Full day Cruise with Village Life, Local Food and Cooking Class

Starting Point: Cheepunkal Kumarakom

Available Time: 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM

Duration: 12 hours

Highlights: Canoeing, Village Life & Cooking

Photo Gallery

Coir Making
Weaving with Coconut Leaves
Kerala Toddy
Kerala Tea
Toddy Tapping
Cooking Class
Kerala Breakfast
Kerala Lunch
Canoeing
Bird Watching
Kerala Fisherman
Kerala Cuisine
Kerala Snacks

Package Summary

The full-day cruise is a great way to experience beautiful backwaters and get to know the people who live there. You can also sample the authentic cuisine and learn how it is made!

The trip starts with a breathtaking sunrise view and ends with a peaceful sunset view. In addition to the fantastic views, you'll see colourful birds, blooming pink lilies when they're there, and swaying coconut palms. You'll be able to know more about the local life and walk through the unspoiled countryside. The 1 hour cooking workshop and the native cuisine we make in our kitchenette will make the whole trip even more special!

Route Map

Detailed Itinerary

You'll check-in for your full-day boat trip at the Canoe Kerala dock in Kumarakom. Our guide will be waiting for you when you get there. Safety instructions and orange vests will be given to you before the boatman takes you out on the canoe.

The experience will last for the whole day. It usually begins at sunrise and comes to an end at sunset. Our expert guide will be with you on the cruise to ensure you have a great, stress-free experience.

In this package, the key points are:

Canoe Paddling:

We are sure you will enjoy paddling the canoe with your own hands if you are an adventurer who likes to be more low key. Even though canoeing sounds simple, you need to know that it will not be so easy. As it takes some skill and strength, ask the boatman for help if you need it.

Local Life Experience:

The full-day cruise will provide you with endless opportunities to interact with the natives. It's pleasing to watch the people in the village go about their daily lives. By the end of the cruise, you will have learned quite a bit about village life in the area.

Tea from a Local Tea Shop:

Kerala's local tea shops serve hot 'chai,' known for its rich aroma and refreshing taste. Many people in the neighbourhood may interact with you as you sip hot chai on a bench outside the shop. The experience gives a brief glimpse into how people enjoy living in the area.

Bird Watching:

With a diverse range of local and exotic birds, Kumarakom is a bird lover's dream. Take out your binoculars to have a better look at the beautiful birds. Birds spotted at Kumarakom include cormorants, egrets, herons, owls, and other common species. During our tour through the small canals, we'll be able to spot more wetland birds than at the Kumarakom bird sanctuary!

Toddy Tapping:

A well-executed toddy tapping is indeed a work of art! The tapper effortlessly climbs to the top of the coconut tree to collect sap. Further fermenting the accumulated liquid makes the toddy. During the cruise, you'll be able to witness how a toddy tapper climbs a coconut tree and performs his chores. To see him in action is very exciting!

Kerala Style Breakfast:

The breakfast spread will give a good idea of Kerala's food culture. It'd be a refreshing change from the regular milk and frosted flakes. We're sure you'll be ready for a busy day after breakfast.

After breakfast, we'll board a small boat or rickshaw to nearby houses or perhaps the marketplace to collect groceries & spices for the cooking session.

Cooking Class:

After returning from the local market, you would participate in a hands-on cooking session lasting 1 hour. You will learn all of the secrets behind the deliciousness of the local cuisine. Note down the recipes, pay close attention to the cooking techniques and try to replicate them once you get home. It would be like bringing the love from Kerala into your kitchen!

Kerala Style Lunch:

An elaborate lunch spread allows you to appreciate the full taste of local cuisine. Since it is a traditional style lunch, there is indeed a great deal of variety and spiciness. Lunch will be served on a banana leaf to get you the best local experience, as authentic as possible!

After the luncheon, you can relax at our place before embarking on the next cruise. Simple activities, including coir making, coconut leaf weaving, and casting fishing nets, can be experienced. 

Coir Making:

Kerala's coir products are very famous around the world. You will see how coir is made from coconut fibre during the cruise. The womenfolks of Kerala are employed extensively in the coir industry. It is quite an experience to see how they use weaving wheels to make coir from coconut fibre. The skill and diligence of the ladies deserve a lot of appreciation!

Coconut Leaf Weaving:

Coconut leaves are used for roofing as well as partitions. The leaves are woven into sheets, toys, and other crafts by the local men. You will have an excellent opportunity to see these people's work while on the cruise.

Casting Fish Nets:

Watching Kerala fishers in action is a real treat. The way they throw the fishing net into the water is incredible. You can't help but admire their skills. If possible, use a slow-motion camera to capture the casting of the fishing net!

Fishing using Local Fishing Rods:

The backwater shallows are ideal fishing spots because of the abundance of moss and algae. We'll give you a local fishing rod and bait so you can have fun catching fish. If you have the patience and focus, you might be able to get the catch. Fishing may not look as simple as it appears, but it becomes the most thrilling pastime once you catch a fish!

If you're a skilled angler, let us know ahead of time, and we'll get you a good rod and reel.

Toddy Shop Visit:

A toddy shop in Kerala invites you to have a closer look at the daily lives of the local folks. You can see a group of local men jibber-jabbering while enjoying a glass of fresh toddy and some spicy bites. When you visit a toddy shop, you will have the chance to rub shoulders with the locals while sipping the refreshing beverage. These things occur in a tiny shop or in the open air, creating a unique ambience.

Authentic Kerala Tea Snacks:

Toward the end of the cruise, some hot Kerala snacks with tea or coffee will be ready to help you prepare for a perfect ending to the 12-hour adventure!

Sunset View:

Do you consider yourself lucky enough to get a spectacular view of the sun setting over the open lake towards the end of the cruise? If so, the oh-so-romantic twilight will take you out of this world! It would be inviting to have some Indian flute music in the background to compliment the scenery. Imagine seeing this stunning view from your private canoe in the middle of the open lake. What a way to call it a day with colourful birds, flavourful snacks and lovey-dovey sunset in the tranquillity of the backwaters!

The full-day cruise will give you a natural backwaters experience. The cruise is a great way to get a true sense of what Kerala is all about, whether it's the beautiful countryside, the engagement with the locals, the unique activities, or the delectable local cuisine. The extra-special cooking class makes it chef-d'oeuvre! 

By the end of the cruise, we think we're lucky to get you a few moments in your life that you'll remember forever!

Additional Info

  • Cruise in a Motorised Shikkara/Canoe
  • Safety Gears & Jackets
  • Village Life Experiences
  • Kerala Style Breakfast and Lunch
  • Hands-On Cooking Session
  • Hot Tea with Snacks
  • Purified/Boiled Water in Glass or Metal Bottles. No plastic, please!
  • Travel Insurance
  • Pick-and-drop Service

Standard Terms and Conditions

Standard Cancellation Policy