The Pilot Who Explores

The Pilot Who Explores

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7 Days in Bangladesh: An Awesome 1-Week Adventure Itinerary

Bangladesh: an underrated, overly beautiful, raw country.

I’m ecstatic I got to spend a week exploring this most densely populated country in the world , tailoring a one-week itinerary that really highlights what makes Bangladesh unique. These 7 days I spent here were full of adventure, fun, and history.

You’re about to see just why the hidden gem of Bangladesh is one of the most underrated countries you could ever visit.

The Ultimate 7-Day Bangladesh Itinerary

From tea plantations with incredibly delicious tea for $0.10 to floating watermelon markets on the largest river delta in the world , there is more than enough to do in a week visiting Bangladesh.

Day 1 : Arrival in Dhaka Day 2 : Dhaka Tour by TukTuk, Overnight VIP Launch to Swarukpathi, stay at the most epic AirBnB in Bangladesh Day 3 : Explore the river delta by canoe, visit markets, and learn about Spirulina farming Day 4 : Fly to Sylhet, enjoy the world’s best $0.10 tea on a plantation for sunset Day 5 : Enjoy the best waterfalls in Bangladesh Day 6 : Fly to Cox’s Bazaar and stay on the longest beach in Bangladesh. Enjoy shipwrecks, beach, markets, sun, sand, and fun Day 7 : Explore Chittagong, the second largest city in Bangladesh, then fly home from here

This itinerary involves this transportation in Bangladesh to be booked ahead of time:

  • An overnight launch (Dhaka – Swarupkathi) on Day 2-3
  • A domestic flight (Barisal [BZL] to Sylhet [ZYL]) on Day 4
  • Another domestic flight (Sylhet [ZYL] to Cox’s Bazar [CXB]) on Day 6

You can book your hotels in these places in this order (only 5 nights in hotels):

Night 1 : Dhaka Nights 3 & 4 : Swarupkathi Nights 5 & 6: Cox’s Bazar

Night 2 is spent on the overnight launch .

Flying into Bangladesh from abroad

Bangladesh has an incredible amount of international flight options – and to multiple cities within Bangladesh too!

You can fly into Dhaka (DAC), the capital, from basically all over the world: London , Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, Bangkok, Doha, Bahrain, Hanoi, Singapore, Delhi, Jeddah, and more .

This means you have tons of one-stop options from the US to Bangladesh and several nonstops from Europe. Pretty incredible. Get the best flight deals to Bangladesh here .

But you can also fly to Chittagong (CGP) and Sylhet (ZYL) from many cities – mostly in the UK and the Middle East. So that means you could start your trip in Dhaka and finish out of Chittagong or Sylhet for a more efficient, streamlined itinerary.

Are you wondering if Bangladeshi airlines are safe and good? Last month, I flew on Biman Bangladesh Airlines and really enjoyed the experience .

Day 1: Arrival into Bangladesh (Visa, SIM card, Formalities)

What you need to know for your first day in Bangladesh:

  • Arrival Procedure in Dhaka
  • How to Obtain a Visa on Arrival
  • Finding the Best Hotels in Dhaka

How to get a Visa on Arrival in Bangladesh

Travelers from many countries have the ability to obtain a visa on arrival in Bangladesh, which is fantastic.

It’s one of the easiest and cheapest VOAs I’ve gotten, especially in comparison to the experiences I had in countries like Senegal and Bolivia . Here’s how to obtain it:

  • Follow signs for Arrivals
  • Look for the Visa on Arrival area, to the right of the bottom of the escalator
  • Pay $51 or 50€ at the Sonali Bank counter for a receipt
  • Stand in the VOA line, which is right next to the bank
  • After obtaining a VOA, pass through immigrations
  • Claim your baggage then head through customs

Once you arrive at Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, you will follow signs for Arrivals. This leads you down an escalator. The Visa on Arrival area is immediately to the right after going down the escalator, and there is a sign indicating so.

Why you should bring cash

Once in the VOA area, the first step is to head to the Sonali Bank Limited, where you can pay $51 USD or 50 Euro per person for a 15-day visa. There was a card reader, but I believe only cash is accepted.

You can exchange cash here at the same rate as outside of immigrations, so we highly highly recommend you do so. The one ATM at the airport does not accept foreign cards.

You’ll receive a receipt for your payment, then stand in a separate line right next to the bank to receive the actual Visa in your passport in exchange for it.

They will ask questions like your purpose of travel, where you are staying, how long you are staying, etc.

Only once this is all done can you head to immigrations. There’s a “foreigners” line, and it’s typically very easy and quick. After this you’ll pass baggage reclaim, and then customs which is usually slow because you have to put your baggage through a scanner.

Buying a SIM card at Dhaka Airport (Cheap)

Upon exiting customs, there are several local SIM card providers and taxi stands. We were recommended Grameenphone (GP) by several locals, and it ended up working great. The Grameenphone SIM card with 30GB of data costs 750 Taka, approximately $7.

If you have T-Mobile or any other of the carriers that I recommend for traveling internationally , you have complimentary or very cheap high speed data in Bangladesh as well. T-Mobile gives you 5GB of unrestricted data, which is fantastic.

Getting to downtown Dhaka from the airport

We highly recommend booking a taxi here, even though it’s more expensive. We tried to take an Uber and failed , and the arrivals area is quite the cluster. Taxis will cost 1700 Taka ($15-20 USD) to downtown Dhaka from the airport, which can be paid by card. The great part is that they’ll guide you all the way to the taxi, so there’s no hassle.

If you’re more adventurous, you can negotiate with an unofficial taxi outside (somewhat risky) or even walk towards the highway and find a TukTuk that will take you downtown. These are much, much cheaper (about 500 Taka / $5 or less) to get downtown.

Best hotels in Dhaka

We found our stay at Hotel the Capital wonderful. For a very affordable rate, you get 4-star amenities, excellent service, breakfast, and a very central location for sightseeing. As we were on a budget, we found it perfectly reasonable.

Other notable hotels include:

  • The InterContinental Dhaka
  • RadissonBlu Dhaka Water Garden

Getting around Dhaka

Though there are taxis, we found the best way to get around Dhaka was to hail a TukTuk. The motorized versions are known as CNGs and these are typically the quickest way around town.

You can also ride in a rickshaw for a fully man-operated, thrilling experience. This is the cheapest option, and not as slow as you’d think. It’s probably the least safe, however.

Both options are very cheap – usually 200 Taka for 20 minutes of driving in a CNG and half for the rickshaw. You can negotiate, but we didn’t feel it was necessary.

The CNGs typically do have room for your carry-on luggage. My roomy pilot carry-on suitcase fit perfectly.

Day 2: Exploring Dhaka’s famous sights before a scenic night ferry (launch)

What you’ll need to know for day 2 of exploring Bangladesh:

  • The Top 10 Places to Visit in Dhaka
  • How to book a ferry boat (launch) to Swarupkathi or Barisal
  • Where the ferry terminal is and how to find your launch

There’s a wonderful loop around Dhaka you can take to best visit it’s top sights and learn about the history of Bangladesh.

It takes up most of the day, so make sure to start early – because the day will finish with an incredible ferry (launch) on the world’s largest river delta.

10 Places You Need to See in Dhaka

In consecutive order geographically, here are the top 10 sights you need to visit in Dhaka:

  • Baitul Mukarram National Mosque
  • ISKCON Swamibag Temple (Central)
  • Ahsan Manzil Museum
  • Tara Masjid
  • লালবাগ কেল্লা (Lalbagh Fort)
  • Dhakeshwari National Temple
  • Suhrawardy Udyan
  • The Museum of Independence
  • Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
  • The Kawran Bazaar

Visiting these top Dhaka sights in this order creates a very efficient loop, enabling you to visit all of them in a single day and still make it to the ferry in the evening.

