Onam is the one festival that turns even the busiest office calendar into an excuse to slow down, dress up in mundu and settu saree, and share a Sadya with the people you work with every day. If you’re planning a corporate Onam event in Kochi this year, Ben’s Cruise offers something most banquet halls can’t — the festive spirit of Onam set against Kadamakkudy’s untouched backwaters, with kayaking, boat games, and a traditional feast folded into one memorable day out.
Here’s everything you need to know before you book.
Why Ben’s Cruise is the Right Pick for a Corporate Onam Event in Kochi
Most corporate Onam celebrations happen indoors — a decorated hall, a pookalam competition, and a buffet line. Ben’s Cruise takes the same festival and moves it onto the water. Teams arrive at Kadamakkudy Island, a quiet cluster of islands just outside the city, and swap the conference room for coconut-lined canals, mangrove trails, and traditional Kerala boats.
A few things set the experience apart for corporate groups:
- Guided kayaking sessions that are beginner-friendly, so employees who have never held a paddle can join in confidently.
- A genuinely local setting — Kadamakkudy is quieter and less commercialised than the usual tourist backwater routes, which means your team gets the place largely to themselves.
- Flexible, customisable packages that combine kayaking, boat cruises, games, and food to fit your headcount, budget, and time window.
- Safety-first execution, with trained guides, quality gear, and well-maintained boats for every activity.
Kayaking in Kochi: The Highlight of Your Onam Celebration
Kayaking is where the Onam spirit really comes alive for corporate groups. Paddling in pairs or small teams through narrow canals naturally turns into friendly competition and easy conversation — the kind of informal bonding that a seated dinner rarely produces.
Ben’s Cruise runs a few different kayaking formats, and each one suits a different kind of Onam outing:
- Sunrise kayaking — a calm, early-morning Sunrise Kayaking through Kadamakkudy’s waking backwaters, ideal for teams who want to start the celebration on a peaceful note before the day’s festivities begin.
- Sunset kayaking — glide through golden-hued waters as the day winds down, a relaxed way to close out an Onam get-together.
- Mangrove kayaking — a more adventurous route through narrow channels lined with mangroves, prawn farms, and birdlife, perfect for teams that want an active, exploratory element to their event.
Every session is guided, so first-time paddlers and seasoned ones can join the same group without anyone feeling left out — an important detail when you’re planning an event for a mixed team.
Beyond Kayaking: A Complete Onam Experience at Kadamakkudy
A corporate Onam event isn’t just about one activity — it’s about the whole day. Ben’s Cruise builds that around three pillars: water, games, and food.
Onam Games and Festive Traditions
No Onam celebration is complete without the games — tug of war, Vallamkali-style boat races, and other traditional favourites that get even the quietest colleagues cheering from the sidelines. These can be woven into the itinerary between kayaking sessions or held on the deck of a houseboat, keeping the festive, playful energy of Onam intact.
Houseboat Cruises and Team-Building Add-Ons
For larger groups or teams that want a mix of activity and relaxation, Ben’s Cruise offers houseboat and speedboat experiences alongside kayaking. Their AquaSynergy package, for instance, blends a scenic cruise with fishing activities, kayaking or a speedboat ride, friendly competitions, and a break to unwind — all built specifically with corporate team bonding in mind.
Traditional Onam Sadya
After the paddling and the games, a traditional Kerala Sadya — served on a banana leaf, with all its signature dishes — brings the celebration full circle. It’s the part of Onam that no team wants to miss, and Ben’s Cruise pairs it naturally with the backwater setting.
Why Corporate Teams Choose a Backwater Onam Over an Indoor One
Companies across Kochi’s IT corridors and business districts are increasingly choosing offsite, nature-based celebrations over hotel banquet halls, and Onam is the perfect occasion for it. A few reasons this format works well for teams:
- It gets everyone out of a formal office setting and into a shared, informal experience.
- Kayaking and boat games naturally mix people across departments and seniority levels.
- The setting itself — mangroves, village life, birdlife — gives the day a festive, memorable backdrop that photographs (and memories) don’t forget.
- It combines celebration with genuine relaxation, which is harder to achieve in a hall full of tables and chairs.
A Sample Corporate Onam Itinerary
While every package is customisable, a typical corporate Onam with a day backwater cruise on a traditional houseboat with Ben’s Cruise might look like this:
- Arrival & briefing at Kadamakkudy Island, with a safety and gear session.
- Kayaking session (sunrise, sunset, or mangrove route) as an icebreaker activity.
- Onam games on deck or on the island — tug of war, boat races, and more.
- Backwater cruise on a traditional houseboat or shikkara to unwind between activities.
- Traditional Onam Sadya, served banana-leaf style.
- Optional add-ons like a DJ session, photography, or speedboat rides to close the day.
Best Time to Book Your Corporate Onam Event in Kochi
Onam typically falls in August–September, and backwater venues fill up quickly during this window as companies across Kochi plan their celebrations. Since Ben’s Cruise works with limited group sizes to keep each experience personal and well-managed, it’s worth reaching out and locking your date a few weeks ahead rather than closer to the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a corporate Onam event in Kochi with Ben’s Cruise include?
A typical package combines guided kayaking, a backwater or houseboat cruise, traditional Onam games like tug of war and boat races, and a Sadya served on a banana leaf. Everything can be customised based on your group size, budget, and how much time your team has for the day.
2. Do employees need prior kayaking experience?
No. All kayaking sessions are guided and beginner-friendly, with safety gear and trained guides on hand, so colleagues who have never paddled before can join alongside more experienced ones.
3. How many people can join a corporate Onam event?
Ben’s Cruise works with both small teams and larger corporate groups. Since sessions are kept personal with limited seats per batch, it’s best to confirm your headcount early so the right boats, kayaks, and timings can be arranged.
4. Where does the event take place?
The celebration is held at Kadamakkudy Island, a quiet cluster of backwater villages just outside Kochi city, known for its mangroves, narrow canals, and authentic village life — a short drive from most business districts.
5. Is food included, and is it authentic Onam Sadya?
Yes. A traditional Kerala Onam Sadya, with all the classic dishes served on a banana leaf, can be included as part of the package and is typically served after the activities.
6. What is the best time to book a corporate Onam event in Kochi?
Since Onam usually falls in August–September and slots fill up quickly during festival season, it’s advisable to book at least a few weeks in advance to secure your preferred date and group size.
7. Can the event be customised for a half-day or full-day format?
Yes. Packages can be shaped around a half-day (kayaking plus games) or a full-day format that adds a houseboat cruise, lunch, and optional add-ons like a DJ session or speedboat rides.
Book Your Corporate Onam Event Today
If your team is ready to trade the usual hall decorations for real backwaters, mangrove trails, and a Sadya that tastes even better after a morning of kayaking, Ben’s Cruise can put together a corporate Onam event in Kochi built around your group’s size and preferences.
Get in touch with Ben’s Cruise to plan your corporate Onam event at Kadamakkudy — kayaking, games, cruises, and Sadya, all in one unforgettable day.