PHOTO: Whether you take a houseboat, private boat or public ferry, you'll be sure to have a memorable experience!
The main reason people come to Allepey is to experience cruising along the waters of "Little Venice."
Although I would have loved to do a Houseboat cruise, the price wasn't worth it for me and we opted to take the government ferry, which was absolutely incredible as far as I'm concerned. (In other words; what you don't know won't kill you.)
We grabbed the front seats with a breathtaking 180-degree view, passing along beautiful villages, islands and locals encased by palm trees on a beautiful sunny day.
When choosing which boat to take, it can be a little challenging and prices vary greatly. However, you have three option and three different price ranges for cruising along "Little Venice." (Prices range but you may barter)
1.Houseboat (7,000 rupee for two days, 1 night)
You can choose to spend a nice and relaxing time cruising along the open waters, sitting on top deck taking in the sights and sleeping on your own houseboat for two days and one night along with a cooked seafood dinner feeling like a king or queen.
This is the best option for larger groups or if it is within your budget.
PHOTO: The views along the water leave you speechless.
Choosing the right houseboat:
Forego people offering you their boats when you arrive into town and head straight to the port to see the houseboats first hand.
You will want a boat that has a top deck to relax on, an enclosed lower deck for the evening as there are many mosquitos/bugs (otherwise, bring a lot of bug repellant) and a bedroom with air-conditioning or a fan.
Prices will range from 7,000 and upwards for two days and one night but you can tend to barter down to 6,000 typically.
2.Private Boat (400 rupee/ person for 1 hour)
If you are looking for a day tour, you may rent a private boat to tour around the canal and outer areas for an hour and upwards.
The pros of going in a private boat is that you have the chance to drive through smaller canals where a houseboat wouldn't fit.
Typically, you can barter down to 300 rupees/hour. If you go with a couple people you can barter lower.
3.Government Ferry (15 rupee/person for two hours one-way)
If you are on a strict budget or don't mind sharing a large boat with locals, you can opt to take the government ferry leaving five times a day.
PHOTO: Paying a mere 15 rupees to share the public ferry was a wonderful experience and cost less than a cup of chai!
Where to Sit:
Snag the front seats and you will have a stunning panoramic view (and a lovely breeze) as you sit back and relax watching everything the private boat and houseboats see!
If you are planning to do the government ferry route, you have two options on your end destination:
You may take the boat to a specific port and then turn around and take the ferry back to Allepey or, if you do not want to backtrack and head on to Munnar, take the ferry to Kottyam. From there you will want to get a tuk-tuk to the bus station and take the local bus directly to Munnar.
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