If you are in Kumarakom or the surrounding area, this is a wonderful local company that will assist you to explore the stunning Keralan backwaters. Everything about the experience was fantastic, from the ease of booking, to ready communication, to organizing transportation from my local accommodation. My guide Sanu was so friendly and knowledgeable, pointing out all sorts of wildlife and taking the time to explain what makes the area so special. As an avid bird nerd, he knew all of the local birds and pointed them out so that I could enjoy the impressive variety of beautiful local birds. Sanu was attentive, responsive, friendly, and very kind. When we got back to shore, I was treated to an absolutely delicious breakfast freshly prepared and served riverside. They did contact me beforehand to check in about dietary considerations, which I really appreciated. This was easily the best experience that I had in Kerala and I would highly recommend booking with Canoe Kerala. Request Sanu as your guide - you will be happy to have the experience with him!

Had a fantastic experience with Sanu. The sunset was phenomenal and followed by a lovely dinner cooked by his family. Would truly truly recommend

This may not be the cheapest Backwaters Tour available, but it was definitely worth the money. We were picked up from our hotel at 3 15 and taken down to the place from where the tour started. There we were greeted by the charming Sanu and his lovely wife Sidha and the programme for the afternoon and evening explained. From there we were taken on a small boat down the narrow canals of the backwaters, seeing beautiful birds, lotus and water hyacinths and the village people who live on thr banks of the canal for about two hours, returning to Sanu's pretty traditionally built home to pick up cups of chai and an Indian snack, before heading out to the lake to watch the sun go down. From there we headed back to our hosts' house where we were treated to a cooking demonstration in Sanu and Sidha's spotlessly clean kitchen - and were then able to eat the delicious food that they had cooked . We were finally taken back to our hotel about 9.30. It was a great experience and we would thoroughly recommend it.

We had a wonderful tour through the backwaters. Our guide Vimal was super nice and took care of us very well. His positive and friendly manner made it a very special experience!

The cruises in the lake was lovely enjoyed the beauty of nature kerala Gods own Country. Food was lovely Can't wait to visit again

Look no further - book here! The passion and care from Canoe Kerala is unmatched. We did the 6 hr sunrise canoe with village life and cooking class. We felt safe with the food, which was delicious, and learned so much about local life and cooking Indian food. They worked with us on our interests and dietary restrictions. The backwaters were lovely with the lilies and we wouldn’t change a thing.

A last minute booked trip with Sanu proved to be wonderful. 3hrs down little canals in a lovely small boat, and then onto the lake to watch the sunset. Sanu is especially knowledgeable when it comes to the birdlife, so remember to bring binoculars!

We rose early at 05.30 but it really was worthwhile. A fantastic guided kayak trip up river past stunning water lilies. Our guide was very knowledgable and we learned about local life and the ecology of the river and surrounding land. The breakfast afterwards was superb. Highly recommended when you are here, be ready to get in and out of kayaks for local tea and Tody demonstration.

This is an extraordinary tour of the backwaters that takes you in the opposite direction of all the other tours. Indeed, I didn’t see another tourist for the first 8 hours of the excursion. Sanu was very kind and adjusted the tour to fit my interests. The breakfast at the beginning and the lunch at the end were both delicious, the best food I ate while in India for over 3 weeks.

We were worried that an entire day on the Backwaters would be too much. We were also concerned that it would be very touristy because we'd read reports of so many houseboats. Instead we were blown away. We had an absolutely brilliant day. It was a great call to do the full day trip because it allowed us to travel far away from the tourist houseboats on little canals. In fact we only saw one other tourist boat the entire day. It was a splendid day on the backwaters expertly navigated by Sanu, taking in as much local colour and natural wonder you can soak up in a day. It's a pleasant temperature on the water with a breeze from the boat movement. We got a real taste for village life, we saw lots of birds, were fed delicious food, Sanu sourced beers for us when we were thirsty - our every requirement was anticipated and provided for. What a treat. A real find and we think the very best way to experience the Backwaters! We stayed at Little Chembaka before and after the trip and this really is a special spot!!!

I booked the sunset cruise with dinner for my parents and myself. It was a fantastic experience. The canoe had comfortable seating and was covered. We saw tons of local birds. Our guide pointed out the different species and stopped so we could take photos. The food we had was excellent. Before sunset we enjoyed tea and a tasty snack made with coconut, jaggery, and bananas. The dinner was a delicious selection of local dishes such as fish and tapioca. We have multiple dietary restrictions and health issues in my family, and the chef did an outstanding job accommodating us. The kitchen is very professional and hygienic. We also had a great chat over dinner. Highly recommend this tour. We could not have expected anything better!

My partner and I booked the sunset kayaking tour (3-6pm), which took us to the unexplored parts of the backwaters and then on to Vembanad Lake. We spotted several unique birds and learnt about the backwaters ecosystem, and life in the areas around. After 6pm, we were treated to a delightful dinner, freshly prepared in a live cooking class. They were able to cater to our dietary needs as well, and provided great hospitality overall! Just a note that the available kayaks are double seaters, but that did not take away from the experience.

We had a great experience on the mid day canoe cruise followed by local food. The followed up the next day with the sunset kayaking and food again. It was the perfect way to have explored the backwaters. We made fantastic memories and enjoyed chatting with Jess and Wilme and hearing about how the area has changed.

We took two tours (the sunset and sunrise cruises), stayed the night at their lovely cabin, and enjoyed a lovingly-prepared Kerala meal. The pride and pleasure that Sanu and his colleagues take in their community and its natural environment are infectious. The two days we spent in Kumarakom were a perfect way to cap off our five-weeks in India.

We had the most amazing river and lake cruise through the backwaters with Sanu! We spotted countless birds, got a village tour and watched the sunset on the lake. After we had a cooking course which was absolutely delicious. 100% recommend this tour if you are in Kerala!!