If you have more time (perhaps arriving early on day one), you should definitely also check out:

  • The Liberation War Museum
  • Bangladesh Air Force Museum
  • The National Parliament

How to book a cabin on the night launch (ferry/cruise boat) from Dhaka to Barisal or Swarupkathi

Launches (ferries) are naturally the most popular way of traveling across Bangladesh. After all, it is the world’s largest river delta, with inlets and outlets enabling access almost anywhere in the country.

As such, spots on these ferries tend to fill up early, and it’s advisable to book ahead.

The best way to book a ferry ahead of time is through your hotel or by finding a local tour guide. Otherwise, it’s almost impossible to book from abroad, and booking once you arrive might be too late.

Almost all of the launches/ferries are night ferries and depart around 530-6PM daily. They feature cabins with beds, bathrooms, restaurants/snack bars, and more.

If you need contact details of a good tour guide, we recommend Ontu (WhatsApp: +880 1784-399339).

How to successfully ride a ferry/launch in Bangladesh

Because we managed to book this incredible AirBnB in Swarupkathi , we decided to take the direct night ferry to Swarupkathi instead of to the larger city of Barisal. That ferry was called Farahan 10 .

It’s a bit complicated to get on the ferry, which is why I’m mentioning it now.

Our ferry left from the Sadarghat Launch Terminal. Note that ‘ghat’ means “ stairs or a passage leading down to a river “, and there are many ‘ghat’s in Dhaka.

We rode in a CNG from The Capital Hotel to Sadarghat, which took 45 minutes in traffic and set us back 600 Taka ($6).

Once we arrived at the ferry terminal, we paid 10 Taka per person for entry at the entrance. You’ll go down a ramp, and this is where it gets confusing.

There are something like 50 ferry/launch boats here, making it difficult to find which one is yours. Luckily, there are plenty of English-speaking people to help you, assuming you know the name of your ferry boat/launch .

Once you’re onboard the launch, you’ll find employees that will lead you to your cabin. If you didn’t book a cabin, there are two levels you can sleep on – assuming you brought your own carpet/sleeping pad. If not, it’s gonna be a long night on the floor!

Make sure to let the workers know where you’re getting off so they come and wake you up about 20 minutes before arrival. Keep in mind the boat stops many times before you get there.

What our VIP Cabin Launch Experience was like in Bangladesh

Every launch to Barisal offers VIP cabins. These have excellent amenities – a private bathroom with shower, a working desk, security, and room service.

On my trip, I especially enjoyed the extra privacy, quiet, and serenity the VIP cabin offers. The bed is comfortable, the shower (though cool) has excellent pressure, and having your own bathroom is such an improvement in quality of life.

VIP Cabins on launches are typically much more expensive than normal cabins or no cabin (just floor room). Ours was 4000 Taka, about $40USD, for the VIP cabin. Worth it? 100% – if just for the ability to sleep a nearly full night.

For dinner, our server brought us a table for the room. We had delicious fish with vegetables and rice. The ride was peaceful, smooth, and the dull engine sound lulled us right to sleep. No waves on the river delta, and the piloting is even smoother than mine !

We arrived right at sunrise, for an absolutely epic view on our home for the following day.

Day 3: Exploring off the beaten path in Bangladesh

Sure, you can say that being a tourist in Bangladesh already is being off the beaten path .

But what if I told you that you could be even more off the beaten path from that off-the-beaten path?

Welcome to Swarupkathi . Here’s what you’ll need to know for day 3 of this epic Bangaldeshi itinerary:

  • How to book the most epic accommodation in all of Bangladesh
  • The awesome, authentic local tours you’ll want to do in Swarupkathi
  • How to visit the Sundarbans: home of the Bengal Tiger

The Most Epic AirBnB in Bangladesh – surprisingly off the beaten path

When my partner announced to me that she discovered an incredible AirBnB deep in the Bangladeshi jungle, I was a bit surprised. Hear me out – it’s tough enough finding hotels in medium-sized cities in Bangladesh, let alone an AirBnB. So naturally, I had reservations (pun intended).

As soon as we booked it, we were in direct, constant communication with our lovely host, Ish. Ish is originally from Swarupkathi but now lives in Britain. As such, he has the best local knowledge and perfect English. And when I say he helped us arrange everything , I mean it.

From booking the night ferry for us to setting up transportation to and from the AirBnB, Ish made our stay in Swarupkathi flawless from beginning to end. We even got to go on a canoe ride, visit a Spirulina farm, and meet local woodcrafters. It was the most authentic Bangladeshi experience we had the whole trip.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to check in immediately and take a nap if you need after the launch!

Incredible local tours from Swarupkathi

Ish can arrange several awesome local tours that will have you mesmerized by the Bangladeshi country side. These awesome tours include:

  • A canoe/motorboat tour through the endless canals of Swarupkathi, including a visit to a local park and market
  • An in-depth tour of a spirulina farm : learn how it’s grown and processed super carefully, and how this business has truly emerged in the last few years
  • Local mosque visits, where you can learn more about the local culture and traditions
  • Visit to a woodcrafts shop , where you can see how incredible furniture is made from beginning to end – and buy some for a bargain compared to what you would pay at home

If you’re here during watermelon season (summer), you may get lucky and see a floating watermelon market . These are one of the coolest things in Bangladesh! (Both the market and the watermelons 😉 )

Bonus: stay an extra day or two and explore the Sundarbans (Bengal Tigers live here!)

It is also possible to visit the Sundarbans , possibly the highlight of National Parks in Bangladesh. Here is the place to see the elusive Bengal Tiger – if you’re lucky! They are terribly hard to spot.

That being said, there are so many amazing experiences you can have here, whether it’s exploring by little canoe boat or going for a hike in the jungle.

Ish can help arrange transport to the town of Mongla or Khulna, about 3.5 hours away. Most hotels are located in Khulna and you can find tours departing from there as well.

From Khulna, you can rejoin the original itinerary by flying from Jashore airport or taking another overnight launch back to Dhaka then a morning train, bus, or flight to Sylhet.

Alternately, it is possible to make it to the Sundarbans by bus or launch directly from Dhaka, or by flight from Dhaka to Jashore then a bus or private transfer. In this case, you could visit the Sundarbans instead of Swarupkathi – but then you’ll miss out on the awesome local experience there!

Day 4: Spilling the tea about Sylhet

After freshly prepared breakfast in Swarupkathi, it’s time to make your way to Barisal Airport for a new adventure.

On the way, make sure to visit the fabulous Baitul Aman Jame Masjid , an incredibly decorated mosque alongside wonderful lush gardens and a small lake.

Further down the road is the Durga Sargar , a protected wildlife area with a beautiful lake. You can walk, kayak, and explore. I recommend at least an hour here.

Flight Options to Sylhet

Though you could take another overnight ferry to Dhaka, a bus, a train, or a combination, flying is definitely most convenient for this journey.

Flight costs in Bangladesh vary from $25 to as much $60 each leg, like my business class flight I booked on Biman Airines .

To get to Sylhet, you’ll need to take a connecting flight via Dhaka. Though I do recommend Biman Airlines, US-Bangla is a good alternative. If you’re savvy and don’t have any checked in luggage, you could craft a custom itinerary using a mix of both, as well as NovoAir (which offers even cheaper flights in Bangladesh).

The Best Hotel in Sylhet

Once in Sylhet, you can easily find a CNG or taxi to take you to the hotel. Sylhet actually offers a decent selection of hotels, but we particularly enjoyed the Hotel Noorjahan Grand, Sylhet .

As the hotel in Sylhet with not just the largest rooftop pool – an infinity one at that – and an incredible rooftop restaurant, the Noorjahan Grand was an easy choice for a hotel.

Rooms were very affordable (under $50/night), service was generally excellent, and the breakfast buffet was stupendous.

How to visit the best tea plantation in Sylhet

If you open up Google Maps, you’ll immediately notice a seemingly infinite number of tea plantations in the area. If you’re a tea lover, this is heaven.

I can’t really say if there is a ‘best’ Tea plantation here. We accidentally went to মালনীছড়া চা বাগান (look up Tourist Tea Stall) instead of the Lakkatura Tea Plantation , as we couldn’t communicate with our TukTuk driver. Quite hilarious.

