We are already a month in 2025, and if you have been pondering about a Kerala trip, exploring its backwaters, this is your sign to go! This state has beautiful gems waiting for you to explore, and one such gem is the popular Alleppey. Hailed as the Venice of The East, Alleppey is a quaint town where boating, houseboat cruising, and calming backwaters attracts the most number of tourists. However, it is not just houseboating and backwaters that there is to Alleppey. As a tourist there are plenty of things to do in Alappuzha that provide a more engaging experience of this beautiful town.
If you have an eye for appreciating natural sights and sounds, and want to witness attractions beyond backwaters, read this blog. You will learn more about “the best things to do in Alappuzha” or Alleppey.
Kerala Tour: 7 Best Things to do in Alleppey
Going on a Kerala tour and wondering what to do in Alleppy to make the most of your trip? Worry not, because we are here to tell you the top seven things to do in Alleppey:
1. Houseboat Tour in Alleppey
2. Shopping in Alleppey
3. Spa and Ayurvedic Massage
4. Beach Hopping in Alleppey
5. Watch the Famous Snake Boat Race
6. Gastronomical Adventures: Seafood, Rice & More
7. Colourful Parade of Elephants
8. Learn Kalariyapattu- the Traditional Martial Arts
1. Houseboat Tour in Alleppey
Starting with the most popular and obvious one—a house boat tour is the tourist activity that you should not miss in Alleppey. People will doubt you if you visit Alleppey and not go on a houseboating trip. There are houseboating experiences that are specially arranged for honeymoon couples, families with kids, and people seeking relaxation. The houseboats are equipped with amenities like kitchen, bathroom, TV unit, spa and more. To get the best experience, book a houseboat tour based on the experience you want through a reputed tour operator. Read your favorite book while lounging on the deck or take a binocular to spot beautiful birds or relish delicious meals. No matter what you choose to do–you are surely going to have a spectacular journey on the backwaters of Alleppey in the tranquillity of nature. The canals, the paddy fields, and coconut groves offer a remarkable scenery of this town.
Cost of Houseboating: Cost of Houseboating in Alleppey starts from ₹3554 per night.
2. Shopping in Alleppey
If you are shopaholic or like to collect souvenirs, Alleppey will surprise you with its incredible collection of handicrafts, silk sarees, coir and spice products. Don’t mind splurging some cash on these authentic and amazing products as you will not find them anywhere else with good quality and affordable prices. Alleppey has specialised stores, shopping streets, and floating markets from where you can shop easily. Check out shopping spots like Canal Bazar, Mullakkal Street, St. Thomas Fine Arts shop, and Alappuzha Zakariya Market. Make sure to put your bargaining skills to the test and get the best prices.
Items to Shop: Spices, carpets, coir, Pulickattil handicrafts
3. Spa and Ayurvedic Massage
We all need to shake off the stress and worries of everyday life and need some time just to ourselves. And what better way to give us some “me time” than a healing spa and massage session. Alleppey is home to many incredible Ayurveda centres where you can access amazing spa therapies, herbal steam baths, and saunas.
From foot reflexology to head massage, and from Swedish massage to Aromatherapy oil massage, etc. If you want a more traditional Ayurvedic experience, try Abhyanaga or Shirodahara. Only choose reputed and government accredited centres for Ayurvedic spa and massages.
Ayurveda Centres in Alleppey: SanthiSukham Ayurveda Panchakarma, Samanga Ayurveda Wellness Centre, Ayuuga Beautyclinic and Wellness.
4. Beach Hopping in Alleppey
Don’t you want to experience what it feels to walk on the soft sandy beaches of Alleppey? If yes, take some time out to go beach hopping in Alleppey. Soak in the warmth of the sun and the cool of the coastal breeze. The beaches of Alleppey provide the breathtaking views of the Laccadive and the Arabian Sea. The two most-visited and popular beaches in Alleppey are: Marari Beach and Alappuzha beach.
Marari beach is a beach at Mararikulam village in Alappuzha. The beach has a beautiful sea shore where you can see fisherman’s boats. The beach is well-maintained and in the evening watch a scenic sunset that sometimes gets shrouded in the clouded sky. You can spend time walking, sunbathing, and clicking photos of yourself with a background of palm fringes and the beautiful sea.
While visiting Alappuzha beach, you will see a huge signage on the entrance saying, “I heart Alappuzha”. It’s a cool signage and photo point. The beach has an old-pier which is 150 years old and from here you can enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
5. Watch the Famous Snake Boat Race
Travel to Alleppey in August to witness the fiercely competitive Snake Boat Race. It’s an event held in the monsoon season when the natural beauty of Kerala is on another level. The Snake Boat Race is an annual event where participants gather in large numbers to ride boats, displaying an awe-inspiring synchronicity. They all compete for the prestigious Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race. There is no doubt that watching the race is a thrilling experience. However, the huge numbers of spectators that gather around the Vemband Lake makes it difficult to enjoy the full view of the race. If you really want to enjoy the snake boat racing experience, come to Alleppey in June or July. It’s a time when participants are busy practicing rowing their boats and testing their endurance. Take your camera with you to capture some cool shots of the boat racing practice.
6. Gastronomical Adventures: Seafood, Rice & More
How can a trip to Alleppey be completed without relishing the local flavours? The food in Alleppey is rich in flavours, colours, textures and species. But most importantly, they are prepared authentically from local produce and from fresh catch of the day. For meat and seafood lovers, Alleppey is a haven of flavours. Grab a bite of Chettinad Chicken and Kerala Chicken Curry that will warm your soul.
Try more local delicacies like Alleppey Fish Curry, Puttu and Kadala Curry, and Chemmeen Curry. Post the main course, try the traditional desserts such as Palada Payasam and don’t forget to pick a packet of banana chips for munching.
A simple platter of the regular dosa and sambhar as well as appam and stew hits differently in one’s mouth. Most importantly, the food here is affordable, healthy, and it comes with a good portion size that keeps your tummy full and taste buds happy!
Best Places to Eat in Alleppey: Halais Restaurant, Dreamers Cafe and Restaurant, Vembanad Restaurant, and Avocado Garden Restaurant.
7. Colourful Parade of Elephants
If you ever plan a Kerala tour in January, an incredible way to enrich your travel experience is by watching Adoor Gajamela. This is a 10-day festival where you can watch an elephant procession of hundreds of elephants. Elephants are considered sacred in Kerala and play an important part in temple ceremonies. They are decorated with beautiful ornaments and colours. Each rider or mahant sitting on the elephant holds an umbrella to provide, honour shade, and protection to the elephants.
Who Should Visit: Photographers, Cultural Explorers, Families
