back water cruise

Kerala Backwaters Cruise: 1 Day & 1 Night On A Houseboat In India

Posted on Last updated: September 2, 2020

Have you ever been on a cruise? What about a cruise on the backwaters of a tropical country, surrounded by palm trees and beautiful views?

If the answer is no, you should start planning a trip to Kerala asap! I recently spent two weeks in India with the Kerala Tourism Board and  Kerala Blog Express on the #tripofalifetime.

As part of this trip we got to spend a day and night on a houseboat, cruising the backwaters of Kerala. Read on to find out everything you need to know about doing a houseboat backwater cruise in Kerala, India.

Enjoying a coconut drink onboard our Spice Routes houseboat while cruising the backwaters of Kerala, photo by Jinson Abraham / Kerala Tourism

Some key info about doing a Kerala backwater cruise

Kerala is a region in Southern India, famous for its natural beauties. The backwaters are one of these. The backwaters of Kerala are a group of internal waters that stretch for 900km.

Similarly to the canals of Venice; they act as roads and passageways for the areas where the proper roads don’t reach. As such it’s not uncommon to see all kinds of boats transporting all sorts of things while cruising the backwaters.

The backwaters connect very large sections of the region so there are a number of different ports from which you can start and end your cruise.

Besides being a transport system, doing a Kerala backwaters cruise has become a popular tourist attraction. Many tourists come to Kerala to spend a night in a houseboat, cruising the backwaters.

We set off from Alappuzha and returned there after an afternoon, night and morning spent on board.

| READ MORE: BEST THINGS TO DO IN KERALA |

Cruising the backwaters of Kerala, India

Our Kerala houseboat cruise

We did our backwaters cruise with the luxury houseboat company Spice Routes .

Spice Routes takes the traditional  kettuvalloms; large boats that used to carry spices, provisions and much more, and turned them into luxury houseboats.

Houseboats today are adapted to ensure travellers have access to all modern conveniences, while enjoying an authentic experience on the backwaters.

The lounge / dining area of our Spice Routes houseboat

Our Spice Routes cruise was on-board their houseboat Clove.

This boat had the kitchen in the back, three cabins with a double bed and private bathroom, and a large communal area with a dining table for meals and couches for relaxing.

All the rooms had air-conditioning and a fan. There were three crew members on board (a driver, an assistant and a cook) that did their best to ensure we had an incredible trip.

Our bedroom onboard our Spice Routes houseboat

Houseboat prices & rates for a Kerala backwaters cruise

Prices for a houseboat cruise on the backwaters of Kerala range massively depending on the type of boat, with rates starting around 50 GBP per person per night and going as high as 300 GBP.

A typical kettuvallom boat cruises the backwaters of Kerala, India

How to book your own houseboat cruise

You can book your own houseboat cruise with Spice Routes directly on their website . Alternatively if you want to see other companies and compare prices or boats you can easily find most of them on Booking.com .

You can either search directly for “Kerala House Boats” in the destination search bar or if you search only for Kerala then make sure to select “Boats” on the “Popular filters” in the left sidebar.

Palm tree reflections in the backwaters of Kerala, India

Our experience cruising the backwaters of Kerala

We started our cruise in Alappuzha, also known as the “Venice of the East”.

Alappuzha is famous for boat races, beaches, marine products and coir industry located in the “Rice Bowl of Kerala”; a region of lush paddy fields and the only place in the world where farming is carried out below sea level.

We set off around 1PM and were offered lunch as son as we departed.

We got to enjoy some tasty curries while watching the palm trees and backwaters cruise past us, all while comfortably sat in an air-conditioned room (I’m not usual an air-con snob, but in the Indian heat it’s necessary)!

After lunch we got to sit by the prow   to enjoy the view, while the captain cruised the boat and told us about the area.

Enjoying the view during our backwaters cruise in Kerala, India

If you’ve done river cruises in European cities such as Venice , London or Budapest you might be expecting a lot of sailing with little to see until you reach one of the main landmarks, where everyone rushes to a the window to snap a photo.