Entrance was something like 150 Taka per person including a guide to explain things, and as you can see, it was perfect for sunset. The Tourist tea stall ended up offering some of the best tea I’ve ever had, and for only 10 Taka ($0.10!!!)

We enjoyed this experience far better than we would have at a more tourist-laden tea garden.

Day 5: How to visit the best waterfalls in Bangladesh in one day

You won’t believe your eyes when you see this waterfall in Bangladesh.

As you begin your drive towards the north, you’ll pass endless tea plantations, see the hazy skies start to give way to clear blue, and the hilly lands become green. It’s a wonderful feeling.

When you arrive, you’ll be flabbergasted by the beauty that exists right on the border with India. Some of the most epic sights and waterfalls in Bangladesh include:

  • Bisanakandi
  • Panthumai Waterfall
  • Mayabi Waterfall

To visit either Mayabi or Panthumai waterfalls, you can start by hiring a driver or finding a microbus to Gowainghat . Both waterfalls are close to each other, but the routes from here split in different ways.

Note that summertime/monsoon season is by far the best time to visit these waterfalls.

Everything you need to know about visiting the Mayabi Waterfall

The Mayabi, or locally known as the Songrampunji Waterfall, is an incredible local attraction only 20 minutes from Jaflong. It’s more of a cascade than a waterfall, but giant boulders and multiple streams and natural baths make it the perfect place to visit during the rainy season.

It is possible to take a local micro-bus to Gowainghat/Halderpar, a CNG or boat to Jaflong , and then hire a dinghy from there to Mayabi waterfall.

But to make it possible to visit multiple of the best waterfalls and attractions of the north of Bangladesh in one day with ample time, we recommend hiring a driver from Sylhet and leaving very early. You may also be able to rent a car yourself.

If you do choose to use public transportation, these are the approximate costs from Sylhet to the Mayabi / Songrampunji Waterfall:

  • Bus from Sylhet to Gowainghat: 80-100 Taka
  • CNG from Gowainghat to Jaflong: 1500-2000 Taka
  • Dinghy from Jaflong to Mayabi Waterfall: 100-200 Taka (or there’s a ferry for 20 Taka)

In any case, you’ll still need to take a dinghy/boat from Jaflong to see and swim in the Mayabi waterfall.

Everything you need to know about visiting the Panthumai Waterfall

Known locally as Fatachhari Jharna , the Panthumai waterfall thunders in a gorgeous, green, serene corner of this amazing country. Though the waterfall technically is in India, it’s best viewed from the Bangladeshi side.

The village itself, pronounced ‘Pangthumai’, is one of the most beautiful villages in all of Bangladesh. Even without the waterfall, it would be worth visiting – but the waterfall is icing on the cake.

From Jaflong to Panthumai takes about an hour by CNG, and only about 30 minutes from Gowainghat, so it is possible to see both Panthumai and Mayabi waterfalls in one day.

Once in the village of Pangthumai, you can hire a dinghy for about a hundred taka and get up close and personal with this multi-hundred foot beast, or just enjoy it from the river banks. Or for an even more unique experience, keep reading.

A unique, amazing, and authentic river experience: riding a dinghy along the river Piyain down to Bisanakandi

For the ultimate fun experience from here, hire a boat/dinghy near Panthumai waterfall (maybe the same one you took here!) and ride along the branch of the Piyain river towards Bisankandi. The boat ride floats along this magnificent river downstream of the majestic and huge waterfall.

Bisanakandi is a serene, peaceful town on the border with India. It’s a gorgeous land of mountains, gardens, and tea. It’s recommended to visit Bisanakandi in the summer when the fields are flooded to see it in its true beauty.

One thing to note is there isn’t much food here, so pack correspondingly (or eat lunch while in Pangthumai). Have your driver meet you there to continue the rest of the voyage, or hire a CNG and head back to Gowainghat.

Lala Khal: a hidden gem in Bangladesh

Visiting both the Panthumai and Mayabi waterfalls will consume most of your day, but if you have extra time and energy, it’s worth heading to Lala Khal for the true Bangladeshi experience. There are wonderful hotels and homestays in the area that local tourists love to frequent here.

Surrounded by hills, tea gardens, natural forests, and rivers, Lala Khal is truly a hidden gem. This channel itself magically consists of aquamarine water, and the nearby Lalakhal Tea Garden is actually the oldest and one of the most beautiful tea gardens in Bangladesh.

As opposed to the Panthyumai and Mayabi waterfalls that are best seen in the summer, Lala Khal is actually best to visit in the winter. So if you’re here outside of monsoon season, you could consider skipping those and heading straight to Lala Khal.

It is possible to spend the night in Lala Khal to continue this off-the-beaten path, incredible Bangladeshi experience. There are awesome homestays all around.

Day 6: Witnessing the diversity of natural beauty in Bangladesh by visiting insanely beautiful beaches

Perhaps (and for good reason) the most touristic place in Bangladesh, Cox’s Bazar offers ridiculously long, beautiful beaches, a fascinating historical monastery, waterfalls, sea turtles, rainforests, and so much more.

This is a fantastic way to see just how much diversity Bangladesh has to offer.

Flying from Sylhet to Cox’s Bazar

Biman Bangladesh Airlines offers direct flights from Sylhet to Cox’s Bazar 3 times a week – usually Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On other days, you can easily find connecting flights.

If you decided to stay the night near Lala Khal, it’s still possible to leave very early today, hire a driver, and make it in time for the direct fly from Sylhet to Cox’s Bazar. The flight leaves at 950AM, and security/checkin hardly takes long at Osmani International Airport.

What to see in Cox’s Bazar

First and foremost, the main attraction in Cox’s Bazar is often termed the “ longest natural unbroken sea beach ” in the world – with a length of 155 km (96 mi).

That’s a pretty cool way to start.

After that, there’s the 100 Feet Lying Statue of Gautama Buddha. Pretty cool for instagram.

Then there are two islands: Sonadia and St Martin , both places you can frequent green sea turtles (and 4 other species!) nesting, hatching, and swimming during different parts of the year. You can find tours here .

At St Martin Island, the green sea turtles are usually spotted during winter. Whereas at Sonadia Island, you can usually spot them during September-October. 

Lastly, the Himchari National Park offers “55 species of mammals, 13 species of amphibians, 56 species of reptiles, 117 species of plants, and 286 species of different kinds of birds”, and a waterfall (according to the Bangladeshi government ).

Optional Extra 2-3 Day Ultimate Deep Bangladesh Exploration Trip: Rainforest & Huge Waterfall + Tribal Experience

There’s an epic, truly off-the-beaten-path experience you can do from either Cox’s Bazar. It involves trekking, boating across rough waters, staying in a tribal home, and a deep-jungle massive waterfall. Basically, it goes:

  • Take a bus from Cox’s Bazar to Bandarban
  • Ride a jeep (public or private) from Bandarban to Thanchi Upazilla
  • Hire a tour guide (mandatory – national park) and take a 4 hour rough boat ride to Remakri
  • Stay in a tribal house at Remakri
  • Wake up at 5AM for a 2.5 hour hike to Nafakhum
  • Enjoy the absolutely magnificent Amiakhum Waterfall
  • Head all the way back in one day.

You can find all the pertinent information here .

If you complete this expedition, do it after visiting Cox’s Bazar so you can head directly to Chattogram to finish the trip.

Best Hotels in Cox’s Bazar

Taking the top spot for best hotel in Cox’s Bazar is by far the Sayeman Beach Resort .

This 4-star hotel has an incredible location on the longest natural beach in the world, awesome service and amenities, and a great restaurant.

If you’re looking for a comparable but more affordable hotel in Cox’s Bazar, check out the Long Beach Hotel .

Day 7: Chattogram, Textiles, Shipwrecks, and Flying Home

Chattogram (also known as Chittagong) is a wonderful place to end an amazing adventure exploring the true hidden gem of Bangladesh. Just like in Dhaka, there’s a ton of history and heritage dating back to the Mughal era.

