The Complete Shikara Boat Tour Checklist
Everything you need before your Shikara Tour in Alleppey, from booking questions to insider tips, so you can avoid the common mistakes and get the most out of your day on the backwaters.
Questions to Ask the Agency or Boat Owner
Most traveler regrets come down to not confirming the tour type, the route, and what's actually included, not the price. Ask these before you book.
Tour Type & Comfort
- Private or shared boat?
- Can you share Shikara Premium photos on WhatsApp?
- Will we get the same Premium Shikara Boat OR a Deffrent Boat ?
- Premium Shikara boat or normal Shikara boat?
- Best suited for couples, families, or groups?
Route & Duration
- Which canals and backwaters will the route cover?
- Sunrise, sunset, lunch cruise, day out tour, or dinner cruise, which is included?
- How many hours does the tour last?
- Is a scenic village viewpoint included on the route?
- What's included in the package (food, beverages, kayaking, speedboat, canoeing, Ayurvedic massages)?
Inclusions & Comfort
- Are life jackets provided for every passenger?
Guide & Communication
- Does the guide or driver speak Hindi, English, or Tamil?
- Is the guide local, licensed, and familiar with the area?
- Can the guide share local stories, history, and point out flora, fauna, and village life?
Logistics & Pricing
- Where is the company located, and where exactly is the boarding point?
- Does the operator provide pickup from Ernakulam, Varkala, Munnar, or your resort in Alleppey?
- What's the policy if it rains or weather affects the tour?
- Is the final price confirmed with no hidden charges?
Our Premium Private Shikara Tour Packages
Five ways to experience the backwaters, each suited to a different kind of trip.
Sunrise Shikara Tour
6 AM – 9 AMWith breakfast on board. Calm canals, soft light, before the day's traffic.
Sunset Shikara Tour
4 PM – 7 PMWith tea and snacks. A lighter way to catch golden hour over the water.
Romantic Sunset Tour with Dinner
4 PM – 8 PMOur dinner cruise. A unique experience built for couples.
Dayout Shikara Tour
10 AM–3 PM or 11 AM–4 PMWith Kerala lunch. Includes backwater activities for groups and families.
Lunch Cruise
11 AM – 2 PMWith a full Kerala lunch on board, for an authentic midday experience.
Resorts & Homestays We Pick Up From
We offer direct pickup from lakeside resorts and homestays across Alleppey, including:
What to Pack / Wear
- Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
- Comfortable, breathable clothing
- Footwear that's easy to slip off
- Insect repellent
- Camera/phone with charge, or a waterproof pouch
- Cash for local snacks or stops
Common Mistakes First-Timers Make
Booking through a roadside agent, auto or cab driver, or online agency instead of directly with a licensed operator, you often end up paying premium prices for a standard boat.
Booking a houseboat when a Shikara Tour was what they actually wanted.
Going at the wrong time of day and missing golden hour.
Choosing a smaller boat for a longer 4–5 hour tour and finding it uncomfortable.
Overpacking, or wearing shoes that are a hassle to remove.
What I've Learned After a Decade Guiding These Backwaters
Best time to go
For couples, I personally recommend the Sunrise Shikara Tour, 6 to 9 AM, with breakfast included. The canals are calm, the light is soft, and you get the backwaters before the day's boat traffic picks up.
For groups and families, I'd recommend the Dayout Shikara Tour with activities, which includes village activities like kayaking, speedboat rides, and canoeing.
For an authentic experience, the Lunch Cruise is a great option; it includes a full Kerala lunch on board. For a relaxed evening, the Sunset Shikara Tour is a lighter option to catch golden hour without the full dinner cruise. For honeymoon couples, I'd definitely recommend the Romantic Sunset Tour with Dinner on a premium Shikara boat, one of the most unique ways to experience Kerala.
Kerala's tropical climate means we're open most of the year, but I'd steer clear of June (peak monsoon) and March (the hottest stretch).
The canal most operators skip
Most operators stick to the touristy canals, but I always route through Panakkal Canal. It's narrow on both sides, lined with paddy fields and coconut trees, and gives you the calm, authentic backwater village feel that busier canals have lost.
What surprises visitors most
The paddy fields themselves. Alleppey's rice farming happens below sea level, one of only a couple of places in the world where this is done (the Netherlands is the other). It's a genuine "wait, what?" moment for most guests once I explain it.
Boat size and comfort
This is the one piece of advice I give every guest: match your boat size to your comfort, not just your group size. A 3 to 5 hour tour means sitting in mostly the same spot the whole time, so a smaller boat can start to feel cramped even for a couple.
Premium or luxury Shikara boats (comfortably holding 20 to 35 people) come with a cozy interior, a bigger sunbed, some even have a king size bed on board, and side benches perfect for photos throughout the tour. If convenience matters to you, it's worth opting for the premium or luxury option, even as a couple.
If you do go with a smaller boat, stay seated once the boat is moving, especially when there's any wave movement. It keeps you comfortable and steady for the whole tour.
Typical 3-hour route
I always recommend building in a proper lunch or tea break along the way.
Food recommendation
For breakfast, go for appam or puttu with curries like chana masala or egg curry, classic Kerala morning staples that pair perfectly with the sunrise tour.
For tea or coffee stops, banana fritters (pazham pori) or parippu vada are ideal, a favorite local snack combo.
For lunch, go for an authentic Kerala meal from a backwater village restaurant, ideally with traditional Alleppey fish curry. Don't miss karimeen (pearl spot) and prawns fry, some of the best local dishes you can try while you're here.
Best photo spots
Two spots stand out: the sun deck at Panakkal Canal, and the village viewpoint overlooking the paddy fields, especially beautiful during paddy season.
The agent scam to watch out for
What typically happens
One of the biggest issues travelers run into is booking through roadside agents, auto or cab drivers, or online agencies rather than directly with the operator. The agency charges premium boat prices but quietly puts you on a standard boat, pocketing a commission of around 50 percent. You won't notice until you're out on the water and see other premium boats nearby, and realize yours doesn't match what you paid for.
It gets worse with communication. The boat driver often has no idea what the agent, auto driver, or cab driver promised you, the route, the timing, the stops. Once you're on the boat, you're relying entirely on the driver, and any mismatch between what was promised and what the driver knows can end up ruining the experience.
The only reliable way around this is to book directly with a licensed, knowledgeable local operator. That's also why I train my team differently: the people on my boats aren't just drivers, they're guides who share local stories, point out the main attractions, and recommend food and activities along the way.
Our Weather & Refund Policy
Light rain isn't a problem. Our premium Shikara boats are covered and accommodate up to 35 people, so rain typically doesn't affect the tour.
Government notification to stop operations
You get a full refund.
We cancel from our side
You get a full refund.
Heavy rain prevents the tour
We'll reschedule you for the next available time.
Let's Plan Your Shikara Tour
That's everything I'd want a friend to know before their first Shikara Tour in Alleppey. If you'd like help picking the right package, timing, or pickup for your trip, just message me directly and I'll help you work it out.
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