Cruising the backwaters of Kerala is very different. There isn’t a specific end point or main tourist attraction that you are sailing to; the cruise itself in the calm backwaters surrounded by palm trees is the attraction.

The highlight of the day for me was seeing the sunset over the backwaters. The sky turned a beautiful orange and we enjoyed seeing the sun dip below the palm trees and horizon.

Doing a backwaters cruise at sunset is stunning, and it’s an experience I think should feature on everyone’s Kerala itinerary .

A traditional kettuvallom boat surrounded by the palm trees of the Kerala backwaters

Just after the sun had gone down, around 6:30PM we docked for the night. None of the houseboats cruise at night, as this is when the fishermen operate, and they don’t want the houseboats to interfere with the nets.

We were given the opportunity to disembark from the boat and go for a walk in the rice fields and town where we had docked. This is a great opportunity to see a place that you might not otherwise be able to access, as the roads are limited.

The staff on-board Spice Routes are very flexible and asked us what time we wanted to eat, and arranged dinner according to that.

We finished off the day with some more lovely curries and relaxing in the lounge before going to bed in our respective rooms.

Sunset over the backwaters of Kerala, India

Enjoying the sunset over the backwaters of Kerala from our Spice Routes houseboat

Sleeping in the houseboat can be a bit bumpy if you’re not used at spending time on boats, however it didn’t present an issue to myself or any of my fellow travel bloggers.

The boat is docked so the movement is limited, the houseboat will occasionally rock when other boats sail past too fast.

In the morning when the crew start turning on and moving the boat however this becomes more noticeable and it can be harder to sleep. In my opinion, this made for a great way to wake-up call!

Ditch the alarms, on your backwaters cruise you will be naturally woken up by the movement of the boat and noises of the river.

While the boat sailed back to the harbour and end point of our cruise we were served a typical Indian breakfast, with also some more traditional Western choices (eg. cereal) for those who like me can’t handle a curry early in the morning.

Morning views over the backwaters of Kerala, India

Final thoughts on cruising the backwaters of Kerala, India

Spending a day and night on a houseboat while cruising the backwaters of Kerala was one of my favourite experiences of Kerala Blog Express .

Have you been on a backwaters cruise before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

Want to see more of Kerala and need some help planning your trip? Check out these day-by-day Kerala itineraries .

Looking for more Kerala travel tips? Check out these guides:

• Best adventure activities in Wayanad, Kerala
• Discover the tea plantations of Munnar
• Human By Nature – the amazing people of Kerala

Enjoyed reading about doing a Kerala backwaters houseboat cruise? Pin it!

Mayuri Patel

Monday 23rd of April 2018

lovely write up and beautiful captures I am from India and travel blogger too, thank you for such informative post on Kerala

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With two bedrooms and a Gold Star rating, the Sauver Nigam led the field in responsible tourism when it won “The Most Eco Friendly Tourism Project” way back in 1999, when responsible travel wasn’t even the buzz word it is today. Sauver Nigam thus established a benchmark for certifying all other boats plying the pristine backwaters, making it a truly remarkable houseboat on Kerala’s waterways.

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The cruise takes you through the clear waters of the prominent Punnamada Lake – the venue of the legendary Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race. You can visit the 400 year old Champakkulam church, one of the 7 churches established by St. Thomas. The Chavara Bhavan, located 6 km from Alleppey , is another interesting place that one can't affoed to miss. The ancestral home of the Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the Chavara Bhavan houses the legendary 250 year old beacon of light – preserved intact in its original and primitive form.

After spending the night at the romantic Vattakayal Lake, you sail back to Alappuzha. The Routes in Alappuzha

Alappuzha to Alappuzha is a one night round about cruise which takes you through the Legendary Punnamada Lake. Sail along the gentle clear backwaters to the romantic Vattakayal Lake and spend a night aboard.