If your flight leaves early on Day 7, I’d consider making your way to Chattogram by private transfer from Cox’s Bazar either late the previous night or early in the morning. Cox’s Bazar offers much more to see for tourists than Chattogram/Chittagong.

Alternately, if your flight home leaves from Dhaka, you can elect to take a direct flight back to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar. These are plentiful. There are also buses, but these take about 12 hours.

Getting from Cox’s Bazar to Chattogram/Chittagong

There are tons of buses available from Cox’s Bazar to Chittagong, most of which take about 5 hours . Prices vary from 300 to 2200 Taka depending on quality of the bus and seats, air conditioning, and class.

You can also arrange private transfer, but this will likely cost upwards of 10000 Taka.

What to see in Chittagong

Nestled along the beautiful Karnaphuli river, Chittagong is a massive historical shipping port dating back even to the Greek era. There’s a ton of history and nature to visit here before catching your flight, if you have time. These include:

  • The Chittagong War Cemetery
  • An Ethnological Museum, the only in Bangladesh
  • The Zia Memorial Museum, highlighting the history of assassinated President Ziaur Rahman
  • An incredibly beautiful, colorful mosque – Chandanpura Masjid
  • Andarkilla Shahi Jame Masjid, a Mughal-era mosque with a library
  • Foy’s Lake, which is gorgeous
  • A massive shipwreck beach outside the city

If you plan to stay in Chittagong a couple days, you could also visit:

  • The beautiful Khoiyachara Waterfall
  • Chimbuk Hill and its incredible hiking paths
  • The town of Rangamati, nestled on Lake Kaptai, a swimmable, massive, gorgeous lake with tons of attractions
  • Shuvolong Waterfalls, only a boat ride away from Rangmati
  • The Sangu River, where you can have an amazing time rafting

Conclusion: Bangladesh is the ultimate surprise of a hidden gem

It’s a true pity that Bangladesh is one of the least-visited countries for tourists in the world. It deserves far more.

You can get around the country quite easily and efficiently.

There are so many wonders and beautiful sights. Waterfalls, rivers, mosques, jungles, tea plantations, markets, beaches, friendly locals. It checks all the boxes.

And last but not least, it’s an inexpensive place to visit, which means you can have an epic vacation without breaking the bank.

Bangladesh truly is an extraordinary place to spend at least one week exploring.

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I am an affiliate with several companies linked in this article, and as a result may receive a commission for transactions. This is how I keep the website running – so I can make your travel experience a little bit better. Thanks for reading!

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Away With The Steiners

Travel In Bangladesh: A Complete Travel Guide For Bangladesh.

  • By Sarah Steiner
  • Updated On April 20, 2024

Bangladeshi care and hospitality is outstanding. At the time of writing this we haven’t even left Bangladesh and already I am feeling a pang of sadness knowing we will move on soon. If you are thinking about travel in Bangladesh and wondering whether to take the leap and book that trip or not…

Book it now.

Travel in Bangladesh is unique.  It’s not easy nor a mainstream destination to travel.  But if getting off the beaten track is the kind of travel you like, that is exactly what makes Bangladesh so special. 

Here is our complete travel guide for Bangladesh including all of the details of where we stayed in each city, how to get around Bangladesh, how to (and whether to) travel in Bangladesh with kids and a whole bunch of other tips to make your Bangladesh adventure as smooth as possible… 

  • About Bangladesh
  • Need-to-know history
  • Best time to visit
  • Visas  
  • Money and ATM’s
  • Our itinerary in Bangladesh
  • Places to see – Dhaka – Barisal – Bagerhat – Mongla – Sreemangal – Sylhet – Cox’s Bazar – Chittagong – Ekduaria Village
  • Travel in Bangladesh with kids
  • Health and safety
  • What to wear  
  • Transportation

Connectivity and WIFI

  • SIM cards  
  • Accommodation options
  • Where we stayed
  • Tour or independent travel?

About Bangladesh; first just quickly

  • Full name:  People’s Republic of Bangladesh
  • Capital:  Dhaka
  • Language:  Bengali (Bangla) 
  • Main Religion:  Islam
  • Currency:  Bangladeshi Taka (code: BDT; symbol: Tk)
  • Population:  167,000,000
  • Time Zone:  National Standard Time (UTC+6)
  • Calling Code:  +880
  • Drives On:  Left
  • Credit Cards:  Visa/MC/AmEx accepted
  • Emergency Number:  Ambulance/Police 999
  • Outlets:   Plug Type C, D, G and K (220 V / 50 Hz)

How to travel in Bangladesh travel guide.

And a little bit of history about Bangladesh 

On our first day out in Dhaka we learnt some very interesting history about Bangladesh.  

Our guide told us that his grandfather was born in India; his father was born in Pakistan; and he was born in Bangladesh.  But they were all born  in the same village …

Until 1947, Bangladesh was part of India.  The region that is now marked out as the country of Bangladesh was known as ‘East Bengal’. 

In 1947 India gained independence from British colonial rule and the sub-continent was partitioned into India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.  The partition led to the largest migration crisis in history with over 14 million people becoming refugees.  Many Hindu families moved from Pakistan to India and Muslims from India to Pakistan. 

Bangladesh was known at this time as ‘East Pakistan’ and was governed from Islamabad (in ‘West Pakistan’) – something that was unpopular with many Bangladeshis and ultimately spurred the struggle for Bengali rights. 

In 1971 Bangladesh (with the support of India) fought Pakistan for independence in what was known as the Bangladesh Liberation War and became the independent country that is Bangladesh today. 

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

Best time to visit Bangladesh

The best time visit Bangladesh is during the ‘cool season’ (effectively considered winter in Bangladesh) from November to February.  Days are warm averaging a comfortable 25°C and nights are cooler. 

From March onwards the days get rapidly hotter and monsoon generally arrives sometime in June.  

But hey; we ignored the suggested best time to visit Bangladesh and travelled for a month during May with a few (welcomed) afternoon rain showers and otherwise great (hot) weather. 

Bangladesh requires all foreigners to obtain permission, specifically a visa, to enter its territory unless exempted.  Visas for Bangladesh are issued by Bangladesh diplomatic missions located throughout the world.  Or, if application, on arrival in Bangladesh.

The following countries are specifically listed as countries whose citizens may obtain Bangladesh visa on arrival for the purpose of tourism:

  • All European Union member states, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, China, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Oman Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States. 

In addition, citizens of the following countries are known to require a visa:

  • Algeria, Belize, Brazil, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Macao, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.  

The Visa On Arrival fee must be paid only in cash in US dollars or Euros when entering Bangladesh.   And the cost per person is $51 USD or €51 EUR, with all taxes included. 

Standard tourism visas (and VOAs) are single-entry for 30 days.   

However it can be extended for an additional 30 days. Applicants can apply for the extension of the Visa On Arrival up to a week before visa expiry but not sooner. Visa extensions are available at the Department of Immigration and Passports located in Shere-E-Bangla Nagar, West Agargaon, Dhaka City.

  • Check: Definitely do your research and make sure you confirm your visa eligibility for travel to Bangladesh with plenty of time before you fly.  

Kawran Bazar, Bangladesh is worth traveling to in Bangladesh.

Currency and cash in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) is the currency of Bangladesh.  

There are banknotes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 BDT (although 2 and 5 taka notes are rare).   

At the time we travelled (May 2022) these are the exchange rates for Bangladesh:

  • 100 BDT = 1.16 USD
  • 1000 BDT = 11.59 USD
  • 10000 BDT = 115.88 USD

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh. Money and currency ATMs.

ATM’s and money

All ATMs we tried offer an English menu.  And more than that, in the big cities they also offer a few minutes of peace (and air conditioning) inside away from the bustle and chaos… 

These bank ATM’s accept international cards: 

  • AB Bank Limited
  • Dutch-Bangla Bank
  • Premiere Bank 
  • One Bank 

And note the ATM’s were not working at the arrivals hall of the airport when we landed in Dhaka.  (None of them!).  We exchanged some USD to purchase a SIM card and found an ATM close to our hotel the next day. 

