Most visitors see the Kerala backwaters from a private houseboat for a night or two. But there is an older, cheaper and in some ways better way to travel their full length: the public tourist ferry run by the District Tourism Promotion Council between Kollam and Alleppey — one of the longest and least expensive backwater cruises in India.
Eight hours down the water
The boat leaves Kollam and Alleppey at the same time each morning, around 10:30, and runs the roughly 80 kilometres between them in about eight hours, arriving by early evening. It crosses the open expanses of Ashtamudi and Vembanad lakes, threads narrow palm-lined canals, and passes villages, churches, paddy fields and the below-sea-level world of Kuttanad. There are breaks along the way — a lunch stop and a tea stop — so you can stretch and eat.
How to ride it
This is a seasonal service, running mostly from about December to March, and it goes in both directions, so you can start from either end. Tickets — a fraction of a houseboat’s cost — are sold on the day at the DTPC office beside the boat jetty in each town. Bring water, sun cover and a book; it’s a slow, sociable day among backpackers and travellers rather than a luxury cruise, and that is exactly its charm.
- The ferry runs mainly December–March; confirm it’s operating before you plan around it.
- Departures are around 10:30am from both Kollam and Alleppey; the trip takes about eight hours.
- Buy tickets on the day at the DTPC office by the jetty in Kollam or Alleppey — no aggregator needed.
- Bring sun protection, water and snacks; there are lunch and tea breaks but it’s a long day in the open.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Kollam to Alleppey ferry?
About eight hours to cover roughly 80 km of backwaters, leaving around 10:30am and arriving by early evening.
How much does the Kollam–Alleppey backwater ferry cost?
A small fraction of a houseboat — a modest per-person fare sold on the day at the DTPC office by the jetty. Rates change, so check locally.
When does the Kollam–Alleppey ferry run?
It’s a seasonal service, operating mostly from about December to March, in both directions.