Luxury Kerala Backwaters
Tours made for you
Waterside villages
Stop off at local villages to experience riverside living
Historic significance
Explore the regions links to ancient trade and commerce
Fresh local produce
Sample traditional foods, said to be some of the best in India
Lush green waterways and relaxing river life
With the Western Ghats towering to the east and the Arabian Sea flowing out from the west, Kerala is one of India‘s most verdant and beautiful states. Crisscrossing this green lung are the backwaters that snake their way through towns and villages. Teeming with aquatic life and providing an invaluable resource to all who sit on their banks, these waterways have helped create an impossibly lush pocket of India.
The backwaters are a network of interconnecting canals, rivers, lakes and inlets that weave their way through sprawling plantations and paddy fields. With around 900km of accessible water, one of the best ways to explore the area is by boat, navigating your way through the emerald labyrinth past water lilies and coconut groves that lean over the banks as if to take in a long, refreshing drink.
The wider canals and lakes are used by local ferries and larger boats, but there are plenty of narrower tributaries to explore. Gliding along the waterways you’ll pass villages where life revolves around coir making and prawn farming as well as larger towns such as Alleppey, historically one of the most important trading ports along the Malabar Coast.
Kerala’s history is closely linked to trade and commerce with Greek, Roman and Arab merchants coming to deal in cardamon, pepper and ginger. An abundance of spices, fresh fish and coconut means Kerala produces some of the best food in India. There are few places more relaxing as you watch the sun rise and set over the tranquil waters, calm but for the occasional ripple as a boat edges its nose through the water.
Highlights
Enjoy a houseboat cruise along the backwaters
Learn how to make mouthwatering south Indian food
Navigate the waterways through sprawling plantations and paddy fields
Charlie Morris
Travel Designer
Visiting the Keralan Backwaters is like stepping into a peaceful dream—imagine gliding through tranquil waters, surrounded by lush greenery and charming villages. Whether you're on a traditional houseboat or exploring by canoe, the calm and beauty of these waterways make it the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Charlie Morris
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in the Kerala Backwaters
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip inspiration
Where else to visit in India
Agra and the Taj Mahal
The ultimate symbol of eternal love, the Taj Mahal is one of India’s most memorable and emotive sights.
Discover more
Amritsar
The largest city in Punjab and the centre of the Sikh faith, Amritsar is a fascinating and tangibly spiritual destination.
Discover more
Bandhavgarh
In the east of the vast Madhya Pradesh state, Bandhavgarh is one of India’s most popular national parks and hosts what is thought to be the highest density of Bengal tiger in the country.
Discover more
Bangalore
Bangalore, otherwise known as Bengaluru, is a cosmopolitan city that boasts lovely green spaces and striking Victorian-era architecture and is a great place for dining, nights out and shopping.
Discover more
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is the capital of both of Haryana and Punjab states, located on their borders yet technically within neither, in the green foothills of the Sivalik mountain range.
Discover more
Delhi
India’s capital captures the past, lives in the present and looks to the future in a way that few other cities do. Perhaps daunting at first sight, a little exploring soon reveals a rich, diverse and fascinating culture.
Discover more
Fort Cochin
Nestled on the northwest tip of Cochin’s peninsula, Fort Cochin is a quaint coastal region with strong links to its colonial history.
Discover more
Gir Forest National Park
Gir National Park is a vitally important protected forest that is home to the last remaining wild population of the Asiatic lion in the world, as well as prolific birdlife and other animals.
Discover more
Jaipur
The capital of Rajasthan and its largest city, Jaipur is at once the state’s commercial hub and one of its most fascinating cultural destinations. The pace of life here is fast, but take your time and in this somewhat frantic city you’ll find some of India’s most majestic palaces and atmospheric relics.
Discover more
Jodhpur
Rajasthan’s second largest city, historic Jodhpur may just be its most photogenic. Labyrinthine streets, bustling spice bazaars and flitting multihued saris make for an overwhelmingly vibrant sight at every turn.
Discover more
Kanha Tiger Reserve
Kanha Tiger Reserve is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. Right in the heart of central India, this sprawling protected is regarded as one of the best parks in the country for its safari.
Discover more
Khajuraho
Equidistant between Agra and Varanasi in the state of Madhya Pradesh, is the small town of Khajuraho. Its remote location means it could easily slip under the radar of travellers keen to get to India’s more well-known cities, were it not for its remarkable collection of temples, famous for their erotic carvings.
