BEST things to do in Alleppey itinerary 🌴 ONE day in Kerala backwaters travel guide 🌴 Backpacking South India travel blog

Hi there!

So you think that travel to Alleppey is JUST about the backwaters?!

Okay, that might be a big part.

But, should it be in and out of Alleppey in one day?!

Because what else is there to do in Alleppey besides the backwaters, right?!

Okay, so it CAN be just one day in Alleppey…

And it can also be longer!

It depends on what you’re looking for!

If you have just a short one week in Kerala, then you may not want to spend any more time in Alleppey than just your Kerala backwaters activity of choice.

It’s true, much of it does revolve around the backwaters.

But, you are in Alleppey, the major travel destination of the Kerala backwaters, so you need to soak in all the backwaters that you can get, right?!

Right. 😉

But there are a few more things to do in Alleppey beyond the backwaters so you can take in the Kerala atmosphere, if you’re looking for more!

That means that if you’ve been backpacking around India for a month or longer, and you’re looking for a place to kind of rest up for a few days, Alleppey can also be a perfect place to do so.

And in the case you really only want to spend ONE day in Alleppey, here are ideas on how to make the most of it!

So…

What to do when in Alleppey and the Kerala backwaters?!

It’s all about… 

1. Kerala backwaters…

2. Coastal Kerala…

3. Coconuts! (Kerala literally means land of coconuts.)

First, the quick list of the best things to do in Alleppey.

Then, how you can make ALL of these things a part of your one day itinerary!

And then, even more things to do if you have more days in Alleppey!

11 best things to do in Alleppey in one day

1. Wake up to ocean views with a rooftop stay steps from the beach

…and wake up to have tea with ocean views too.

2. Take an Alleppey ferry on the Kerala backwaters

3. Canoe ride on the backwaters

4. Drink coconut water in the backwaters (and eat the coconut too)

5. Visit a toddy shop to drink Kerala alcohol made from palm trees

6. Walk the backwaters

7. Have lunch in a backwaters village home

8. Rest up in a hammock at a beachside guesthouse or beachside hostel

9. Go beachcombing on Alleppey Beach at sunset to find seashells or to spot sand crabs

10. Cook up a seafood dinner with a fresh catch

11. Drink Kerala rum mixed with coconut water

If you have more time in Alleppey than just one day, also see more things to do in Alleppey, with the list continued below!

Now…

How to fit this into a one day Alleppey itinerary?!

So to get the most out of one day in Alleppey, it will be best to stay in Alleppey for 2 nights.

Maybe you’ll arrive from Fort Cochin, from Munnar, from Thekkady, or from Varkala.

See some tips on how to get to Alleppey by public transportation.

You can take it easy in the evening, and then the next day, be ready for a full day of activities!

Then, the day after that, off you go to your next destination in Kerala!

The first part of this itinerary can be EASY because…

Alleppey backwaters village tour!

The easiest way to fit a bunch of the best things to do in the Kerala backwaters is by going for a village canoe tour.

The going rate for these kinds of Alleppey canoe tours is around 1,000 rupees (US$15).

And if the above activities sound good to you, this can be worth it so you can get a bunch of different experiences in the Alleppey backwaters in a limited amount of time.

And then for the second part of the itinerary…

After your backwaters day tour

First you’ll want to make sure you stay at a guesthouse with a kitchen where you can prepare your own food!

Then after you get back from your canoe tour, you can buy the stuff you need for the rest of your evening (food and drinks) when you’re in town.

The Alleppey ferry station is in town, so instead of heading straight back to your guesthouse, you can make a few stops along the way.

So a canoe backwaters tour typically starts around 8am, and it’ll take you through around 3-4pm.

Once you get back to the Alleppey ferry station, there are a couple of grocery stores in town that you can do your shopping at, and you can also find some places along the street that sell seafood (and other food).

It could be good to ask your guesthouse staff the best place to buy seafood before you leave for your backwaters tour in the morning, or the evening before.

And then for your Kerala rum (or beer if you prefer), you can also buy in town at the government beverage shop.

