Hi Shirley,
We went on the houseboat trip last feb, it sailed from panjim up the mandovi river and then stopped for the night. There were 4 cabins each sleeping 2 people (2 cabins on lower deck & 2 on upper), great trip however the place that the boat stopped was very noisy all through the night. Dogs constantly barking followed by a rather persistant cockerall from about 3am! Looking through the guestbook onboard it seemed to be a common complaint. Lovely boat and scenery but would probably not do it again due to the lack of sleep. It may be ok though if it sails from and to a different location.
Hope this helps you!

Day Tripper are now doing a houseboat trip at a different location tied in with a visit to Dervbag(not sure of spelling) island, which people who have been on speak highly of, no reports of nocturnal cockerels either Alan

Hi Shirley,

Sounds like we did the same boat cruise as Premiercuts last week. We booked it through Kennedys in Calagute for £100 for 2 (we haggled from £120) which included dinner, breakfast and lunch. It was great and I would do it again but I was put of by the dogs barking all through the night and the cockeral in 3.30am who did not stop ...oh and the rat that I heard crawling over the roof the boat. Do take a mozi net with you!

Day tripper do a 2 nights 3 days trip which takes 3 hours to get to and is based in Karnataka.

ecca.

Interesting to hear about that boat trip you did and at that price. do you know if they have a website please?

can you tell us a bit about the trip. I know the dogs and cockerels were a nuisance but what did you consider the highs of the trip. was it good value for money? How many people were on board? did they not provide mossie nets(amazed at that).
Was the trip all you tyhought it would be. was it relaxing. Was the food good? what did you have? drinks? were they included or were 'extras'.

What did you think of the staff? And anything else you think we ought to know about.

Sorry about all the questions. Just don't want to disappoint my wife.

regards

Previous post about rice boat trip here with pictures avilable,

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=49142&highlight=chapora

Rgds

mids

Mids.

many thanks for that. I read your report with interest. were all your drinks included? What were 'extras'?

I also enjoyed the pics!

On that thread you answered someone by saying that you paid £25 for the trip. did I read that correctly?

Any further help /advice re booking a trip would be appreciated. we are staying in Colva which would probably make it a tad difficult.

regards.

Hi pedrogooner,

I am not sure that Kennedys have a website as they are not as big as day tripper or john's but they are on the baga road in calangute - most taxi drivers will know where. We thought it was alot to pay however when you think that you get a double bed, your own bathroom with shower and 3 meals it is quite good value.

We wanted to go as my boyfriend was desperate to see some wildlife (which I wasnt!) and I wanted to relax and get away from calangute and I have to say that we got both and more. We got picked up at around 3pm from our hotel and it took about 30mins to get to the boat. We sailed up to Panjim for the sunset and then moored close by. We saw some flying foxes (bats) lots of birds of prey and even a crocodile! We left the boat at about 2pm and were dropped of back at our hotel.

There were four couples including us on board and then about 5 staff. They didnt provide the nets so I would suggest you take your own. Everyone loved the food and looking back at the comments in the guest book lots of other people did. There was alot of choice but I wasnt hugely impressed but then I am a fussy eater! For dinner there were about 8 different dishes -fish, meat and veg. They also have a well stocked bar on board (which was extra).

It was very noisey in the night but everyone laughed about it in the morning and strangely it sort of added to the experience!

The staff were very good - Raj the captain was fantastic and gave us a sort of prep talk before we set sail about where we were going and what we might see.

The boat itself was beautiful and we will definately be going back next year but we might do it in Kerala this time.

Hope that helps

I have a friend who every year rents a rice boat, a captain and a chef and spends two weeks sailing up the Chapora River fishing and eating what he catches. Double bed, net and toilet and as it's just him and his girlfriend they stop and shop for whatever else they need and just pay the chef a fixed sum for the 2 weeks.

I THINK he organises all this locally but could find out for sure if you wanted. I'm sure he would be willing to let you all have the contact details.

He's as tight as they come so I doubt it's expensive but rememberhe goes for a full 2 weeks not just an overnight thing.

Now that you mentioned it Fritz yu may as well let us all know about it. You never know we may be thinking about it for another visit.

Hi Pedrogooner,

We booked 2 trips together and bartered the price, they were also really quiet so it just depends on your luck & determination.
We were the only couple on the boat so I suppose better they make something than nothing.

We were collected from Arpora (Baga) inclusive as well. Unlike the previous mentioned we anchored up and once dusk came and the birds etc had finished flying off it went really quiet we sat drinking and you could not see a thing it was pitch black each side of the boat and the only sound was the river.
Soft drinks were included and I think the first 2 beers but as everywhere it was really cheap anyway.

There are loads of variations different rivers sizes of boats etc ours was a two double bedroom & on the Chapora river, I would highly recommend it.

hope this helps along with the info on the linked post,

mids

Mids.

Yes, that info certainly did help. Maybe I will have to contact 'John's Boat tours' myself. Do you have a phone number etc.

I am looking for a sort of special tour to take my wife for our 25th anniversary. I did see the Wildernest site and am considering that. Can't make up my mind really.

open to any suggestions. we go in about three weeks. have been quite active on this great informative site recently.

cheers .

Hi,
We have done the 4 cabin trip twice in previous years, last week we did the 2 cabin one through Johns Boats.

The 4 cabin trip is much better, the food is cooked onboard and great selection. The 2 cabin they send off the boat for Dinner & Lunch and not as good quality or selection.

We enjojed both and have now seen 2 different rivers, but the 4 cabin boat is much bigger with more sitting space, I think it is done through davidair. (it is also the one the reps usually sell)

Steve

(If you want I could check and find prices and availability for the day you want, we are here for another 5 weeks)

Have recently been in contact with John's Boat Tours. They do have a website.

http://www.johnsboattours.com/

The price quoted wa 8600 rupees per couple. Question for Mids. Was the boat shown on the site the same as the one you went on. All drinks(unlimited) included. Would you know if that includes fruit juice. My wife doesn't drink alcohol or the fizzy drinks(reason for it). I, thankfully, have no problems with beer. Is it kingfisher beer they have? I am not too keen on the other beers including Fosters.

They tell me all meals included both veg and non-veg. What sort of food do they dish up for these meals? Is the lunch meal served on day one when joining or day two before you leave?

Any tips on what we should take and not take. eg, towels, loo paper, torch etc etc.

Cheers, Pete

samthe boater.

Did not see your posting till I had posted my own reply. I am confused now. Yes, if you could check out prices for say , 7th March, it would be appreciated. As much info as possible would be appreciated.

samtheboater.

I have been in contact with davidair. Gave me a price of £58 each. Unfortunately they could not send me any pica even though they tried to, of the boat. Apparently they call it the 'Floating Palace'. I put that in a search engine and came up with this site. Could you have a look and see if it is the same boat you were on? http://www.uvigoa.com/excursions/floatingpalace.htm

They did tell me that it was 'all inclusive'. Can I assume they mean drinks as well as food. What was your experience.

You said that the larger four bed roomed trip was better than the small one. Was the 'food' the only reason for that.

if you did go again then which one would you definitely choose and prehaps a few reasons why. sorry to fire question slike this.

I am trying to organise a special 25th anniversary surprise for my wife and I would like it to be as good as I can get.

Any other little tips would be most welcome. Cheers.

I am interested in a 2 bedroom boat as there are 4 of us and it would be great to have a the boat to ourselves, am I right in thinking this could be arranged through john's boats?

Hmmm...I'm gonna have to get the details aren't I.

Give me until Monday and I'll get the cheap contact details for you all

You realise I'll have to buy him a couple of beers for this

Is that your tip, Fritz? lol