Hiring a houseboat to cruise through the stunning backwaters of Kerala is a fantastic experience. Most people hire their boat from Allepey, where more than 350 boats are available for hire and the backwaters are therefore crowded and not very clean. For a quieter and more scenic experience, hire your boat from Kollam, where only 7 boats are available. Make sure you book in advance, call Kerala's Own Holidays (+938 734 6037). The traditional Keralan food served on our boat was superb. It cost us 7500 Rupees (about £100, high season rate for 2 people) for 24 hours and was worth every penny! Included in the price was a 3 hour excursion through the smaller canals of Munroe Island, which was totally worth it. The scenery was breathtaking and we saw some birds, snakes and cute lambs, and we got to meet the local villagers who showed us how they make the kettuvallams (rice barges) and coir, and they also took us through their spice plantations. It was a great trip!
