Anyone done the Kerala backwaters?

DirtyGertyy · 2026-04-15T13:06:09+00:00

Only have 4 nights in this area - would like something really low key, off the beaten track - has anyone been done this and have any advice?

Tecklefancier · 15/04/2026 22:21

We did it some years ago. Two nights on a rice barge. It was a wonderful experience. The crew were excellent and produced delicious food from one small camping stove, I can still remember the banana fritters. Do be aware that there are mosquitos everywhere and you need lots of deet and mosquito nets. I can thoroughlly recommend, though for me two days was enough, more than that might not be the best use of your time.

Justbloodydoit · 15/04/2026 22:50

Booked for next Xmas. Cochin, then a rice barge, then a bit of RnR as heading down from the North. I’m not sure it’s off the beaten track though.

Piapea · 15/04/2026 22:56

I did a trip to Kerala about 12 years ago. Cochin is a lovely little city. The back waters are stunning. There are hill stations, tea plantations and sunrise hikes to explore. I finished my trip in a little beach town at the southern tip of India called Varkala. Amazing.
I took my time and spent 2 weeks in Kerala but you could see the backwaters in a couple of days.

Original poster

DirtyGertyy · 19/04/2026 22:23

Thanks so much - looking forward to it. If anyone has any specific recommendations for accommodation / tours / etc would be greatly appreciated

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Tecklefancier · 21/04/2026 10:16

There is a chain of heritage hotels in India called 'Neemrana'. They restore historic buildings and turn them into small select hotels. I have stayed in several but not the one in Kochi which is relatively new, check out 'The Tower House' if you can get a booking, they are often booked up months in advance. In Munnar there is a heritage hotel on an island in the middle of the game reserve. We did stay there and it was memorable.

Original poster

DirtyGertyy · 21/04/2026 17:01

Tecklefancier · 21/04/2026 10:16

There is a chain of heritage hotels in India called 'Neemrana'. They restore historic buildings and turn them into small select hotels. I have stayed in several but not the one in Kochi which is relatively new, check out 'The Tower House' if you can get a booking, they are often booked up months in advance. In Munnar there is a heritage hotel on an island in the middle of the game reserve. We did stay there and it was memorable.

That sounds amazing - will also be in Jaipur for a week and thinking of doing a safari nearby - so if you have any recommendations for accommodation or trips from there that would be great.

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Tecklefancier · Yesterday 09:31

I hesitate to give any recommendations because it is some years since we travelled to India. For several trips we used an Indian based travel service (you can find recommendations on trip advisor) who provided us with a car and driver and recommended mid-range small hotels whiich they also booked for us. The arrangement was brilliant and much less expensive than the up-market UK based firms (who themselves contract the local firms to work for them in India).
A week in Jaipur may be a little too long - consider going to somewhere off the beaten track such as Bundi which is a lovely little city with few visitors.

I can also recommend 'Hill Fort Kesroli' which is run by Neemrana and is a quite wonderful place to stay.

AttentionPlease · Yesterday 09:43

We just did a few hours boat trip around the backwaters, which involved stopping off at the boatman's house and eating a lunch his wife had made in a sort of little pavilion by the water. The food was absolutely delicious, the man and his wife were lovely, and it was a dreamy, otherworldly experience.

Munnar was also lovely.

Original poster

DirtyGertyy · Yesterday 09:59

Tecklefancier · Yesterday 09:31

I hesitate to give any recommendations because it is some years since we travelled to India. For several trips we used an Indian based travel service (you can find recommendations on trip advisor) who provided us with a car and driver and recommended mid-range small hotels whiich they also booked for us. The arrangement was brilliant and much less expensive than the up-market UK based firms (who themselves contract the local firms to work for them in India).
A week in Jaipur may be a little too long - consider going to somewhere off the beaten track such as Bundi which is a lovely little city with few visitors.

I can also recommend 'Hill Fort Kesroli' which is run by Neemrana and is a quite wonderful place to stay.

These are excellent suggestions - right up our street - we have been to Jaipur before so wanted places we could visit from there - the week is basically the time between our flights in and out of the airport. We have an event in the city which will take up 2 of our days when we arrive but beyond that we can go wherever road trip / overnights but need to get back to the airport eventually.

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