Alappuzha to Kumarakom, a one night cruise which offers you a magical night. Water birds – both residents and migratory adorn the canals and water ways. The water lilies when seen in the night dazzle like the twinkling stars in a dark sky. Fishing women and men add to the magic with their imaginative ways of fishing.

Alappuzha to Kottayam is one of the most exotic Backwaters cruises. A cruise from Alappuzha through these backwaters tantalizes you with its breathtaking serenity to remain as the most beautiful reminiscences of your life. See the toddy tappers at work and farming done at below sea level.

Alappuzha to Mankotta – this cruise takes you through the Punnamada Lake and provides you the opportunity of visiting the coir making villages and other historically important sights.

Alappuzha to Alumkadavu – offers both a one night cruise as well as a two night cruise. This cruise takes you to the place of origin of the house boats you are traveling in – the Kettuvallams. Alumkadavu is the place where entire clans used to make these Kettuvallams.

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Cruising Kerala's backwaters by houseboat

An expert guide to cruising kerala's backwaters by houseboat.

Sharell Cook

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The 'backwaters' is the name of the enchanting palm-lined waterways that are synonymous with Kerala. This 900-odd kilometre labyrinth of canals connects large regions of Kerala and was constructed centuries ago for transporting cargo, such as spices and rice.

Traditional boats called kettuvallam (made by tying pieces of wood together with coir rope, made from coconut fibres) collected the cargo from isolated villages along the waterways and carried it to traders in town. However, use of the boats fell as a preference for modern forms of transport grew. The vessels are now being used for houseboat trips on Kerala's backwaters and have become one of the region's most popular attractions.

Kerala's backwaters still function as an important hub of local life. Commuting, fishing and farming are frequently undertaken on the backwaters and a Keralan houseboat trip provides a fascinating glimpse into these everyday activities. It feels like a journey through another world as you glide past homes, paddy fields, coconut groves, churches, temples, toddy shops and wildlife.

Here's my essential guide to cruising the Kerala backwaters by houseboat.

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Traditional houseboat on Kerala's backwaters

Cruising Kerala backwaters by houseboat

Everything you need to know about cruising the backwaters.

An overnight stay or multi-day backwaters cruise aboard a traditional Keralan houseboat will reward you with a surreal sunset reflected on the water; delicious Keralan food, freshly cooked on board the boat, makes it even more enjoyable.

Here's an idea of what to expect and how a backwaters houseboat cruise works.

What are Kerala houseboats like?

Keralan houseboats come in various shapes and sizes, from basic to ultra-luxurious. There are even houseboats with spas and swimming pools.

The smallest houseboats have one bedroom, while the largest have ten. Some have rooftop sun decks. Keep in mind that only one and two-bedroom houseboats can cruise along the narrow waterways. Bigger houseboats won't fit here and are best for shorter trips.

Most houseboats are quite comfortable with living rooms, dining rooms, modern amenities, air-conditioning, and en-suite bathrooms. Expect all your meals to be cooked for you by an onboard chef. Most houseboats will ask you to specify whether you want vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals before setting off.

Be aware that you'll spend most of your time on the water. This is a chance to switch off from life, meditate on the views and slow down—not something you always get to do when travelling in India.

Where are the Kerala backwaters?

The Kerala backwaters primarily extend from the major port city of Kochi to coastal Kollam. However, there are backwaters in the far north and south of the state as well.

The main starting point for most backwater cruises is Alleppey, about two hours south of Kochi. Known as the ‘City of Canals’ and the ‘Venice of the East’, Alleppey is the centre of backwater houseboat tourism. Nearby Kumarakom is also a popular place for houseboats.

Of the 1,200 plus houseboats in Kerala, about 700 operate in the core waterways of Alleppey and Kumarakom. Depending on your itinerary, it might be better to begin your houseboat trip elsewhere to avoid this overcrowding. This is particularly true if you don't want to find yourself surrounded by dozens of boats on standard routes during the peak season of December and January . Some are likely to be laden with rowdy domestic tourists who delight in playing loud music and getting drunk. Recommended alternative starting points are Kottayam, Kollam, Kasargod in northern Kerala, and Kozhikode (Calicut).

