Kerala houseboats

Once you get away from the noisy hustle and bustle of traditional kettuvallam routes and really explore Kerala's backwaters, houseboats are just about the most relaxing mode of transport imaginable. No sooner than you leave the riverbank, you'll be invited to simply sit and soak up your surroundings free from hassles and responsibilities as your more-than-able crew and cooking staff navigate narrow canals, indicate points of interest and prepare meals for the day ahead. Top tip: early mornings are the best time to catch the calm.

Idly watching riverbanks for the occasional otter or water vole is part and parcel of Kerala backwater houseboat tours with turtles appearing from under lily pads or sunning themselves on conveniently placed palm roots, providing perfect fodder for nature photographers. Kerala's backwaters are also teeming with birds, especially within the quieter canals, so bring your binoculars and keep them handy for kingfishers, cormorants, bee-eaters, and kites.

Although southern India, Kerala especially, is much more laid back than the chaotic cities further north, it has to be said that when you step foot onto a Kerala backwaters houseboat you really do start to see the world from a whole new angle. Tea shops, spice gardens and coconut groves could all pass by over the course of a day on the river and as you start to get to grips with local lifestyles from a unique vantage point you may well find a life afloat helps to put parts of your life into perspective too.

Staying on board a Kerala houseboat can be a lot more luxurious and romantic than you might think. It certainly makes a change to a high-rise hotel or boring B&B and no sooner than you've bedded down for the night, with ear plugs, the gentle lilt of the boat is all that's required to send you off to slumber, without another moment's thought.

From traditional toddy bars, surrounded by local workers, to school kids, rushing to the river bank to welcome your arrival, travelling and living aboard a houseboat in Kerala really does open your eyes to the industry and lifestyles of backwater communities, far from tourist hotspots. The longer you spend on board the more you'll recognise how certain times of the day dictate what's happening on the river bank, with time off the boat in homestay accommodation the ideal way to turn mere observance into a much deeper, and more involved, cultural experience.

There are some wonderful hiking and cycling tours to be had around Kerala, and there's no better way to recharge your batteries other than boarding a houseboat and putting your feet up for a few days and stowing your saddle bags. Effortless gliding, the waft of grilled fish and a glass or two of Kingfisher beer as the sun sets – what better way to wind down after an active week on dry land?