ATM's in Bangladesh. Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

Language for travel in Bangladesh

Bengali (or Bangla )  is the official language in Bangladesh and is the 8 th  most-spoken language in the world.

Globally there are over 230,000,000 speakers of Bengali.  

English is not widely spoken in Bangladesh.  And even train and ticket numbers are commonly written in Bangla.  Outside of the cities it can be tricky to find someone to translate.  But those who can speak English (even if it’s patchy) always come forward to help. 

Bangladeshis are hospitable and will try their best to help regardless of barriers to verbally communicate.  

The most common greeting you will hear is the traditional Islamic greeting ‘ Asalaam Aleikum’ .  Hindus use the Bengali greeting ‘Nomoshkar’.  And admittedly it can be tricky to distinguish religion at first glance (not all Muslim women cover their hair, and some Hindu women do). But play it safe with a smile and you will be happily received.  

Useful Bangla words to learn

  • Hello:  Assalamu alaikum/Nomoshkar
  • How are you?  Kemon achen? Kemon acho? 
  • I am well:  Ami bhalo achi 
  • What is your name?  Apnar naam kee? 
  • Which country?  Kona desa ( desh )
  • Thank you:  Dhonnobad
  • Thanks a lot:  Onek dhonnobad
  • Yes:  Hae
  • No:  Na
  • Water:  Pani
  • Good morning:  Shubho shokal
  • Goodbye:  Khuda hafez / Allah hafez 

The phrase you will get most used to hearing is ‘ Kona desh?’.    Which country?   ‘Desh’ means land/country (as in, Bangla desh ).  And trust me; you will quickly begin to pick up on people asking you that…

Once you tune in you will hear that phrase  more than any other Bangla words around you.   (Tourists are not common – not in the city; not anywhere really – and everyone wants to know where you are from).

Men commonly shake hands and further respect is expressed with a hand over heart.  [Note though that women and men rarely shake hands with one another so don’t extend a handshake first as a traveling female]. 

And a further note without regard to the upcoming challenge of language barriers…  More so be prepared and ready for the stares/ staring /stares and selfie requests… 

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh. Visit Cox Bazar.

Our itinerary for travel in Bangladesh

Contemplating an itinerary for travel in Bangladesh is like opening a can of worms.  The direction you can take in this country are endless.  But the tricky thing is that many routes around Bangladesh end up stopping back in at Dhaka.  (I told you Dhaka is ceremoniously like the beating heart of this incredible country). 

Here’s our slightly jumbled but brilliant itinerary for Bangladesh. 

  • Dhaka  > launch >  Barisal 
  • Barisal  > minivan  >  Mongla
  • Mongla  > minivan  >  Morrelgonj
  • Morrelgonj  > launch >  Dhaka
  • Dhaka  > train >  Sreemangal
  • Sreemangal  > train >  Sylhet
  • Sylhet  > flight >  Cox Bazaar
  • Cox Bazaar  > bus >  Chittagong
  • Chittagong  > train >  Dhaka 
  • Dhaka  > minivan >  Ekduaria
  • Ekduaria  > minivan >  Dhaka 

Where to go in Bangladesh (the places we reckon you  need  to see) 

Now for the most important part of this travel guide for Bangladesh.  

This is the best part. 

Geographically Bangladesh is a large country and distances between cities are great.  We spent one month travelling in Bangladesh and the following are the highlights that we found (and would recommend you see too). 

Dhaka (the capital city)

Dhaka is the beating heart of Bangladesh.  It is as if the waterways of Bangladesh stem out from Dhaka like the veins taking life to the far reaches of the country…

And I’m not going to lie. 

Dhaka is not for the faint hearted. 

But it is incredible. 

Our itinerary around Bangladesh with kids saw us stop and stay  four times in Dhaka .  (I told you it was jumbled!).  But we used the bustling capital city as our base to explore different directions of the country…

Things to do in Dhaka

  • Visit Old Dhaka:  The heart of the city and what was once was the 17 th  century Mughal capital of Bengal.
  • Go shopping at New Market:  The place I recommend to purchase a salwar kameez/panjabi to wear.
  • Lalbagh Fort:  A beautiful and historic (unfinished) fort from the Mughal era. 
  • Ashan Manzil:  Designated as a national museum and known as the Pink Palace this was once the residence of the Nawabs of Dhaka. 
  • Shadeed Minar:  Martyr’s Monument built to honour those who lost their lives in 1952 during the Bengali Language Movement. 
  • Tara Masjid Mosque:  Small but beautiful mosque renowned for the striking blue stars made of mosaic. 
  • See the Armenian Church:  Built by the Armenian community that was present in Bangladesh in the 1700s and 1800s(!).  

Lalbagh Fort, Dhaka is a good place to start for travel in Bangladesh.

Transportation from Dhaka

  • Train to Sreemangal: 6 hours
  • Train to Khulna: 9 hours
  • Train to Chittagong: 8 hours
  • Bus to Sreemangal: 6 hours
  • Bus to Chittagong: 10 hours
  • Launch ferry to Barisal: Overnight 

Sreemangal – Travel in Bangladesh

A small(er) town north of Dhaka that is easy to reach by train from the city.  The highlight of Sreemangal is definitely the renowned 7 and 8-layered tea…

Things to do in Sreemangal

  • Drink layered tea:  A must-do in Sreemangal.  Get a rickshaw to the nearby Adi Nilkantha Tea Cabin and meet Mr. Gour who invented this colorful layered style of tea. 
  • Visit a school:  It’s easier to meet people in a smaller town and Sreemangal has plenty of schools (that will likely invite you in as you walk past).  
  • Dine at the London Restaurant:  We determined this another icon of Sreemangal and enjoyed tandoori chicken, naan and salad at this busy restaurant. 

Colourful 8-layered tea in Sreemangal, Bangladesh. How to visit Bangladesh.

Sylhet 

This city and the surrounding division is famous for TEA.  Over 90% of Bangladesh’s tea is produced in Sylhet.  

Sylhet city is 250km northeast of Dhaka and is the north-eastern division in Bangladesh.  (And interestingly when looking at it on a map it is almost entirely surrounded by India with border on the north, south and east of Sylhet division).  

Things to do in Sylhet

  • Tea plantations:  This is what Sylhet is famous for. Hire a driver and head just out of the city to Malnicherra Tea Estate.
  • Ali Amjad’s Clock Tower:  If you arrive by train you might catch a glimpse of this iconic clock as you cross the river from the station.  
  • Hazarat Shahjalal Mazar Sharif:  Beautiful shrine attracting thousands of people from different parts of the country, irrespective of religion and caste, every day.
  • Keane Bridge:  Built in 1936 this bridge is called the gateway to Sylhet city.  

Hazarat Shahjalal Mazar Sharif in Sylhet is worth visiting during your travel in Bangladesh.

Transportation from Sylhet

  • Train to Dhaka: 7 hours
  • Train to Sreemangal: 2.5 hours
  • Flight to Dhaka: 35 mins 
  • Bus to Dhaka: 8+ hours

Barisal is one of the major rice production centres of Bangladesh known for the production of Balam rice (and for its fish export – one of the main sights to see is the fish market).  But Barisal is also well known now for it’s unique floating vegetable and timber markets…

Things to do in Barisal

  • Fish market:  This is a bustling highlight of Barisal and not to be missed (if you don’t mind the bustle and/or the fish market smell!). 
  • Floating vegetable market:  As far as tourism-draws in Bangladesh this is a big one and a beautiful morning out seeing an entirely different way of living. 
  • Floating timber market:  Not far from Baitha Katha vegetable markets and stretches for kilometres. 
  • Korapur Miah Bari Mosque:  Three-domed mosque thought to have been built in the late 18 th  century. 

Transportation from Barisal

  • Launch ferry to Dhaka: Overnight
  • Taxi to Bagerhat: 3 hours
  • Taxi to Mongla: 4 hours
  • Bus to Khulna: 5-6 hours 

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh. How to get to Barisal.

