Hi there!

 

Ferry through the Kerala backwaters is how you should totally consider getting (in part) from Alleppey to Thekkady (or Thekkady to Alleppey) when you are backpacking Kerala and you’ll be passing through Alleppey!

 

Thekkady is a destination in the hills of the Western Ghats, a mountain range that’s older than the Himalayas.

The main city in this region is Kumily, and it’s also home to the Periyar National Park and tiger reserve.

There are lots of different things you can do at Periyar, including taking a boat ride and going for a wildlife safari by jeep.

 

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Periyar national park and wildlife boat ride. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

There are also tea plantations around Kumily too.

 

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Kumily tea plantations. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

 

So…

When you’re trying to get from Alleppey to Thekkady, is getting there by ferry a good option?!

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. How to get to Thekkady from Alleppey by bus, train, ferry boat. To Kumily. To Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam tourist boat ride cruise. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

As with all things, it depends on your priorities!

 

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam ferry on Kerala backwaters. Public transportation in Kerala, India.



Side note!
Read the reviews for uniquely-Kerala backwaters experiences! (Partner website reviews!)



 

 

First…

For the best things to do in Alleppey and the Kerala backwaters on a budget, see canoekayaking, more ferry rides (with options for Varkala and Munnar similar to Thekkady), and more about public transportation in Kerala and travel to Alleppey.

Also see where to stay, including the best hostels in Kerala for backpackers.

If your travels will take you to other parts of India too, also see the guide to backpacking 2 weeks in North India.

 

 

Now…

So, let’s first take a look at your different public transportation options to get from Alleppey to Thekkady!

 

How to get to Thekkady from Alleppey

 

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. How to get to Thekkady from Alleppey by bus, train, ferry boat. To Kumily. To Periyar. How long does it take? Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

 

Alleppey to Thekkady by taxi

Time: Around 4 hours

 

If you don’t mind spending a little bit of extra money and you want to go for convenience, it’s also an option to go from Alleppey to Thekkady by taxi.

It’s a thing for tourists to hire a car with driver to get from place to place even when the drive is several hours long.

In the case of getting to Thekkady from Alleppey, the drive will probably be around 4 hours.

According to this Alleppey Beach guesthouse in 2018, the cost of a taxi from Alleppey to Thekkady is probably around 4,000 rupees (US$60).

 

 

Alleppey to Thekkady by train

NOT an option

Alleppey to Thekkady train. Kumily. Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

There is no train station near Kumily.

And trains in this area generally run north – south, so traveling east to Thekkady from Alleppey by train isn’t really an option.

 

Alleppey to Thekkady by direct bus

Time on bus: 4-6 hours

Alleppey to Thekkady bus. Kumily. Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.



Side note!
Explore the map to look for the cheapest hotels or uniquely-Kerala places to stay! Enter your destination in the search!



 

According to the aanavandi website, there are a few timings for direct buses that you can take from Alleppey to Thekkady.

 

These timings are meant to give you an idea, and shouldn’t be used as an absolute! 

 

These are the listed Alleppey to Kumily bus timings:

Alleppey to Thekkady bus timing schedule. To Kumily. To Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

If you are going in the opposite direction there are some timings for direct buses from Thekkady to Alleppey too.

 

These are the listed Kumily to Alleppey bus timings:

Thekkady to Alleppey bus timing schedule. From Kumily to Alleppey. From Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

Note that these are local government buses so they do make a number of stops, but these buses wouldn’t require a transfer. Get on the bus at Alleppey, and then get off in Kumily!

 

Alleppey to Kumily Thekkady bus past tea plantations. Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.



Side note!
Read the reviews for uniquely-Kerala tea plantation experiences!



 

 

Now… the BEST way to get to Thekkady from Alleppey by public transportation…

Alleppey to Thekkady via the Kerala backwaters!

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam ferry on Kerala backwaters. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

 

Why would you want to spend a possible 8 hours to get to Thekkady when you can get there in 5 hours?!

Because… when in Kerala!

