Responsible Tourism

Wonderfully styled and airconditioned luxury abodes to explore the backwaters

Sustainability

We have set up a large internal aerobin so that all biodegradable waste from our ultra luxury houseboats can be converted into compost. The waste from the ultra luxury houseboats is collected after each trip and transported here to convert into compost, which is then used in the papaya farm adjoining the aerobin. This is great for soil conditioning at our farm and garden area. Additionally, the plastic bags used to line the dustbins on the boats are also 100% bio-degradable.

Waste Management

We have set up a large internal aerobin so that all biodegradable waste from our luxury houseboats can be converted into compost. The waste from the houseboats is collected after each trip and transported here to convert into compost, which is then used in the papaya farm adjoining the aerobin. This is great for soil conditioning at our farm and garden area. Additionally, the plastic bags used to line the dustbins on the boats are also 100 % biodegradable.

Single Use Plastic

We have banned single plastic usage on the Spice Routes houseboats and farms since 2016. When our guests arrive for the Kerala backwater cruise, they are given limitless glass bottles that are filled with purified water and filled daily with a date stamp, so you know they are fresh. Even during canoe rides or any other outdoor activity, we carry glass bottles for our guests. We encourage you to carry any plastic bottle back with you, in case you happen to bring it.

Local Employment

90% of the staff at the Spice Routes hails from villages around the Chennamkary village. With a strength of over 30 staff members, we ensure that the local villagers get employment and are able to improve the lives of their families. We hire canoes from local boatmen providing them a livelihood, and all activities in village homes are paid for so the people sharing their lives with our guests are compensated, apart from having extraordinary interactions.

Sourcing Food

The delicious Kerala food is the essence of a great memorable experience for most of our guests who are on an Alleppey backwater cruise. We ensure that more than 80% of the food is fresh, from the river, our own farm and villages around. We have a sprawling papaya tree farm and a kitchen garden, that allows us to offer fresh and organic food to our guests. At Spice Routes, you are in the heart of the lush Kuttanad region, known for vast tracts of paddy fields and abundant fresh produce. While you are relaxing in your ultra luxury houseboat, be assured that the freshest, crunchiest and tastiest food reaches your plate.

Dining on Board

The dining experience at Spice Route Luxury Cruises is often the most memorable time for travellers. Fresh river fish are in abundance in these waters. Sometimes, the chef himself throws a line to catch something right from the ultra luxury houseboat, but most often fresh fish, lobsters or mussel are bought from the fishermen along the canals. You can take it right from their canoe, or when they go about selling their catch on cycles, identifying them with their distinct ‘ooooo’ call in the mornings. You can pay for these, and the chef will cook it fresh in the on-board kitchen. The veggies and fruits that you find on your plate are either grown on the farm itself or sourced from the local villages. Fresh, crunchy and utterly delightful, these are nutritious and fresh. Local flavours anchor all our meals. Kerala has a wide variety of food and is practically a gastronomic haven for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

Breakfast is a combination of continental staples (bread and eggs with fruit), along with an option of Kerala specials like appam (flatbread) and stew, kadala (chickpea) curry with idiyappam (string hoppers), nadan mutta curry (egg curry), idlis (rice dumplings), dosa (rice flatbread) with a host of chutneys and sambar. Lunch is served on a large banana leaf with dollops of vegetables, stews, curry, rice, chutneys and paapad. We encourage you to go local and dig in with your hands. There are 2 non-veg and 2 veg main dishes for both lunch and dinner along with ample local staple curries, appam, breads, rice and condiments to enjoy local flavours. Special dietary requests can be communicated at the time of booking, so we can try our best to meet your needs. Celebrating a special occasion? We can arrange a private candle lit dinner on your Alleppey backwater cruise for you.

Other Services

Wi-Fi is available at the heritage home. On the backwaters, the mobile service and signal can be choppy. Besides, we’d like you to unplug and connect with nature and enjoy your Alleppey backwater cruise.