Floating Kerala: A 14-Day Adventure for Floating Home Enthusiasts

Does the idea of experiencing houseboat living on the other side of the world appeal to you?

The Floating Homes Association is exploring interest in Floating Kerala, a 14-day cultural journey created especially for people who love life on the water. It’s an opportunity to discover a different expression of the same lifestyle we enjoy in Seattle—a place where homes, waterways, and community have been intertwined for centuries.

What makes this trip especially unique is that it’s being organized by fellow Eastlake floating home resident Nazir Rah. Nazir spent his summers growing up on a floating home in Kerala and owns a travel agency in India. Through his local connections, we’ll have behind-the-scenes access that’s not available on typical tours, including visits with houseboat captains, owners, chefs, and local families, along with a closer look at how Kerala’s iconic houseboats are built, operated, and woven into everyday life.

There is no commitment required at this stage; we are simply collecting feedback to see if we can bring this group adventure together. If this sounds like an experience you’d enjoy, please fill out this form.

Here is a proposal:

This 14-day tour, Floating Kerala, is specially designed for people who appreciate life on the water, particularly members of the Seattle Floating Homes Association, our floating-curious friends & neighbors, and other nearby floating home communities.  Kerala offers a very different expression of our same Seattle idea, a place where the boundary between home and water is porous, practical, beautiful, and deeply tied to culture, ecology, and livelihood.

Instead of a standard sightseeing trip, it focuses heavily on Kerala's unique backwater ecosystems, where everyday life, homes, commerce, and transportation are tied to the waterways.

Highlighting the Floating Communities:

Immersive Houseboat Living: Spend two nights aboard a traditional kettuvallam. Learn how these iconic former rice barges have evolved into modern homes.

Exploring Village Life: Navigate narrow, boat-only canals in traditional canoes. Visit canal-side family homes, local schools, and see traditional livelihoods like coir-making.

Authentic Cultural Exchange: Enjoy meals with local families and discuss the unique logistics of life on the water, comparing Kerala’s backwaters with our own floating community in Seattle.

Focus on Sustainability: Engage with the vital ecology of these lakes, including flood adaptation and the responsible tourism practices essential for preserving these unique communities.

Here is a detailed draft schedule. 

If this sounds like an adventure you’d enjoy, please click below

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When:

Early 2027.  We want to head there this winter for some sunshine.

Estimated costs (at time of writing):

Ground Arrangements
Double/Twin Occupancy	$2,800
Single Occupancy	$3,710
International Airfare (Estimated)
Economy Class	$2,500
Premium Economy	$3,500
Business Class	$5,500

photo by By Kv Gopalakrishnan