 

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam ferry or village canoe tour on Kerala backwaters. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

Kerala is most famous for the backwaters, and Alleppey is the most famous hub for the backwaters. So it’s only fitting that you leave Alleppey (or arrive to Alleppey) by way of the backwaters! 😉

Some of the best things to do in the Alleppey backwaters include canoe, kayaking… and ferry!

 

 

How to get to Thekkady from Alleppey via ferry

  1. Take a ferry from Alleppey to Kottayam (3 hours)
  2. Take a bus from Kottayam to Kumily (4 hours)
  3. Take a rickshaw from the Kumily bus station to your Thekkady guesthouse!

 

1. Take the ferry from Alleppey to Kottayam (3 hours)

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam ferry boat ride. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

These are the Alleppey to Kottayam ferry timings:
  • 7:15am
  • 9:35am
  • 11:30am
  • 2:30pm
  • 5:15pm

While this boat schedule is listed on the government waterways website, it can also be a good idea to confirm the boat timings with the guesthouse that you are staying at.

Now, here’s a look at what your day might look like on the ferry!

 

Get on the ferry to Kottayam at the main Alleppey ferry station

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey ferry station. Public transportation in Kerala, India.



Side note!
Read more reviews for uniquely-Kerala experiences! (Partner website reviews!)

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Find a seat that will give you some great views!

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam ferry boat ride ticket with luggage on Kerala backwaters. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

Take in the backwaters!

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam ferry on Kerala backwaters. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

Take in some more backwaters!

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Alleppey to Kottayam ferry on Kerala backwaters. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

Arrive at the Kottayam ferry station!

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Kottayam ferry station. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

 

2. Take the bus from Kottayam to Kumily (4 hours)

 

Kottayam to Kumily by bus

Alleppey to Thekkady via Kottayam ferry. Kottayam bus station to go to Kumily, Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

The Kottayam bus station is about a 15 minute walk from the ferry station.

You’ll also likely find rickshaws waiting for you at the ferry station too.

Looking at the aanavandi website to get an idea, you see that there are pretty frequent buses from Kottayam to Kumily to not really need to stress about finding a bus to Thekkady.

When you get to the Kottayam bus station, head straight for the “station master” office or ticket counter. This is where you will get a reliable answer about when the next bus to Kumily will be.

Next, wait for the bus that you need to take!

Buses in Kerala tend to not have English signs on them, so you may have to ask around about which bus to take. A bus to Kumily might have a sign in English too since it is a popular tourist destination though.

Then, once your bus comes, enjoy your ride to Thekkady!

 

Alleppey to Thekkady bus in Kerala hills. To Kumily. To Periyar. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

 

3. Get a rickshaw from the Kumily station to your Kumily guesthouse

Alleppey to Thekkady bus. To Kumily. To Periyar. Kumily bus station. Public transportation in Kerala, India.

 

Once at the Kumily bus station, you will probably be ready to get to your guesthouse after a long day!

There will likely be plenty of rickshaws waiting for you at the Kumily bus station ready and willing to take you to your guesthouse!

 

How to get to Alleppey from Thekkady via ferry

If you are going in the opposite direction from Thekkady to Alleppey, you may consider:

  1. Take a bus from Kumily to Kottayam (4 hours)
  2. Take a ferry from Kottayam to Alleppey (3 hours)
  3. Take a rickshaw from the Alleppey ferry station to your Alleppey guesthouse! (Go for a beachside guesthouse!)

 

HAPPY ALLEPPEY TO THEKKADY TRIP PLANNING!

 

See more of the best ferry rides around Alleppey

To have the BEST time in Alleppey, be sure to take a look at the best things to do with one day in Alleppey!

 

Nervous about taking public transportation in India?! Sometimes just knowing what to expect can ease the mind! While I have traveled in India with travel partners (people I've met while traveling in India), here are some of my public transport trips in India, most of which I did as a solo female traveler:

For examples of general class train travel, see:
For examples of AC train travel, see:
For examples of local bus travel, see:
For examples of overnight bus travel, see:
See more backpacking India travel tips!