Kumarakom is the other end of the same lake. Where Alleppey puts you into the narrow Kuttanad canals, boarding at Kumarakom puts you on the wide northern reach of Vembanad — more open water, noticeably fewer boats, and the bird sanctuary along the shore.
Boarding at Kumarakom, not Alleppey
This is the part worth being clear about, because it catches people out.
Most Kerala houseboats, including every other boat on this site, board at the Nehru Trophy Finishing Point in Alappuzha. Our two Kumarakom boats board at Kumarakom, in Kottayam district — about ninety minutes by road from Alappuzha, and roughly ninety minutes from Cochin International Airport.
If you are already staying in Kumarakom, or coming down from Kochi and heading for the resorts along the lake, that saves you the drive to Alleppey entirely. If you are based in Alappuzha, take an Alleppey boat instead — the drive out and back will cost you most of your cruising afternoon.
Tell us which end you want when you enquire and we will send the exact jetty with a map pin.
What the water is like
The northern end of Vembanad is wider and emptier. Alleppey’s canals carry a lot of houseboat traffic in season — part of the charm for some people, and the thing others most want to avoid. From Kumarakom you see fewer boats and more horizon.
The trade-off is real and worth naming: you get less of the close village life. The Kuttanad channels, where you can see into people’s yards and watch children coming home from school, are an Alleppey thing. On Vembanad’s northern reach you are further from the bank for more of the cruise.
The bird sanctuary
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary runs along the shore, and the boats pass it. It is worth planning around: November to February is when the migratory birds are in, and that is when the sanctuary earns its reputation.
Outside those months it is a pleasant green shoreline and no more. If birds are the reason you are coming, come in winter.
How the day runs
Check in at 12:00 PM, cruise out across the open lake through the afternoon, moor by 5:00 PM — a legal requirement here as everywhere in Kerala — and spend the evening at anchor with dinner cooked aboard. The boat starts moving again at 7:00 AM and you check out at 9:00.
The evening at anchor is the same on either route, and it is the part most guests rate highest.
The boats
Two private one-bedroom boats run this route:
| Boat | AC | From |
|---|---|---|
| Kumarakom 1 Bedroom Deluxe | 9:00 PM – 7:00 AM | ₹14,000 |
| Kumarakom 1 Bedroom Premium | On demand | ₹19,000 |
Both have an air-conditioned en-suite bedroom, a glazed lounge and an open upper deck. The Premium’s on-demand air conditioning is the main difference; it matters most from February to May, when the afternoons are hot.
Browse all our houseboats or check the 2026 rates. Tell us you want to board at Kumarakom when you enquire — it is not our default, so say so and we will put you on the right boat.
Common questions
Do Kumarakom houseboats board at Alleppey?＋
Not these ones. Our Kumarakom boats board at Kumarakom in Kottayam district, about ninety minutes by road from Alappuzha and roughly the same from Cochin airport. Every other boat on this site boards at the Nehru Trophy Finishing Point in Alappuzha. Tell us which you want when you book and we will send the exact jetty.
Is Kumarakom better than Alleppey for a houseboat?＋
Neither is better; they are different water. Kumarakom sits on the wider, quieter northern end of Vembanad with far fewer boats and the bird sanctuary shoreline. Alleppey gives you the narrow Kuttanad village canals, where the banks come within a few metres and you watch daily life at walking pace. Choose Kumarakom for open water and quiet, Alleppey for the canals.
What does a Kumarakom houseboat cost?＋
Our Kumarakom boats are private one-bedroom vessels at ₹14,000 a night for the Deluxe and ₹19,000 for the Premium, whole boat rather than per person, excluding GST, with all meals included. Houseboat rates may vary depending on demand; the rates shown are standard rates.
When is the bird sanctuary worth it?＋
November to February, when the migratory birds are in. Outside those months the sanctuary is still a pleasant shoreline but the birdlife that makes it famous is not there, and the route is worth taking for the open water rather than the birds.
Does the boat cruise at night?＋
No. Kerala requires houseboats to stop cruising between 5:00 PM and 7:00 AM, on this route as on every other. The boat moors for the night with the crew aboard and starts again in the morning.