How long should I spend on a Kerala houseboat trip?

Houseboat trips are typically for one-day or overnight. However, it's possible to hire a houseboat for shorter or longer lengths. A three-night trip will cover the top canals, interior villages, and more remote waterways. However, a brief three-hour trip may not be sufficient if you're interested in seeing a lot of the small canals or want to experience rural life.

You can combine a houseboat trip with a stay at a resort or homestay along the backwaters. Many accommodations have their own houseboats, and offer overnight and sunset cruises.

Do note that the boats must be moored after sunset, so that fishing activity isn't disturbed.

Keralan houseboat routes and what to see

Alleppey-Kumarakom

The most common Keralan houseboat routes are round trips from Alleppey and Kumarakom. The Alleppey waterways are made up of a mixture of wide and narrow canals, dotted with villages and paddy fields. Alleppey is also a centre of coir manufacturing with factories that you can visit. Kumarakom has wider waterways and is dominated by the vast expanse of Lake Vembanad (one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia). Highlights include the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Pathiramanal Island, where you can see cormorants, herons and kingfishers, amongst many other bird species. In between Alleppey and Kumarakom are sprawling reclaimed farming areas such as C Block, R Block, and H Block.

North of Kumarakom, the rivers and canals of Vaikom merge with Vembanad Lake. Tranquil Vaikom is one of the oldest townships in Kerala and offers village life experiences. Pottery, mat weaving, coconut processing, sand mining, and making coir ropes are carried out there. This is a convenient destination for one-day backwater excursions from Kochi, as it's only an hour away by car from the city.

Alleppey-Kuttanad

Those who want to avoid the glut of houseboats will find the unconventional Alleppey- Kuttanad route via Punnamada Lake the most appealing. This encompasses quiet and calm waterways around Thottappally, Nedumudi and Thakazhi. The Kuttanad district is referred to as the ‘rice bowl of Kerala’ and cultivation of rice here is intriguingly done below sea level.

Kollam-Ashtamudi Lake

Kollam has grown in popularity as a backwater destination but it's yet to become touristy. It offers a very different experience to Alleppey and Kumarakom due to its important history. It has one of the oldest trading ports on the state's coast and a thriving cashew industry. Ashtamudi Lake is the focal point of houseboat trips in this area, with mangroves and migratory birds. There are more than 15 islands on the lake. One of them is Monroe Island, which draws visitors who want an authentic slice of local life away from the crowds. Routes cover the islands and pass through relatively unexplored waterways. You'll get to see plantations, Chinese fishing nets, rustic villages, a heritage palace, and diverse places of worship.

Kozhikode backwaters

The unspoiled Kozhikode backwaters are situated near Kappad beach and Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, about five hours north of Kochi. This area is also historically important, as it's where Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed in the 15th century. Houseboat trip routes include Canolly Canal, Kallai River and Ellathur village.

One-way houseboat trips

It's possible to take a one-way houseboat trip, starting in one destination and ending in another, such as Alleppey to Kumarakom. The cost may be higher if the boat needs to return to its original departure point. The route between Alleppey and Kollam is ideal for a longer one-way trip, extending across two nights. It's very scenic with many narrow canals, farm fields, and secluded villages. Plus, it goes past Amritapuri Ashram of Amma , the "Hugging Mother". Alumkadavu, where houseboats are built, is another attraction on the route.

Other off-the-radar routes include Alleppey to Kidangara (one-night), Alleppey to Mankotta (one-night), Chettuva to Manaloor in Thrissur district, and the Poothotta backwaters near Kumarakom.

Hidden gems on the Kerala backwaters

A newly renovated cruise boat terminal at Kochi is set to increase backwater tourism in the area, with routes covering city landmarks such as Bolgatti Palace and Cochin Shipyards, and Vypeen Island. However, tourists who want to go on a backwater trip from Kochi in a traditional-style houseboat are typically taken to departure points elsewhere.

