Little Chembaka

I absolutely loved my stay in Little Chembaka and had a wonderful 2 days. The cottage itself was clean, beautiful and comfortable. I ate there both nights and the food was plentiful, interesting and tasty. Ditto the breakfast. I did a few activities. The sunrise boat ride and village walk was really lovely and very interesting. Got to see real village life in the company of 2 of the Chembaka team and the boat ride in a small boat was peaceful and calm. In the evening I went on a sunset boat ride. One of the team positioned the boat in a sublime spot where we watched the sunset. I also was taken by the manager Jess to a toddy shop to drink toddy, snack on tapioca and hot fish sauce and chat about everything! I learnt a lot about Kerala life and much more! But the thing that stood out and really made my stay were the people who worked there. Jess runs the place with love and passion and this shines through everything. I highly recommend a stay here. I loved it. Big thanks to the team and Jess, you're a star.

Nothing.

The owner welcomed us and treated us like family. He is an expert Keralan chef, and he provided us with local cuisine of the highest quality- quite exceptional. A stay at Little Chembaka is an unforgettable experience.

There was nothing to dislike.

Little Chembaka is a one villa, 2 persons accommodation where you have the personal attention of the host/chef. The meals, (breakfast, lunch and dinner )that Jes cooked for us were exceptional; our sunrise cruise and village walk was so informative. As we eat our sumptuous meals, Jes sits and talks to us, about his life, his aspirations and we got to know so much about Kerala, in just 2 days!!

Nothing!

Amazingly original offering and so much more

Nothing

This was one of the most memorable stays we ever had, and for all the right reasons. From the moment you arrive, the Team at Little Chembaka do everything they can to make your stay the most comfortable, joyfull and entertaining ever. Jess the host, is a super friendly guy and will regale you for days with stories. He and the whole team make you feel that you just arrived at your friend's house. The room itself was very comfortable, with a large and comfy bed, and all the modern amenities that you would like. It is also stylishly decorated, with a dark wood decor that fits very nicely with the local style. And of course, you can lounge out in their veranda with a nice view over the backwaters and watch the occasional egret, kingfisher or loads of butterflies. One of the reasons we have chosen Little Chembaka is the food, which we read so many positive things about, and boy, were they all true! Breakfast and dinner cooked up by Jes and his team were THE best food we had in India, and you can really feel their passion for cooking. We had three breakfasts and dinners, all of which were different but equally tasty. We opted to do the cooking class with Jes as well, which we can only HIGHLY recommend, we learned so much about the local Keralan Cousine, went out with him to source the ingredients and got so many tips and tricks on how to cook up these amazing dishes ourselves and adjust them to the ingredients available in our home country. All in all, thank you very much to the whole team who made our stay so comfortable. Go do yourselves a favour, ditch the resorts and stay at Little Chembaka - we certainly hope to be back someday.

Absolutely nothing.

המיקום על הנהר. בעל הבית המקסים שישב איתנו בישל לנו ואירח אותהו כאילו אנחנו חברים. חווייה מיוחדת ממש! ארוחת בוקר וארוחת ערב שבושלה מולינו והייתה מיוחדת בשפע רב וברמה ממש גבוהה

From the very first moment, we were surprised by how beautifully and thoughtfully this special place is designed. The interior is extremely tasteful, filled with many loving details. Only natural materials were used for both construction and furnishings — even the washing areas are made of wood, which adds to the deep connection with nature. As Little Chembaka offers only one room, the stay feels incredibly personal, peaceful, and intimate. We slept very well and deeply, surrounded by a calm and grounding atmosphere. Early in the morning, you are gently awakened by a beautiful variety of bird sounds, which is a special experience in itself and a magical way to start the day. The sunrise boat tour directly on the water was truly unforgettable. The warm and ever-present team, led by Jaz, makes this place exceptional. Jaz is highly motivated, genuinely helpful, and brings a wonderful sense of humor — you never feel like a guest in a hotel, but rather like staying with friends. The time spent in the Wonderwerk kitchen, including cooking tips, added another very personal and memorable touch to our stay. Located in Kumarakom, about two hours by car from Kochi, this place is absolutely worth the journey. A soulful, peaceful retreat that stays with you long after you leave.

Jes is a wonderful host, he couldn’t do more for us. He’s very attentive and clearly wants to ensure everyone is having the best time possible. The room (it is a single room stay) is beautiful and spacious with a porch overlooking the water - perfect for spending hot afternoons relaxing.

While not an issue for us, LC is out of the way and you need to rely either on taxis/tuk-tuks or organising everything through Jes. Something to consider if this fits your travel goals

This was by far the best stay I have ever done in my entire life. Everyone who contributed to this unique project pours their heart and soul into making this an unforgettable stay. The place is headed up by Jas, who is the host, and is such a warm, charming personality who makes you feel welcome from the second you walk in. Not only that but he is an absolutely stunning chef. The food the team whipped up was absolutely stunning! We stayed over Christmas and he made us individual biriyanis to match our individual dietary requirements and also to mark the festive period for us. I cannot recommend the tours the team set up for you. Driving out to a local Toddy farm and getting fresh coconuts, going on the temple and food tour will remain in my memories for years. I was very sad to leave this place after 3 nights. Not only that, but the room is also very comfortable and modern, not that you'll be staying in the room for long. They have an inhouse tuktuk driver who was able to take us out when we wanted to get ayuvedic massages. There's also kayaks so you can go out and venture. I cannot recommend this place enough. I will be making my way back one day!

Nothing, everything was fantastic!