Backwaters of Alappuzha by Houseboat
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port
Cochin, India
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activityLevel
Moderate Activity
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excursionType
12,All
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$210
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 7 Hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals included
Departing Cochin by minivan, you'll pass through one of India's most beautiful and tranquil landscapes -- a rural expanse of verdant coconut groves and rice paddies.
The term 'backwaters' refers to the intermeshed network of rivers, lakes, canals and lagoons that lace together the coastal and interior regions south of Kochi. For centuries, these canals have provided a safe and efficient means of transportation for goods and people moving between the heartland of Kerala and the port towns along the coast. Even today, traditional barges, or kettuvallams, haul coconut, pepper, rice and other goods along the waterways.
The town of Alappuzha is situated in the midst of a thick tangle of tropical waterways. Here, you will board a houseboat and set out on a 1½-hour idyllic cruise through the forests and palm-shaded backwaters. Glide along shimmering waterways lined with dense tropical vegetation, and observe rural Kerala lifestyles from the comfortable boat deck. Views range from narrow canals walled in by thick greenery, to open vistas of brilliant green paddy fields. Acres of papaya, mango, jackfruit and cassava grow along the palm-lined banks, and churches, mosques and temples can be glimpsed among the trees. Watch for the blue flash of a kingfisher, or the vivid green of a wild parakeet.
As the cruise ends, return to Cochin by motorcoach, stopping along the way at the Marari Beach Resort for a buffet lunch of local delicacies and some free time.
Please note: Bring a hat; wear sunscreen and insect repellent. Use of the pool/beach or any other facility at Marari Beach Resort is at your own expense.