Northern Kerala

Houseboat tourism is still in its infancy in northern Kerala's Kasaragod district, meaning idyllic and undisturbed waterways. There are a couple of houseboat routes here. One runs between Payyanur and Kottapuram near Nileshwar, covering Valiyaparamba Island and the Kavvayi backwaters. Oyster Opera theme village, dedicated to oyster farming, lies along this route. The other route covers the waterways around Chandragiri, near Bekal, where there's a 17th century fort built by Sivappa Naik of Bedanore.

Southern Kerala

In far southern Kerala, the waterways around capital city Trivandrum are defined by lakes and rivers. This area has fewer houseboats and isn't optimal for backwater trips. A cruise along the picturesque Poovar backwaters, about an hour south of Trivandrum, in a motorboat or country boat is your best bet.

How to book a Keralan backwater tour

The boom in backwater tourism and associated proliferation in houseboats is posing a concerning threat to the environment in Kerala. The waterways around Alleppey and Kumarakom have become noticeably polluted as a result of poor waste management practices.

In order to address this, the Keralan government has introduced a new houseboat classification system with Silver, Gold and Diamond ratings (to replace the older Silver Star, Gold Star and Green Palm categories).

The ratings take into account factors such as responsible waste management, disability-friendly features, use of eco-friendly materials, codes of conduct for guests and staff, quality of furnishings and fixtures, use of LED lamps, biogas stoves, smoke alarms, and first-aid kits.

When booking with a houseboat operator or tour company, it's important to check that the houseboat has been appropriately registered and classified.

Experiencing Kerala’s backwaters beyond houseboats

Many visitors to Kerala are now choosing to take tours in smaller local boats (called country boats), canoes, or even kayaks, to villages along the narrower canals where houseboats can't go. This provides a more intimate, immersive experience of the Keralan backwaters.

Another alternative is to spend a night or two at a hotel or homestay alongside the waterways and dreamily watch the houseboats go by. Numerous options are concentrated around Alleppey and Kumarakom.

Those who are travelling on a budget and want to save money can take one of the public ferry services operated by the State Water Transport Department, such as the one between Alleppey and Kottayam.

Before and after your houseboat trip

Love tea? include the hill town of Munnar on your itinerary. It's one of India's top tea producing areas where you can see tea being harvested, go tea tasting, take a plantation walk, and even stay on a plantation. It's about a six hour drive from Kochi.

Kochi will charm anyone who appreciates architecture and history. It's a beguiling blend of Arab, British, Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese, and Jewish influences. A bit over an hour north of Kochi, the Muziris heritage precinct (from North Paravur to Kodungallur) has some of the oldest religious structures in India, dating back thousands of years to the time Muziris was an ancient port city. It's one of the country's biggest conservation projects.

The most popular attractions in this forested area in Kerala's Idukki district are Periyar National Park, the spice plantations at Kumily, and local tribal villages.

This lush hilly region along the Western Ghat mountains also has tea, coffee and spice plantations. It attracts adventure enthusiasts who trek to spots such as Chembra Peak and Meenmutty Falls and go bamboo rafting at Kuruva Island. The prehistoric carvings at Edakkal caves are compelling too.

Marari Beach

Visiting the backwaters around Alleppey and want a beach break nearby? Marari borders a fishing village and remains relatively undeveloped, yet has a temping range of accommodations. Some are bang on the beach and offer authentic Ayurvedic treatments.

Folk arts and dance

Kathakali (an elaborately costumed dance-drama) is the most well known of Kerala's many unique and unusual folk art forms. Others include theyyam ( an ancient ritual art form that involves the channeling of deities that come to earth), kalaripayattu (a form of martial arts), and pulikali (tiger play performed during the Onam festival, whereby men dress up as tigers and dance to traditional percussion instruments).