Discover more
Ladakh
Nestled in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir is one of India’s most remote and sparsley populated areas. Ladakh, often referred to as Little Tibet, is a land of snowcapped mountains, vast barren plateaus and deep turquoise lakes.
Discover more
Marari Beach
Marari – short for Mararikulum – is a serene palm-fringed beach village in the Alleppey district of Kerela, easily reached from Cochin and close to Vembanad Lake and the Keralan backwaters.
Discover more
Mumbai
The capital of Maharashtra and India’s economic powerhouse, Mumbai is a huge metropolis home to over 22 million people. A melting pot of cultures, the affectionately named City of Dreams envelops all who come in a cloud of colour and sound, its energy undeniably contagious.
Discover more
Munnar
Nestled in the mighty Western Ghats and surrounded by sprawling tea plantations is the hill station of Munnar. A favoured summer retreat of the British who were lured by the cool mountain air, the surrounding mountains and valleys are one of India’s most picture-perfect destinations.
Discover more
Panna National Park
In the Vindhyan mountain range in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, lies Panna National Park. The River Ken winds its way through a vast expanse of plateaus, gorges and thick forest giving life to a variety of animal and plant life.
Discover more
Rishikesh
In the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, Rishikesh straddles the Ganges, linked by suspension bridges and flanked by the green foothills of the Himalayas.
Discover more
Rural Rajasthan
Away from Rajasthan’s thronging historic cities, this vast state – India’s largest – is peppered with traditional villages, looked over by fortresses in the rugged mountains, and awash with the sands of the baking Thar desert.
Discover more
Shimla
The pedestrianised centre is wonderful to explore on foot, despite the topography, and there are a charming collection of bustling bazaars to be found off the winding main street, the Mall, which follows the spine of the ridge.
Discover more
The Kumaon Region
The little known region of Kumaon is one of two divisions in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand. Bordered by Tibet to the north and Nepal to the east, this is a land of magnificent snow-capped peaks, verdant forest and alpine meadows.
Discover more
Udaipur
Certainly one of the most scenic cities in Rajasthan, and perhaps in all India, this unmatched setting along with Udaipur’s rich history and culture make it a must-see.
Discover more
Varanasi
An ancient settlement on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital and important among numerous faiths.
Discover moreMeet your Indian Subcontinent team
When to visit
December through February is the best time to visit Kerala, a verdant and vibrant state in southern India. Hop in a boat to glide through the intricate canals and rivers that make up the Kerala Backwaters during the cooler and drier winter months – or brave the summer monsoons to witness the Onam harvest festival in August or September.
Onam Harvest Festival
August / Spetember
Religious festivals
March / October - November
Cooler drier months
December - February
Plan your trip to the Kerala Backwaters
Whatever you want from your adventure in India, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Jacada continues to excel. From planning to execution they are meeting and exceeding our expectations. Frequently they are able to anticipate our desires and create a memorable experience.
Jacada designed a once-in-a-lifetime trip to India and the Maldives for our honeymoon. We spent 9 nights in northern India, traveling to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Udaipur then 4 nights in an overwater villa in the Maldives. The travel designer and concierge team member from Jacada assisted us with planning every last detail and provided excellent, well-informed recommendations for all…
From the moment I first contacted Jacada Travel, I knew I was in excellent hands. My travel consultant, Charlie Morris, was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, taking the time to understand my travel preferences and build a customized itinerary that was perfect for me. Charlie's meticulous planning was evident in every aspect of my trip, ensuring that I experienced the best…
Could not have had a more exciting, rewarding and uplifting experience in India. Everything was sensational; from Charlie and Gilda's planning, Sanjeev's extraordinary and insightful guiding, Ramesh and Shankar's perfect driving, the itinerary which took us everyplace we asked and more and added memorable experiences along the way, fantastic accommodations, the local guides who knew the ropes, and on and…
Jacada Travel (as well as their partner in India, Banyan Tours) put together an extraordinary three week tour of India for my wife and I. We've been back home for two weeks now and I still can't stop thinking about what an amazing experience we had. Our guides, particularly Sameer who was with us in Rajasthan, were really able to…
Plan with peace of mind
When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.
