Traditional Houseboat

The beautiful houseboats of Kerala, called kettuvallams, were once used to transport rice, spices, and other goods to the port of Cochin. Today these delightful 80-foot barges make fantastic overnight accommodations for a journey along the lagoons of Kerala. The private, air-conditioned houseboats come in a variety of shapes and sizes but all are still constructed using the traditional method of tying boards together with rope (not a single nail is used!). Each houseboat has an open-air sitting area and deck, double sleeping cabins with private bathroom and showers, and a crew of four including a chef who prepares Keralan specialties. Floating along the scenic waterways aboard a beautiful private kettuvallam is the quintessential experience of tropical South India.