Khulna and Bargerhat

The city of Khulna on the west of Bangladesh is essentially a gateway city to the Sundarbans and the small mosque-filled city of Bagerhat.  

Things to do in Khulna

  • Take a ferry over the river:  Like most of Bangladesh seeing the cities by river adds a different perspective (and is a cheap alternative).
  • Visit the UNESCO 60-Domed Mosque:  The largest mosque in Bangladesh remaining from the sultanate period. 
  • See the mausoleum of Khan Jahan Ali:  An interesting smaller site with a significant religious influence in Bangladeshi history.   

The centuries-old mausoleum of Khan Jahan Ali in Bagerhat. How to get to Sreemangal and how to get to Sylhet Bangladesh.

Transportation from Bagerhat

  • Taxi to Barisal: 3 hours
  • Bus to Khulna: 1 hour
  • Taxi to Mongla: 1.5 hours

Transportation from Khulna

  • Bus to Bagerhat: 1 hour
  • Train to Dhaka: 9 hours 
  • Bus to Dhaka: 7 hours
  • Bus to Mongla: 2 hours

Mongla and Sundarbans

Sundarbans is the world’s largest mangrove forest that spans Bangladesh and the south of West Bengal in India. 

Things to do in Mongla

  • Sundarbans river cruise:  Take a boat up the rivers and canals of the largest mangrove forest in the world.   
  • Harbaria Eco Park:  Walk the boardwalk through the mangroves and feed deer at the animal conservation and breeding centre on the main island.  
  • Mongla village day tour:  Another highlight of Mongla was the chance to see smaller villages within the district (and especially by 3-wheel electric rickshaw). 

Watching out for Bengal Tigers while walking in the Sundarbans. A beautiful place to visit during your travel in Bangladesh.

Cox’s Bazar

Cox’s Bazar is the home of the longest natural sea beach in the world.  And it’s a beautiful spot to see in the late afternoon golden hour as the sun sets over the Bay of Bengal. 

Things to do in Cox’s Bazar

  • Cox’s Bazar Beach:  Join the crowds and marvel at the beautiful sunset (and eat some candy floss) on the longest beach in the world. 
  • Himchori Waterfall:  A shallow but beautiful waterfall located in the National Park not far from main beach in Cox’s Bazar. 
  • Inani Beach:  Part of Cox’s Bazar beach, Inani has unique black and coral stones cover the shore line during the rainy and summer seasons. 
  • Star Kabab:  We’ve added this as a must-eat in Cox’s Bazar… Highly recommend for a tasty (and friendly) dinner. 

How to get to Cox Bazar and travel guide to Bangladesh.

Transportation from Cox’s Bazar

  • Bus to Chittagong: 5 hours
  • Flight to Dhaka: 50 mins

Chittagong is a large port city on the south-eastern coast of Bangladesh and is second-largest city in the country.  It is another very busy city and like Dhaka, the streets are filled with masses of cycle and auto-rickshaws.  There isn’t much in the way of tourists sights to see but Chittagong is a useful gateway to the Hill Tracts area or south to Cox’s Bazar. 

And for us, Chittagong was a bit more special as we celebrated my birthday.  (I had never previously imagined my birthday at an amusement park in Chittagong but there we were!). 

Things to do in Chittagong

  • Shishu Amusement Park:  Located in the heart of the city this is a small (and old) amusement park for children with around 15 simple rides. 
  • Take a boat ride from Saderghat:  Similarly to Dhaka it’s easy to get a cheap wooden boat across the river and beautiful to see at sunset. 
  • Visit the ship breaking yards:  Not easy to do – after child labour was exposed at the yards – rather it’s easier to see the ship yards from a distance by boat. 
  • Get ice cream sundaes : Not technically a sight of Chittagong but one we have to share. Sub Zero is near opposite Shishu Park and does a great oreo sundae… 

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

Ekduaria Village

It’s hard to decide, but for us the opportunity to stay in and be part of a small village in rural Bangladesh is perhaps the most memorable week of our trip.  

The cities are bustling and the towns have a lot going on.  But seeing day to day life in a rural village is the kind of travel you can’t imagine until you get there. 

I am going to dedicate an entire blog (or two, or more) to sharing our experience in Ekduaria Village, but for now here are some of the highlights… 

What to see in Bangladesh? Looking for a local experience in Bangladesh village?

Things to do in Ekduaria Village

  • Milk a cow:  Meet the local farmers and collect milk for breakfast (walk back through the village with your tin of fresh, warm milk). 
  • Harvest vegetables:  From the backyard garden and collect pumpkins, squash and okra from the farm 
  • Drink tea with locals:  At the market chai stand or in people’s homes (this is Bangladeshi hospitality).
  • Wander the small streets:  And talk to people along the way (don’t worry about the language barrier; there’s much to talk about even without words). 
  • Go and watch a soccer game:  The local high school field is the place to be for an energetic inter-village match
  • Cook in a mud-kitchen:  Learn how to make paratha, curry, rice-pancakes and much more. 
  • Offer to help:  Go and help the farmers with some of their daily chores (they will laugh but you will love it!).  

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

As we awaited the return of confirmed travel visas for Bangladesh we let slip to a few of our close friends that we were planning a trip to Bangladesh – with kids.  

After the initial eye-bulging return stare of said friends and family, the first question was always of safety.  Is Bangladesh safe?!  

Now, having been and travelled Bangladesh – and  survived  thrived – our summary is not of safety concerns… But those of health. 

There’s no two ways about it.  Health and hygiene are legitimate concerns for travel in Bangladesh.  

Dhaka is one of the most polluted (and obviously the most populous) cities in the world.  And hygiene standards are low. 

Like low, low.  Really low. 

There is only so much you can do as prevention in these circumstances.  

  • Carry a basic-but-sensibly-stocked  medical kit . You can read details of everything we carry in our medical kit here.  Rehydration sachets are (reflectively)  recommended  essential in Bangladesh… 
  • Always  wash your hands before and after eating  (and/or carry hand sanitiser).  Bangladeshi custom is to eat with your hands so this is even more important. 
  • Drink bottled water .  As above, it’s contradictory to all that we try to uphold in sustainable travel but worth it to be safe and  prevent all  prevent diahhroea where possible.  
  • Avoid  ice, salads and fruit washed in water .  You don’t know where the water came from (and it’s likely not filtered). 
  • Avoid  mosquito bites .  Especially in the golden hour of sunset, wear long trousers and use mosquito repellent. And if available/offered, sleep under a mosquito net.  

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

Food in Bangladesh 

Bangladesh is a land of rice.  

And I would say also a land of BBQ meat, bhaji, jackfruit and flatbreads.  

But the most exciting part about food in Bangladesh? Bangladeshis use their hands to eat.  

It is definitely something of a practised art form to eat entirely sans cutlery.  But a few days into it you will find yourself ignoring the especially sought out fork and joining the local way. 

The right hand is used to scoop food into your mouth and it is considered bad etiquette to eat with your left hand.  Rather, the left hand should be used to hold the plate or assist with serving.  

Every eatery no matter how big or small will have a ‘wash room’ or handwashing station.  (Albeit you may need to scoop the water from a bucket).  But get into it and give it a go.  There is a whole list of delicious tastes and dishes that await you! 

  • Biryani:  Rice and marinated meat cooked in lots of spices
  • Kabab:  BBQ chicken roasted to perfection 
  • Bhaji:  Roasted vegetables in a light curry flavour (served at any time of day)
  • Kichuri:  Rice and lentils seasoned with turmeric and ghee
  • Morog Polao  (chicken Pilaf): Rice cooked with stock (= amazing!)
  • Haleem:  Spicy lentil soup
  • Shingara : AKA  samosa  (pastry filled with spiced potatoes, onions, peas)
  • Parata:  Bengali wheat-flour flatbread often served at breakfast
  • Luchi:  Deep-fried flatbread with the perfect puff! 
  • Mishti  (sweet): Dahl dessert made with milk and sugar
  • Borhani:  Thick, frothy yoghurt-like drink
  • Jilapi/Jalebi:  Deep-fried, sweet snack (crystalised sugar) 

Wondering what food to eat while traveling in Bangladesh? Here we are eating Mishti in a small village in Mongla.

