River and Country Tours functions in the Municipal Library Shopping Complex opposite the Boat Jetty in Alappuzha. The center, a professionally managed organisation, has 47 houseboats and offers special packages like dinner on a floating barge, fireworks and snake-boat races.

The houseboats are huge, slow moving, exotic barges and are used for leisure trips. They are the reworked kettuvalloms of olden times. The house boats are fully equipped with furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Traditional Kerala style cuisines are served. For large groups of sightseers, Boat-trains formed by joining two or more houseboats together- are also arranged.

The nearest airport is at Kochi, 64 km to the north. Alappuzha Railway Station is 5 km from the bus station and ferry station.