Explore Kerala By Water With Spice Coast Cruises And Their Luxury Boats!

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What Makes It Awesome

Imagine lying on a deck, gentle waves lulling you into slumber, fresh catch cooked right in front of you, and sunsets that match no other. If that sounds like your kind of holiday, book your next one with Spice Coast Cruise. Kicking off in Kumarakom, revamped Kettuvalloms (originally boats to transport rice) double up as floating houseboats (with one or two bedrooms) in Kerala, and they’re a treat. The most wonderful aspect is that they run on solar power and vegetable oil, making them very eco-friendly.

Smartly partitioned into a foredeck (with cane lounge chairs ideal to sip on a cup of steaming tea or beer on) serving as a bedroom area with swanky modern amenities, these boats are elegant. The canopies are weaved from cane, rattan and coir blend to make up the front deck, which also happens to be our favourite place on board. Where else can you look into the distance with nothing but the ripples of water, reflections of coconut groves on the surface and the sun?

It’s also where the boatmen will chart your course (using the punting style) through the inland sea, better known as the Vembanad lake. Stopping by a fisherman, floating along and fishing as you go, halting for a photo op; it’s all those personal touches we most enjoyed, and suspect you might too.

You may be on a boat, but you’re still in Kerala, so the food naturally involves plenty of coconut. Though since it’s all freshly made on board, they keep things simple. Think rice, dal, avial, a curry and, of course, fresh seafood beautifully grilled on live coals. We highly recommend you stop off at shore-side fish stores and buy a lot of prawns, crabs and lobsters for some delicious indulgence.

When you’ve had enough of the outdoors (as if!), head to your warm and cosy bedroom. Once you’re inside, you might even end up enjoying it as much as the deck. Cosy, wooden and with a gentle breeze hugging the whiff of the sea; it’s a tangible version of a lullaby!

It’s quite an expensive night, priced at INR 20,000 upwards, but an opportunity to indulge in an experience of a lifetime makes it worthwhile.

Pro Tip

Feel free to jump into the waters right from your boat, though ask the captain for permission before doing so. It’s a different thrill, and you’ll love it. Who knows, you might catch some fish too!

For the perfect photo, keep the camera ready at the exact spot where the river Kavanar meets the lake; it makes for a spectacular view.