Food in Bangladesh with kids

  • Chai:  Always sweet and pretty standard in taste 
  • BBQ Chicken:  Our kids loved the chicken kabab and BBQ chicken in Bangladesh! 
  • Dal:  Lentil, peas and beans made into a thick stew. (Sounds unappetising but an easy meal to eat with rice).  And it’s gentle on small tummies. 
  • Biryani:  This well-known rice dish is always fairly standard
  • Paratha:  Flat bread that has been deep fried (say no more)
  • Naan:  Always reliable as a simple meal base
  • Sweet lassi:  Traditional yoghurt-based drink (like a milkshake)
  • Falooda:  Ice cream dessert made with rose syrup, custard and pieces of jelly

And fruit and drinking coconuts!  We arrived just at the beginning of mango season which was delicious.  And we ate far more than our fair share of jackfruit in the village.

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

Drinking water

Tap water is not safe to drink in Bangladesh.  And unfortunately, finding filtered water to refill your drink bottle is not easy. 

If you have a steripen or UV water filter definitely bring this for your trip as it’s not a nice feeling to buy plastic bottles of drinking water in a country that is seriously struggling with plastic/pollution… 

Best to play it safe.  And watch out for cups/cutlery that is dripping from being washed in unsanitary water. 

Are there supermarkets and/or recognisable shops in Bangladesh? 

This is probably about the time I have to confess we even ordered takeaway chicken and chips one evening from Food Panda.  In other words; in the city, Bangladesh isn’t far behind with takeaways and food delivery services.  

However, many of the big brands (McDonalds, Starbucks etc) are not in Bangladesh.  

Agora  is a popular supermarket chain and stores can be found in the main cities. 

Agora Supermarket part of our complete guide to travel in Bangladesh 2024.

What to wear for travel in Bangladesh

I love this part of travel Bangladesh. The country is obviously populous (200,000,000 obvious) but oh Bangladesh, you are oh-so-colourful…

Bangladesh is a majority Islamic country and there are expectations for what to wear for travel in the cities and especially in the rural areas.  

For women long pants are always expected.  In the cities is ok(ish) to wear a smart, short-sleeved top. But I would recommend out of the city at least ¾ sleeves.  

I found the best clothing for Bangladesh was the local style of (brightly coloured) salwar kameez.  This is the typical Bangladeshi 3-piece costume of loose trousers, long (below your bottom) tunic-style top and scarf draped across your chest or over your head.  

The salwar kameez is made from fabric that is cool to wear and is addictively colourful.   

For men, advice is similarly conservative but with slightly more flexibility.  Men in shorts  can  be spotted on occasion. But being realistic, it’s not a common sight.  Long pants/trousers and a shirt for men is recommended (and expected, really). 

And for kids – especially young kids – it’s more relaxed.  Our boys enjoyed trying the local style of  Panjabi  (particularly as locals had never seen boys with long hair before!). 

Bangladeshi costumes you will see day-to-day:

  • Salwar kameez  (f): long tunic top and loose trousers
  • Orna  (f): scarf to drape over shoulders or neck (part of the salwar kameez costume)
  • Saree  (f): the main traditional women’s costume of Bangladesh most commonly seen on women in the villages
  • Lungyi  (m): males sarong-like skirt made from tubular length of fabric
  • Panjabi  (m): long, loose shirt.  
  • Fatua  (m): short version of the Panjabi (short, loose shirt) 
  • Gamcha  (m): a colourful, cotton towel (spun by local handloom) often worn around the neck by workers to be used as a body towel 

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

Transportation in Bangladesh

Transport and travel in Bangladesh can be as tricky as you make it.

There is road travel (taxis, buses, vans), train travel (express trains and a new metro to come), river travel (the most traditional means of travel in Bangladesh) and rickshaws (pedal and auto).

Don’t try and over complicate things haggling for a best price (especially over a few cents). You will draw a crowd regardless but even more so if you’re trying to negotiate with a driver. And don’t be afraid to walk away. They know how much it should cost and you don’t need to be ripped off just because you’re a foreigner.

Getting around by auto rickshaw (CNG) – travel in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has electric and CNG auto rickshaws that are easy to flag down and take for short to medium distances in the cities and towns.  

For a 2km distance it costs around 100Tk (USD $1.15).  Just be sure to negotiate and confirm the price before you climb in.  

Getting around by cycle rickshaw – travel in Bangladesh

This is by far the most authentic mode of transport in Bangladesh.  It only costs a few taka for a short distance by cycle rickshaw (just not so easy for us as a family of four – we need to get two!).  

Travel in Bangladesh 2024. Complete travel guide to Bangladesh.

Train travel in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is well known for train travel.  It’s likely you will have seen images of hundreds of people riding on the roof of trains… 

Well, we did see people on the rooftops (and heard big thumps as they leapt on the roof above us from one carriage to the next!).   But the police are trying reduce the number of people riding on the top and fortunately we didn’t see quite as many as anticipated.  

It’s relatively easy to book a train ticket at the main railway station in Dhaka.  The most challenging part of booking is battling the traffic in a taxi to get there.  If you don’t have hours to spare you can contact a guide (like  trip2bangladesh.com ) ahead of time to book the ticket for you (we did this for our first train from Dhaka to Sylhet) and have it dropped to your hotel. 

Our first time taking a train in Bangladesh. Swarmed by locals at Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka.

Boat travel in Bangladesh

Long-distance water travel in Bangladesh is by  launch.   These are huge river ferries (what we would call a ferry back home).  But in Bangladesh, ferries are the term for short-distance river travel from one side of the river to the other.  Like the one we took across the Padma river (this is the main channel of the greater Ganges River in Bangladesh).  

Launch travel is a bucketlist experience in Bangladesh and absolutely the most traditional means of transport in the country.  

Overnight launches depart from Dhaka in the evening and arrive in Barisal before sunrise. 

Here are some of the class options and pricing for a one-way overnight launch in Bangladesh: 

  • VIP Cabin : 10,000 Tk
  • 1st Class Cabin: (A/C, shared toilet): 2500 Tk
  • Economy (seats, shared toilet): 800 Tk
  • 3rd Class (floor space only): 280 Tk 

How to travel by launch on the rivers of Bangladesh. How to get the ferry in Bangladesh.

Bus travel in Bangladesh

Bus travel is a cheap way to move between cities.  There’s no need to pre-book far in advance as there are  squillions hundreds of buses departing frequently in any given direction. 

It was easy to purchase tickets the day before from a small travel agent in Cox’s Bazar for the 5 hour journey to Chittagong.  (Transport and tour agent stalls line the streets in the tourist area here).  Tickets for the AC bus cost 500 Tk each ($6 USD). 

Budget  for travel in Bangladesh

As a traveller, first thoughts are that Bangladesh will be a cheap country to travel in.  And daily – for food, necessities and transport – it is. 

  • Cup of cha (tea): 10 Tk / USD 0.15c
  • Water (1L): 40 Tk / 0.45c 
  • Canned drink: 40 Tk
  • Drinking coconut: 100 Tk
  • Daal: 50 Tk
  • Tandoori chicken: 200 Tk
  • Restaurant lunch (for 4: 600 Tk
  • Auto-rickshaw (2km): 100 Tk
  • Uber/taxi (5km): 450 Tk
  • Passenger boat (across river): 10 Tk
  • AC bus (5 hours): 500 Tk
  • Barber shop shave: 100 Tk
  • 15GB data (for 7 days): 160 Tk

Drinking chai during in Bangladesh was always a highlight and cheap to budget for travel in Bangladesh.

I must admit we were (pleasantly) surprised by connectivity and wifi options in Bangladesh.  Albeit hotel accommodation is not really cheap (for a family) but every place we stayed had free and unlimited wifi.  

We were disconnected from 3G and 4G data on some of the bus and train rides but not in a way that caused any disruption worth writing further about. 

