Shikara Ride Timings in Alleppey
Shikara ride timings in Alleppey: four fixed starts from 6:00 AM, the end time of every 2, 3 and 4-hour ride, the 6:30 PM last return and holiday rules.
Our shikara ride timings in Alleppey come down to four fixed starts a day, and any ride length can take any of them. The three daytime starts leave at a set hour. The evening start is worked back from a 6:30 PM return, so a longer ride leaves earlier. Here is the full timetable, how early the sun is up in each season, and what changes on holiday dates.
Timetable
Start and finish for every ride
| 2 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | 6:00 – 8:00 AM | 6:00 – 9:00 AM | 6:00 – 10:00 AM |
| Morning | 9:00 – 11:00 AM | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Afternoon | 12:00 – 2:00 PM | 12:00 – 3:00 PM | 12:00 – 4:00 PM |
| Sunset | 4:30 – 6:30 PM | 3:30 – 6:30 PM | 2:30 – 6:30 PM |
| Price per boat | ₹2,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 |
Every ride starts and ends at Punnamada Finishing Point. On holidays and peak dates only the 2-hour column runs, at ₹3,000.
At a glance
Shikara hours
- Starts a day
- Sunrise, Morning, Afternoon, Sunset
- Earliest start
- 6:00 AM
- Last return
- 6:30 PM
- Ride lengths
- 2, 3 or 4 hours
- Holiday dates
- 2-hour rides, ₹1,500 an hour
- To reserve
- ₹1,000 advance
Choosing a start time
Sunrise, 6:00 AM
The earliest boat leaves at 6:00 AM. How much of the sunrise you catch depends on the month. In January and February the sun is up at about 6:45 AM, so you leave in the half-light and see it rise over the water. From April to August it rises between about 6:05 and 6:15 AM, just after you set off. A 4-hour ride from this start is back by 10:00 AM, before the heat of the day.
Morning, 9:00 AM
The 9:00 AM start suits anyone staying in Alleppey who would rather not set an alarm. It also pairs well with a houseboat: overnight houseboats check in at 12:00 PM from the same jetty, so a 2-hour ride from 9:00 to 11:00 AM is back an hour before you board.
Afternoon, 12:00 PM
The midday start is the natural one for a meal on the way. A Kerala lunch, or a toddy shop serving karimeen, kappa and duck roast, can be arranged on request, and you pay for the food at the stop. In March and April, the hottest months, daytime highs reach about 33 to 34°C, so morning and evening rides are cooler.
Sunset
The evening start is timed to be back by 6:30 PM: 4:30 PM for 2 hours, 3:30 PM for 3 hours and 2:30 PM for 4 hours. The 3-hour ride is the one that reaches Vembanad Lake as the light goes. Month-by-month sunset times are on the sunset shikara ride page.
How long the ride takes
The ride length is time on the water, from the jetty and back to it. Allow for the journey to Punnamada Finishing Point as well: it is about 2.5 km from the Alappuzha KSRTC bus stand and about 6.6 km from the railway station. It is not the State Water Transport ferry jetty near the bus stand; shikaras do not leave from there.
Timings on holidays and peak dates
On holidays and peak dates, including the 20 December to 10 January window, only the 2-hour ride runs. The four starts stay the same, so the choice on those days is 6:00 to 8:00 AM, 9:00 to 11:00 AM, 12:00 to 2:00 PM or 4:30 to 6:30 PM. The price is ₹1,500 an hour, which makes ₹3,000 for the boat.
Booking a time
Send the date, ride length, start and number of guests on WhatsApp. We confirm the slot with the boat, and a ₹1,000 advance holds it. The balance is paid at check-in. Sunset and weekend slots go first. Houseboat check-in and check-out times are on the houseboat timings page, and the shikara route page lists what each hour covers.
FAQ
Shikara timing questions, answered.
What are the shikara ride timings in Alleppey?
There are four starts a day: Sunrise at 6:00 AM, Morning at 9:00 AM, Afternoon at 12:00 PM and Sunset, which is timed to be back by 6:30 PM. Any of them can be a 2, 3 or 4-hour ride.
What is the earliest shikara ride?
The Sunrise start at 6:00 AM. A 2-hour ride from then is back at 8:00 AM, a 4-hour ride at 10:00 AM.
What time does the last shikara come back?
By 6:30 PM. The evening ride starts at 4:30 PM for 2 hours, 3:30 PM for 3 hours or 2:30 PM for 4 hours.
Can I book a 3-hour shikara ride on Christmas Day?
No. On holidays and peak dates, including 20 December to 10 January, only the 2-hour ride runs, at ₹3,000 for the boat. All four start times are still available.
Pick your start time.
Tell us the date, ride length and start on WhatsApp. We confirm the slot before you pay the ₹1,000 advance.