Kayaking and boating at Fragrant Nature Kollam

Fragrant Nature Kollam runs kayaking and boating on Paravur Lake in Kollam district. Kayaks and canoes go out on the lake behind the resort. The backwater boat ride is complimentary for guests. Houseboats for a day or a night are booked through the travel desk and go out on Ashtamudi Lake.

The travel desk handles bookings and itineraries for water activities. Kayaking and canoeing are open to beginners. Sunrise and evening are the best times on the water.

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The water at Paravur Lake


Paravur Lake is a backwater lake. The paddling path passes through canals bordered by coconut trees and along banks where local life goes on. The water is calm, and beginners are welcome.

Otters, herons, kingfishers, and egrets live around the lake, and lakeside fishing is available. Wildlife sightings are a matter of luck, so a paddle booked only for an otter photograph can end without one.
 

Complimentary backwater boat ride


The boat ride is free for guests and needs no paddling. A small boat takes passengers along the backwaters, with open views across the lake. Tender coconut comes with the ride. Kingfishers and egrets are the birds to watch for.

Guests who do not paddle still see the water through the boat ride.

houseboat cruise
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Kayaking and canoeing on Paravur Lake

Kayaking suits novices and experienced paddlers. Canoes are available as well.

The lake is flat at sunrise, and the reflections are at their best. The evening brings gold light and cooler air. Daytime is hot and bright, with no shade on open water.

Paddling uses the shoulders and arms. Guests with a history of shoulder, back, or wrist injuries should mention it at the time of reservation. The recommended kit is a hat, sunblock, a quick-drying T-shirt, and a
waterproof phone case. Without a dry bag, a good camera stays on land. Non-swimmers should tell the travel desk so that arrangements can be made.

Guests should ask the travel desk for the rates, time slots, and minimum age for kayaking and canoeing. The boat ride is free. Whether kayaking carries a charge is also a question for the desk.
 

Houseboats on Ashtamudi Lake

A houseboat is a separate outing from the resort’s own water. The travel desk organises day and overnight trips on Ashtamudi Lake. Overnight trips include a cook on board, food, a guide, and floating bedrooms. A day trip needs a long block of time.

Kayaking trips run on Ashtamudi Lake as well. Guests who want to paddle somewhere other than Paravur Lake can ask the desk.

A traditional houseboat floating on calm backwaters with palm trees along the shore.
kayaking

Choosing an activity

  • A first time on the water: the boat ride first, then a kayak if the lake seems safe.
  • Children in the group: the boat ride.
  • Photographers: the evening slot, or sunrise for flat water.
  • One night: one slot. A sunrise paddle before breakfast frees the rest of the day for driving.
  • One person paddles and one does not: the boat ride and the kayak can share a stay.
  • A full day on the water: a houseboat day trip.
     

Before booking

Weather: Water activities depend on the weather. October to March are the best months to visit Kerala. Outside those months, guests should check with the travel desk whether the water suits the slot they want.

Group size: Guests should give the travel desk the group size at the first call, not at the lake, so it can plan the boats and the slot.

The road: The final portion of the route to the resort is a narrow road. Drivers should watch for oncoming vehicles before turning in.

Transfers: The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, about 57 km away. Kollam Junction Railway Station is 20 km away, about 30 minutes by road. The travel desk schedules and arranges trips. Guests should share their flight time when booking.

Booking the paddle: Room booking and the paddle are separate steps. Guests should not assume a room booking includes a kayak slot. One call to the travel desk settles it.

Day visits: Visitors should ask whether water activities are part of a day visit before making the drive.

A day on the water

Open water is hardest on guests between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest. This order avoids that window.
  • Sunrise: kayak on Paravur Lake while the water is flat.
  • Morning: breakfast at Anna Rasa, the all-day multi-cuisine restaurant on the property.
  • Midday: the pool or the room.
  • Late afternoon: the complimentary boat ride, with tender coconut, if the desk has a slot.
  • Dusk: the sunset bar, then dinner.
Varkala Cliff and Papanasam Beach are about 30 minutes by road. Jatayu Earth’s Center, home to the world’s largest bird sculpture, is about 45 minutes away. Either fits an afternoon. Neither fits a houseboat day.

Prana Spa on the property offers Ayurvedic treatments, and yoga sessions run on site. Sore shoulders after a paddle are a fair reason to book one.

Couples and families

Couples can ask for the evening slot for the light and the quiet. Candlelight dining is listed among the resort’s amenities, and the sunset bar sits on the property.

Families with young children can paddle in shifts. One adult stays with the children on the boat ride or at the pool while the other kayaks, then the two swap. The resort lists babysitting and an activities coordinator for families, and the Lake View Family Cottage has its own kids’ pool for the hours between slots.

Where to stay at Fragrant Nature Kollam

  • Lake View Rooms with Private Terrace are Kerala-style rooms, with a private deck and a balcony that overlooks the lake.
  • Premium Lake View Villas with Private Terrace are 850 sq. ft. and accommodate up to four guests.
  • Private Pool Villas with Terrace feature a private pool, a deck, and a balcony with lake views.
  • Lake View Family Cottages with Private Pool accommodate up to six people and feature a 12 x 6 metre pool, plus a separate kids’ pool.


Request your stay

Book a room at Fragrant Nature Kollam on the booking page. Then call the travel desk to arrange the boat ride, the kayak slot, and any houseboat day. State what the group can and cannot do on the water.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is kayaking available at all Fragrant Nature properties?
Kayaking and boating run on Paravur Lake at Fragrant Nature Kollam.

Is there a charge for the boat ride?
Resort guests get free backwater boat rides. Guests should ask the travel desk for the rates for kayaking, canoeing, and houseboats.

Can a novice kayak?
Yes. The resort is open to beginners paddling on a gentle waterway. Swimming ability and any injuries should be reported to the desk at the time of booking.

What is the best time of day to paddle?
Sunrise and evening. Sunrise brings flat water and reflections. The evening brings gold light and cooler air.

Can the resort book a houseboat?
Yes. Day and overnight houseboat bookings for Ashtamudi Lake go through the travel desk. Overnight trips include food and a guide.

How far is the nearest airport?
Trivandrum International Airport is about 57 km away. Kollam Junction Railway Station is 20 km away, about half an hour by road.
 

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