Xandari Riverscapes is the premium way to do the Kerala backwaters: a fleet of nine sustainably-crafted luxury kettuvallam houseboats that cruise Vembanad Lake and the Alleppey backwaters, each with air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms, a full kitchen with a personal chef, and large open living spaces to watch village life drift by.
Why it made our list
It takes the classic Kerala houseboat — once a rice barge — and elevates it without losing the soul of the experience. You still get the crewed, private, slow-travel cruise past palm-lined shores and fishermen; you just get it with proper air-conditioning, refined interiors, and fresh Keralan meals cooked to order on board.
What guests say
It’s one of the most popular boats in Alleppey — couples rate it an exceptional 9.7/10 on Booking.com:
- The freshly cooked meals and the private chef are a recurring highlight.
- Guests praise the comfort, the crew, and the backwater views.
- Honest cautions match houseboats generally: boats moor for the night (they don’t cruise after dark), and the cruise is short — one overnight is the classic booking.
The consensus: for a step up from the standard backwater boat, this is the one — book an overnight and let the pace slow right down.
Good to know
- Price: from around $180/night, typically full-board.
- Best time to visit: November–February (cooler, drier).
- Getting there: Alleppey is about 1.5 hours from Kochi.
- Suits: couples, food lovers, slow travellers.
Details verified against the property’s booking page at time of writing. Prices are indicative and change — confirm current rates before booking.