The major places offering cruises on kettuvalloms are Kollam, Alleppey, Cochin and Kumarakom, which is a prominent bird sanctuary, with some places offering the unique spectacle of the snake boat races. The backwaters of the Kuttanad region, the rice bowl of Kerala where farming is done below sea-level, are of special interest because of the unique lifestyle of its people governed by the fact that for three-fourth of the year, most of the region is flooded. The Vembanad lake, about 200 sq km in area, is the biggest backwater and opens out into the Arabian Sea at Cochin.

 • Vembanad Lake – Kumarakom 
Located at Kumarakon, 16 km from Kottayam, the Vembanad lake, almost 200 sq km in area, is fed by a vast network of rivers and canals. It is an enchanting picnic spot with cruises along lush green paddy fields and beaches. The lake opens into the Arabian Sea at Cochin. 

 • Pathiramanal - Alappuzha
Part of the Kuttanad region or the rice bowl of Kerala where farming is done below sea-level, Alappuzha, called the Venice of the East or the houseboat city, is home to diverse animal and bird life. With the Arabian Sea on its west and criss-crossed by a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh-water rivers, Alappuzha has a significant place in the maritime history of Kerala. It is also known for its boat races, including the famous Nehru trophy boat race, marine products and coir industry. 
The most popular backwater trip is the eight hour voyage between Kollam(Quilon) and Allapuzha(Allepey).

 • Pathiramanal 
Pathiramanal is an island between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom which is accessible only by boat. There is a very interesting myth associated with this island according to which, when a young brahmin dived into the Vembanad lake to perform his evening ablutions, the water made way for land to rise from the bottom of the lake thus creating Pathiramanal or ‘the sands of midnight’. Migratory birds from different parts of the world frequent this island.

 • Alumkadavu - Kollam
Situated along the coast 71 km from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam is one of the oldest posts on the Malabar coast and was once the centre of the international spice trade. It remains the centre of the country’s cashew trade and is of historical interest because of its archaeological remains and ornate temples. Thirty percent of this historic town is covered by the Ashtamundi Lake. A popular cruise is the eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha, the longest backwater cruise in Kerala. Halfway between these towns is Alumkadavu, a quiet backwater village, which is famed for its boat-building industry. It is here that the magnificent kettuvalloms are built. 

 • Thiruvallam – Thiruvananthapuram
The cruise between Thiruvallam and Thiruvananthapuram across serene backwaters is special because of the popular canoe rides.

 • Kadalundi - Kozhikode
Kozhikode, once the capital of the powerful Zamorins and a prominent trade and commerce centre, has historic sites and wildlife sanctuaries set among beaches, hills and a lush green countryside. Of note are cruises along Elathur, the Canolly canal and the Kallai river. Kadalundi with its bird sanctuary and Korapuzha with its water sports festival are also popular destinations.

 • Kottayam
Kottayam, a prominent commercial centre, is the headquarters of a number of ecclesiastical heads of Syrian Christian churches. Of interest is the Valliapalli, an ancient church with rare murals.
Sandwiched between palm-fringed backwaters on the west and scenic hills on the east, Kottayam, derived from the word Kottayakam which means the interior of a fort, is a popular tourist destination not only because of its scenic beauty and historical significance but also because of the places around it.
The wildlife sanctuary at Thekkady, built around the Periyar lake, can be accessed by road from Kottayam through rich plantations of rubber, tea, coffee and pepper. Kumarakom, a popular backwater resort near Kottayam, is also a bird sanctuary which plays host to exotic migratory birds like the water duck, cuckoos, Siberian stork, etc.