Going to buy the rum can be an experience on its own if you end up there at a time with long lines. Consider it to be a very local experience. 😉

For near guarantees of shorter waiting time, you can head to Harbour Bar near Alleppey Beach. The prices here will be higher though. (You can carry the alcohol out with you, but make sure to bring a backpack or bag to carry it out in.)

For the coconut so that you can complete your rum and coconut water drink, this could also be a good thing to ask your guesthouse so you can buy it from near where you’re staying.

If you don’t want to have to break open the coconut on your own when you’re back at your guesthouse (it’s quite a task and you’ll need to make sure the tools are available), then you’ll want to ask the coconut shop staff to crack it and open up a hole for you.  But you’ll have to carry the coconut back carefully!

Alternatively, you could always buy packaged coconut water from the grocery store… but of course fresh coconut water is better. 😉

Or…

If you want to be DONE after the backwaters tour?!

Places to eat in Alleppey

If preparing your own food and drinks sounds like too much work when you’re traveling 😉 you can head to some of the best restaurants in Alleppey.

Leaving Alleppey in the evening for the rest of your Kerala backpacking trip

Or if you want to leave Alleppey right away because you’re short on time with only a few days in Kerala, it could make sense to leave to go to Cochin or Varkala.

Alleppey to Cochin

There are plenty of buses that run from Alleppey to Cochin, so you’ll have no problem just showing up at the Alleppey bus station and getting on the next bus to Cochin.

Alleppey to Varkala

To Varkala, you might find a few evening trains that you can catch.

If you don’t mind traveling in a general class train, you can simply show up at the train station, buy your ticket, and then board the next train to Varkala.

But if Varkala is your next destination, you should totally consider waiting until the next day so you can take the Kollam tourist ferry part of the way to get there!

Because the journey is so much better when it includes the Kerala backwaters. 😉

Alleppey to Munnar and to Thekkady

You can go by bus to the Kerala hills starting in the afternoon too.

But it might not be the most ideal bus situation, as there might not be a direct bus. (You can generally find direct buses to Munnar and to Thekkady earlier in the day.)

And because of the late start, along with the necessary bus transfers, you’ll likely be arriving to your next destination late.

If you decide to wait until the next day to head to the Kerala hills, be sure to check out the option of getting there in part by the Kottayam ferry!

For a further look, see to Munnar by ferry and to Thekkady by ferry.

It’ll take longer to get there, but you’ll be leaving Alleppey in style AND you’ll be taking in more of those Kerala backwaters! 😉

And…

For even MORE things to do if you have 2 days or more in Alleppey…

Continuing the list from above!

12. Break open your own coconut

13. Kayak the backwaters

14. Go river rafting Kerala-style on a Kerala fisherman boat

Kerala fisherman boat that’s taken out to sea to catch ocean fish.

Kerala fisherman boat so you can go rafting Kerala-style on the river! Stay at this guesthouse to do this. You can also just go for a day visit even if you’re not staying there. At last check, doing this rafting here is free! 

15. Walk on a quiet beach road

16. Go cycling along the coast

17. Go cycling along the backwaters

18. Walk to Marari Beach for a day trip

19. Go cycling to Marari Beach

20. Watch local fishermen bring in the seafood that Kerala is famous for

21. Eat tropical fruit in a tropical environment

22. Take a canoe to cross the backwaters in Kainakary

23. Take a ferry to Kuttanad for a day trip

24. Take another Alleppey ferry for a day trip to Kottayam or to Kumarakom

25. Eat with ocean views

Have a coconut-based breakfast and a coconut-based dinner.

26. Soak up the monsoon atmosphere

27. Climb to the top of the Alleppey lighthouse for ocean views

28. Do as the locals do, and just stop to take in those ocean views!

29. Just stop to take in that sunset

30. Houseboat in the Kerala backwaters

Well, I guess it’s not a complete list of things to do in Alleppey if there’s no mention of a houseboat, so… consider going for an Alleppey houseboat too. 😉

HAPPY ALLEPPEY VISIT!

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