kumarakom houseboat. Alleppey or Alappuzha has various kinds of houseboats which leads to a lot of competition among the houseboat vendors there. Thus, the Alleppey houseboat packages are cheaper than the ones in Kumarakom. In Kumarakom, the boats are fewer in number, and they are mostly premium and ultra luxury houseboats and that’s why it falls on the higher side of the price scale. So, if you are travelling on a budget, it would be wise to go on an Alleppey houseboat day cruise than on a Kumarakom houseboat day cruise.
- Canals and Other Views
A backwater cruise is the most enjoyable when the houseboats go through the canals. Alleppey has a lot of canals when compared to Kumarakom. But that does not mean that Kumarakom does not have anything to offer. What Kumarakom lacks in canals, it makes up for it in other scenic views like the mangrove-covered lagoons, the paddy fields, and the Chinese fishnets in the sprawling lake. A person who loves nature would enjoy travelling through the Kumarakom backwaters just as much as Alleppey. So here’s a choice you have to make.
- Liveliness versus Peace
A large number of luxury houseboats and canals in Alappuzha make the place a little noisy sometimes. The fact being that the Kerala houseboat rates are cheaper in Alappuzha and it attracts more people. You look out of your luxury/ premium houseboat and you will see several other houseboats around you. On the other hand, Kumarakom only has a limited number of houseboats, which makes the place peaceful for tourists who are just looking to relax.People who want to spend quality time with their loved ones and don’t mind the fact that they may not see other houseboats around for quite a while, should choose Kumarakom.
- Variety of Boats
Alappuzha has a lot of options when it comes to choosing your boat. There are small rowboats and also huge and luxurious houseboats like Spice Routes, which have air-conditioned rooms. However, too many options might leave the tourist confused as to which one to choose.In Kumarakom, all the houseboats look more or less the same and there isn’t much variety. You often get to choose only from a one-room boat, two-room boat or a three-bedroom boat.
- Timing
If you want a Kerala houseboat tour during the day, then it is advisable to go for a Kumarakom. The houseboat cruises in Kumarakom allow you to take in the beauty of nature while you enjoy your peaceful time with your loved ones. In case you are looking to stay a night in a luxury houseboat, then it is advisable to go for an Alappuzha houseboat. These boats have on-board dining and luxury interiors like a hotel. However, all boats have to dock at night as it is unsafe to be cruising without visibility.
After analysing the various factors, it can be rightly said that premium houseboats in Alleppey and Kumarakom have their own benefits. It is up to you to decide which option you want to go with and the above-listed factors will help you a great deal in making your decision.
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