About the author

"Sharell Cook is a travel writer and author of Henna for the Broken-Hearted , published by Pan Macmillan. She was born and brought up in Australia and now lives in Mumbai, India."

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An experience to cherish

A vacation in Kerala is incomplete without a houseboat ride, where you will enjoy the breathtaking view of backwaters of Alleppey.

You will be staying literally over the water, relaxing and enjoying the greenery and beauty of waterways while the houseboat floats through the lakes. You will also get glimpses of untouched rural Kerala, and can buy some fresh catch while you ride through which will be cooked and served right on the houseboat.

Experiencing this in the unique natural ambience of blackpearl will be truly a magical experience.

Blackpearl is built focussing on sustainable design with all bamboo interiors.The state-of-the-art houseboat is an unbelievable fusion of traditional yet contemporary elegance & tranquil ambience. This unique houseboat in Alleppey will be a perfect choice for your private family vacation.

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Normal Cruise – Day Cruise

Enchanting couple of hours on the mellow waters…

Lunch Cruise - Noon Cruise

Work up your appetite for the best of the spicy traditional cuisine…

Sunset Cruise

A sight never enough seen, with a thankful sigh for the beautiful day…

Customize Cruise – Cruise of Choice

Cruise to your heart’s content… when you want, long as you wish…

Special Fishing Cruise – Angler’s Cruise

The magic of hook & line, absolute stillness, till that gentle nudge, then a tug, a brief struggle and you reel in the prize, straight to the cooking pot…

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Home » Day Tours » k-Poovar backwater cruise | Kovalam Day Tours | Sunset Cruise at Poovar Island

Sunset Cruise at Poovar Island and Golden Sand Beach

When does it run? Daily

Duration 4 hours

Start time 15.00 hours

Meeting Point Your hotel in Trivandrum (Please advise your hotel at the time of booking.)

Ending Point Your hotel in Trivandrum

k-Poovar backwater cruise | Kovalam Day Tours | Sunset Cruise at Poovar Island

Poovar backwater cruise | Kovalam Day Tours | Sunset Cruise at Poovar Island :-Watch a beautiful sunset and golden sands beach on this cruise.

Poovar is a small coastal, fisherman village located 35 Kms from Trivandrum and 20 Kms from Kovalam. Poovar is a beautiful island which is surrounded by river called Neyyar. Neyyar River – It originates from Agastyarkoodam Hills near Trivandrum and after 56 Kms of flowing its long journey ends at Arabian Sea. During heavy monsoon, it carry sand and mud and an estuary is formed which become the present form of Poovar.

The river, which ends it flow at Arabian Sea, become wider and it appears to be a lake. There are only few resorts located on the banks of the river Neyyar. One can see the lake first, and then the beach and the Arabian Sea. The main attraction of Poovar is – the backwater river, lake and Arabian sea joining together, which, one will not get to see any where in Kerala. Poovar beach starts where the backwater ends.

The Poovar Island

The Poovar Island is surrounded by small canals and Neyyar river. This rivers and backwaters are rich in flora and fauna. While cruising though the Poovar backwaters one can easily spot water birds like Kingfisher, Brahminy Kite, Night Heron, Sea Egret, Black Darter, Indian Cormorant eagle and many more.

Golden sands Beach

Watch a beautiful sunset and golden sands beach on this cruise.

The major attraction of the Poovar Beach is its cleanliness. Since accessibility to beach is difficult, local crowd and fisher man from local villages used to avoid this beach. This is the only beach in Kerala where local crowd does not come for making it very peaceful. The authentic views of this beach attract large number of visitors from all over the world. It is an ideal destination for relaxing and cherishing the exotic beauty of beach.

You will be picked up from your hotel and travel in an air-conditioned vehicle to the Poovar Island where you will board a motor boat. Enjoy a two hour sunset cruise in the poovar backwaters. See the .beautiful coastline from the motor boat.

After the cruise, you will be taken back tom your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle where the tour ends.

