Welcome to Kayal
A slice of paradise, Kayal is a boutique island retreat, located in the backwaters of Kerala,
just off the bustling port city of Kochi. Our resort is an oasis in a world where everything moves
at a breakneck speed. Here, you can still discover centuries old traditions, and life as
it was a hundred years ago.
Kayal is located on the shores of a private island in Kerala’s Lake Vembanad. It is a 4-cottage
boutique property that has won many an award. The only way to reach here is by traditional rowboats.
And once you’re here, all you’ve got to do is slow down, give in to the moment, and unwind.
You can enjoy the best dusk in the world from the shores of our island. This is the only place
in India to feature in Nat Geo’s Best 24 Hours on Earth. Our resort has also been handpicked as one
of the 12 Incredible Boutique Hotels in India.
Come stay with us
To experience our boutique resort, you can book an overnight stay with us. Or, just come spend a day with us. Take your pick from our many Experiences, join us for a stroll through the village, for canoe rides and a cup of tea.
Stay overnight / spend a day.Beautifully curated rooms
With only four cottages, Kayal is one of the
most exclusive boutique resorts in Kerala.
Each cottage is inspired by the local architecture and curated with reclaimed and
recycled material. The air-conditioned waterfront cottages have been furnished with old teak cupboards,
a reading area and desk for quiet contemplation, and an open-to-the-sky bath garden for some serious rejuvenation.
The walls are adorned with narratives of local history in art. Each cottage is aesthetically designed with
plush comforts for the city slicker in you.
To book your stay with us, call +91 77360 00989
or email stay@kayalislandretreat.com.
Experiences
The best way to experience Kayal is to put away all gadgetry, lock your watch up, and take a stroll into another era. You can walk the island, stopping to say hello to the islanders. For those who love their me-time, we suggest a canoe ride on the backwaters. But if you truly want to live the local life, join a farmer in his fields, the fisherman on the lake, the toddy tapper up the tree or the womenfolk in their local festivals. From yoga to Ayurveda, day trips to nearby Fort Kochi to midnight stargazing, the possibilities are endless at Kayal. So much for a place with nothing to do!
Book your stay
Meet Maneesha
Say hello to Maneesha, the creator of Kayal. She’s always game for a walk on the island, a boat ride, a long and lazy lunch, a round of yoga, a gripping story and a quick adventure. Maneesha was once a city-slicker (a New Yorker at that!). But she gave it all up, to start her luxury experiential travel company, Silk Route Escapes, and to build Kayal Island Retreat, brick by little brick.
Testimonial
“Kayal was one of the best boutique hotels in our Kerala tour. Small and intimate, we loved every minute of our stay here. If you are looking to explore Kerala’s backwaters, look no further. Kayal has it all - untouched backwaters, lush island, happy islanders and loads of authentic village experiences.
And the food! We could eat meals like those, every day of our lives. Every ingredient was so fresh, and you could feel the love in every morsel. Can’t wait to come back to Kayal!”
Akanksha (March 20th, 2017)
Bengaluru, India.
Our Press Coverage
Nat Geo
Conde Nast Traveller
Lonely Planet
