INDIA
India’s standout days.
Our pick of the 15 best cruises & boat tours in India: what you actually see, how long each one runs, and what you can expect to pay.
Quiet non-mechanized Cochin backwaters cruise with a coir village stop and vegetarian banana-leaf lunch, plus pickup options from Fort Cochin.
Most Popular“Overall a great trip. The motorless boat is a fantastic and very peaceful way to experience the backwaters. The guide is friendly and very knowledgeable about local history and nature. The veg lunch is also very tasty.”
Cochin to Alleppey shikara cruise: 3 hours gliding through Kerala backwaters with villages, palms, and paddy fields, with port pickup.
“The trip was fantastic, highly recommended. Maybe it’s better in two to split the expenses of Taxi and Boat.”
Private shikara + village stop on Alleppey backwaters, with bird spotting and sunset options for about $16 per person.
“Had a wonderful, beautiful boat trip through the back waters of Alleppey. Our guide, Rahul, was wonderful, and provided quite a bit of information. It was a great way to see how people lived on the canals, it was a great value for the money as well.”
Private overnight houseboat cruise from Kochi to Alappuzha backwaters, with AC cabin, 3 Kerala meals, scenic village cruising, and easy transfers.
“Fantastic trip through the serene backwaters of Kochi. The entirety of our team (taxi driver Bipin and boat crew Manu, Anil and Vinodh) were all incredibly hospitable and really made the journey what it was - wonderful. The boat was clean and very comfortable. A lot of beautiful fauna around, particularly for bird watchers (not…”
Private Cochin–Alleppey houseboat cruise with a slow backwater ride, Keralan lunch, pickup service, and a $85 per person price.
“Everything starting pickup from the hotel, the ambiance, cleanliness, the behavior and services in boat , specially the food has been exceptional. I have not seen such an extraordinary service in recent past. Thanks a lot once again all the parties involved here.”
Private 3-hour Alleppey shikara with sunset backwaters, a village shore stop, and a Kerala meal option for about $21.
“The boat tour driver was excellent The tour greeter charged us an extra 3000 rupees as we were running late and he had kept the boat waiting I think the greeter was taking advantage of us The boat ride was excellent”
Private Kochi tuk-tuk shore tour with cruise pickup to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry highlights, led by an English guide.
“We liked exploring the city via tuktuk. The driver took us to shops he had arranged deals with, for example we went to a spice shop and on the opposite side of the road a different spice shop offered the same wares at half price. In one instant the shop owner wanted to kick out…”
A 4-hour Udaipur tour with a private City Palace and Jagdish Temple guide, plus a shared boat ride on Lake Pichola.
“Great experience.”
Goa dinner cruise on the Mandovi with live DJ, AC dance floor, veg/non-veg buffet, magic show, traditional dances, and optional hotel transfer.
“Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re happy to know everything was good. We look forward to welcoming you again.”
A full-day Kolkata route of temples, a Hooghly River boat ride, colonial landmarks, and Ganga Arti at Babu Ghat.
Private Hyderabad tour with Golkonda Fort, Charminar, Salar Jung Museum, Chow Mohalla Palace, plus evening boat ride on Hussain Sagar.
“Wonderful day!”
1.5-hour Kochi cruise past Chinese fishing nets, Mattancherry sights, and possible dolphin spotting, plus a Mattancherry walk.
“De activiteit voldeed niet aan onze verwachting! Een gammel rondvaartbootje met vieze oude reddingsvesten en een niet zo prettige gids. Er werd wat rondgevaren in de lagoon zonder enig doel en na een drie kwartier ‘dobberen’ naar Mattanchery gevaren als eindpunt met nog een korte wandeling door Joodse main road. Ander eindpunt dan voorzien en…”
4-hour Mandovi River dinner cruise in Goa with a Bollywood DJ, folk dance shows, buffet for veg and non-veg, and big views.
“Very bad food higly priced will never recommend this place please don't go”
2-hour evening Ganges boat ride from Assi Ghat with an English guide, passing 55+ ghats and Manikarnika cremation views.
Fly from Delhi to Varanasi in a day for Sarnath, Kashi Vishwanath, a Ganges boat ride, and Ganga Aarti with a guide.
Every region, and every way to travel it.
