Experience Kayaking and Canoe in Kerala Backwaters

A kayak is a small open narrow vessel, made of polyethylene resins, used to roam around in the calm or flowing waters, self maneuvered using a double blade paddle. It does not have a sun shade or roof on the top. Different types of kayaks like recreational kayak, professional kayak etc. available which can accommodate either one person (single kayak) or two persons (double kayak). Best suited kayaks for beginners or first time users are the recreational kayaks.

What Are the Types of Kayak Available?

Most of the rivers, canals, and lakes are both flowering and still waters, therefore, considering recreational kayaking, the best kayak suitable for is Sit-On-Top, Sit-In, and inflatable kayaks.

1. Sit-On-Top:

These types of kayaks have a facility to sit on the floor, elevation of which is higher, enable you to keep your leg freely. Both side of the sit on top kayak is low from the water, so easy to wet during the trip. This type of kayaks is to be used in wave less, flat, and calm water during sunny days.

2. Sit –Inside:

These types of kayaks have an open hull inside the bottom where you can sit, keep your legs within the limited area of the hull. Mostly used by professional kayakers idle for flowing river.

3. Inflatable Kayaks:

These types of kayaks have air chambers can be inflated for use and deflated for storage purpose. Convenient to carry along and can easily place in a car.

The best option for beginners is sit on top kayak. This is the kayak most of the operators provided for recreational kayakers in Kerala.

Should I Have Prior Experience to Go for a Kayaking?

No, you do not need to have prior kayaking experience to do a recreational kayaking activity in narrow canals. But you may need such experience to do white water kayaking. Those who does not have prior experience, though the maneuvering is easy, the main challenge is to how to get in and came out. A responsible and licensed operator has an experienced guide, who will give a 10 minutes basic training on the below subjects.

• Usually a kayak may flip when a beginner try to get into and out of a kayak. The guide will give lessons as to how to get in and came out from a kayak.
• During this short training, he will also guide you how to hold your kayak paddle, maneuvering, forward and reverse stroke, how to stop and wearing a life jacket etc.

Is It Easy to Kayak or Difficult?

Though kayaking required some effort, it is a simple activity which children having age from 15 yrs onwards and old age physically fit people can easily do. The main difficulty which we have seen in our previous trips is that after an hr or so, some people get tired and complained some shoulder joint pains. Apart from that our previous guests have not faced any difficulty of doing this activity.

What is Canoe?

In Kerala, the canoe is basically a local small wooden or fiberglass boat, without an engine, operated by a person who is experienced to maneuver. It may have a locally made roof on the top and can accommodate a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 adults.

What is Open Boat?

Open boat is basically a wooden local boat, fitted with an engine, operated by a person who is experienced to operate. It does not have a sun roof on the top and can accommodate 4 to 10 adults. To know more about the open boat in Alleppey and Kumarakom photos, trip schedule, price, booking, etc.