Exactly what to pack for a Kerala houseboat trip

Houseboats are not hotels. Cabins are small, storage is limited, and you won't change clothes much. This is the list we send to every first-time guest who asks.

Clothes (overnight)#

• 011 pair of shorts (you'll live in these)
• 022 cotton tees
• 031 light long-sleeve for evenings / mosquitoes
• 04Swimwear if you plan to swim at the sunset stop
• 05Slippers — no shoes on board

Essentials#

• 01Mosquito repellent (the one thing everyone forgets)
• 02Sunscreen, even if it's cloudy
• 03A small power bank — outlets are basic and sometimes unreliable
• 04Reading material — phone signal drops in the lake stretches

Skip: hair dryer, formal clothes, large suitcase. The cabin will feel cramped if you bring a 70L bag.