Meeting Point Your hotel in Trivandrum

Inclusions  

• Transport – Services using an Air-conditioned Medium Car for 1-3 passengers, Toyota Innova for 04 passengers & Tempo Traveller for 05-08 passengers.
• Guide – English speaking driver-guide
• 2 hour boat cruise
• Expenses of personal nature such as table drinks, , camera fees still or video, tips to drivers.

Golden Sand Beach Poovar

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River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat

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Equipped with ice-breaking technology, these huge fancy yachts are the only river cruisers running all year around. The round trip journey takes two and a half hours and floats past all the big sights like the White House, Novodevichy monastery and the Kremlin. There’s a large open air observation deck up top, while the main body of the ship houses a restaurant with a dance floor for a romantic post dinner dance. For a particularly romantic experience take one of the evening boats and admire the bright lights of the city skyline at night.

The most relaxing and picturesque tour that Moscow can offer: a great way to see the city center and its main attractions. This is a perfect alternative to exploring the city by car, if you only have time to do sightseeing during weekday rush hours.

Your English-speaking guide is eager to share every bit of their knowledge about the surrounding landscape, the architecture and historical details.

We conduct Moscow river tour on Radisson Flotilla boats all year around!  It’s warm inside during winter months, while there’s air conditioning during hot summer days. You may also treat yourself to drinks, lunch or dinner on board (drinks and food are not included in tour price).

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Quay at Radisson Collection Hotel

Government Headquarters ("the White House")

Kievsky Railway Central

Novodevichy Convent

Luzhniki Stadium

Academy of Sciences

Monument to Peter I

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Moscow Kremlin

St.Basil's Cathedral

Novospassky Monastery

U-turn and back to Quay at Radisson Royal Hotel

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See photo of the meeting point

India’s largest solar-electric boat Indra a hit

K OCHI : Yet another green initiative of the Kerala State Water Transport Department (SWTD) has turned out to be a roaring success with ‘Indra’, the country’s largest solar-electric boat, running to near full capacity just a fortnight after its launch in the Kochi backwaters.

The 100-seat cruise vessel, exclusively for tourist voyages, boasts a specially made “open spaced” upper deck, where tourists can enjoy alluring sceneries of the backwaters, along with a food counter and on board entertainment facilities.

“The daily collection has touched the Rs 18,000-mark, with the vessel running to full capacity on weekends and holidays. With the start of the summer vacation, we’re receiving advance group bookings,” said Traffic SP M Sujith.

The Rs 3.5-crore boat was launched on March 31. It operates two cruise trips daily, each three-hour long. “There is huge demand for the evening, sunset trip as the vessel is among the few tourist services that goes up to the mouth of the sea. Since it operates on solar energy, the cost of operations will be much lesser. More importantly, there will not be any carbon or noise pollution,” the official said.

Starting from Ernakulam boat jetty, the vessel sails to Bolgatty Palace, Vallarpadam, Container Terminal, Vypeen, Kamalakadavu, and Fort Kochi before returning to Marine Drive via Willingdon Island. The ticket costs Rs 300 per adult and Rs 150 per child.

The SWTD has tied up with Kudumbashree to provide the on-board food counter facility, where refreshments and snacks are offered to tourists. “Vega, another tourist cruise vessel deployed in Alappuzha backwaters, was the first to have an on-board food counter. Its success – the collections touched Rs 5 crore in two years – has encouraged us to extend delectable culinary offerings on board in Indra too,” said SWTD director Shaji V Nair.

Initially, the services were operated at 10am and 3pm. However, the prevailing extreme humid conditions have prompted SWTD to start the evening trip by 4 pm, Shaji said, adding that the morning trip too has been rescheduled to 11 am to facilitate maximum customers.

To take its green initiative forward, SWTD plans to induct at least one solar boat in its fleet every month this year.

“Work on these 14 IRS (Indian Registrar of Shipping) class vessels,with varying passenger capacity, are progressing at different private yards,” Shaji said.