Getting a SIM card for travel in Bangladesh 

The three biggest communications operators in Bangladesh are: 

  • Grameenphone

Grameenphone has a counter selling SIM cards as you exit customs at the airport in Dhaka (even for a night time flight).  

When we landed in Dhaka there were not ATM’s working but I exchanged $20 USD and was able to buy two SIM cards with Grameenphone for 600 Tk each including 12GB of data. 

It’s easy to top up (they call it ‘recharge’) your card at many small street shops.  Just get familiar with the Grameenphone logo and keep an eye out for it.  

If you handover your phone the shopkeeper will top it up the old-fashioned way by calling in to Grameenphone and recharging your desired amount to your account.  You can then choose from a list of data or calling packages. 

Data prices are cheap (like cheap, cheap) and come up under ‘My Offers’ on the service provider app: 

  • 100 minutes, 30 days: 65 Tk
  • 20 GB, 7 days: 179 Tk
  • 13 GB, 30 days: 220 Tk
  • 6 GB, 3 days: 76 Tk

A Grameenphone store at Chittagong Railway Station (look out for the logo to recharge anywhere). How to get a SIM card for Bangladesh.

Whether to travel in Bangladesh independently or pre-book tours and transport? 

No doubt you’ve started googling and are wondering how to put together the pieces of the puzzle that is an itinerary for Bangladesh.  But quite frankly there isn’t a lot of information out there.

Looking at the map before we left, we split our travel in Bangladesh into different legs (in different directions). We made contact with owner, Ontu of tour company  TripToBangladesh  to gauge prices for transport and to pre-book the first overnight launch and day tour for the Sundarbans. 

For the remainder we travelled independently (by bus, plane and train) and booked two of our three train journeys after we arrived. 

I can highly recommend Ontu for his caring and very professional manner to help with making any tour and/or transport bookings for Bangladesh.  

To stay in Ekduaria Village contact host Jafar Tuhin of Taabu Ekduaria directly on  +880 1969-404414 .  Jafar is an incredible host, with fluent English and very easy to be around.  We arrived as guests and left as friends. 

Useful contacts for travel in Bangladesh

  • Trip2Bangladesh Contact person: Ontu WhatsApp:  +8801784399339 Email: [email protected]
  • Taabu Ekduaria Host and guide: Jafar Tuhin  WhatsApp: +880 1969-404414

Jafar is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide for city tours of Dhaka and the neighbouring ancient city of Sonargaon too. I highly recommend a day tour of Old Dhaka including the sights, bazars and fascinating huge ship breaking yards. Contact him directly – you will not be disappointed!

Meeting people in the Old Dhaka ship-breaking yards.

Accommodation options for travel in Bangladesh

In a country that is shamelessly renowned for being a budget destination, I would say that for us the cost of accommodation in Bangladesh came as a surprise. 

I’m not going to pretend we found budget accommodation and roughed our way around the country.  Because we didn’t.  But cost-wise it wasn’t what we expected. 

We booked a hotel to arrive to for the first few nights (Hotel 71) and the family room allocated to four pax was well above our budget for fulltime travel. 

As we found our feet and figured out how it all worked here we realised that as a family, accommodation options offered the greatest disparity in our budget.  

In Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong there seemed to be 4 or 5 star hotel options at $130+ USD per night.   Or  you had to be roughing it in a guesthouse/apartment that we could barely even find online… 

In the smaller cities like Sreemangal and Cox’s Bazar it is easier to find lower-cost accommodation.  

But even as normally strict-budget travellers I can tell you we were unashamedly thankful for an albeit expensive-but-clean room, air-conditioning and a hot shower in the cities.   Pick your battles?

Everything we booked in Bangladesh we managed to book ahead of time online through booking.com.  We booked the first few nights prior to arriving.

Accommodation in Bangladesh. Green Leaf Guest House room in Sreemangal.

Where we stayed in Bangladesh

  • Dhaka:   Hotel 71  
  • Barisal:   Hotel Grand Park
  • Mongla:   Hotel Pashur
  • Dhaka:   Hotel Tropical Daisy  
  • Sreemangal:   Green Leaf Guest House
  • Sylhet:   Hotel Mira Garden
  • Cox’s Bazar:   Laguna Beach Hotel  
  • Chittagong:   Well Park Residence Boutique Hotel
  • Dhaka:   Hotel 71
  • Ekduaria Village: Taabu Ekduaria Village Homestay

Read the reviews on booking sites and use Google Maps to check out accommodation and locations before you book.  

Laguna Beach hotel in Cox's Bazar where we stayed.

Thank you, Bangladesh.

Well that ends our huge guide for travel in Bangladesh.  

If you are looking for a destination that will give you culture, colour, adventure, taste and wonder then I recommend travel in Bangladesh. 

Please leave us a comment with any further questions and we’ll get back to you. 

We had a truly, genuinely fantastic time traveling in Bangladesh. And now that I’ve dried my tears on leaving Ekduaria Village after an incredible week of Bangladeshi hospitality, I know for sure it is going to be one of those countries that sticks with us, and close to our heart for a long time to come…

More about travel planning for Bangladesh and beyond…

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

  • Booking.com  – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. (We love the flexible cancellation policy!). 
  • Hostelworld – The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world. 
  • Skyscanner   – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.  
  • GetYourGuide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
  • SafetyWing  – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
  • World Nomads   – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). 

Read more about travel in Bangladesh and South Asia

  • Train Travel in India: A Complete Guide.
  • The Sacred River Ganges: Two days in Varanasi.
  • Crossing the Wagah Border from India to Pakistan. 
  • Pakistan: A complete guide to travel in Pakistan. 
  • Money in India: Using ATM’s, withdrawing and carrying your money safely.
  • How to use a squat toilet: Everything you didn’t want to ask…
  • Our complete packing list for travel in India. 

Wondering about itineraries?  Questions about schooling?  See our Family Travel Guides and FAQ here . 

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12 thoughts on “Travel In Bangladesh: A Complete Travel Guide For Bangladesh.”

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Thank you for the wealth of valuable information. There is one point that flies in contrast with the Consulate general of Bangladesh’s website, the US travel.gov website, and every other website I have searched for, that is Visa on Arrivals are currently (as of Jan 2024) in effect, at least for the US.

Perhaps your contention that VoA are not available is dependent upon your nationality as a Kiwi?

I wanted to get your thoughts on this matter before I head out on Jan. 23rd from Miami.

One other question comes to mind, I have found various local standards regarding the condition of currency in different countries. I remember back 30 years ago when I was in India bills could have large holes in them due to the custom of stapling stacks together and ripping bills off one by one, but tears along the edges were not accepted. As such, torn bills were commonly given to unsuspecting foreigners. Is there anything to be aware of regarding acceptance of Bangladeshi currency?

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Hi, I am a solo (middle aged) female traveller heading to Dhaka for a wedding in Feb 2023. I would like to travel alone through Bangladesh for a few weeks after – do you think this is doable or is it going to be so hard that it’s not worth the effort. I have tried to find a tour to join but can’t find anything running which I can join. Are there local tours I can join or do you think I can manage to get around as a solo blonde, white, western woman!? I have travelled solo previously and enjoy it, but I’m a little older now and have heard that it is very difficult in Bangladesh.

Love the blog – it’s the first I’ve seen of Bangladesh which has been really helpful, Helen

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Hi Helen great to hear from you! If you would like to find us on Facebook or email I can give you more details – but I highly recommend contact Jafar, a fantastic Guide based near Dhaka (it was Jafar’s village we stayed a week in!). And on your first day do a day tour of Dhaka to find your feet and get your bearings in Bangladesh – we had a truly, truly amazing time and would love to return! The other Guide we have listed; Ontu is from Barisal and can help with booking tours or trains or transport as well. It makes a huge difference to have great contacts as it is a huge country! We can highly recommend both of those great guides. Wishing you a fantastic time! And if you have any further questions please message us, Sarah.

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I am really happy to have found your blog. I am planning a trip to Bangladesh in early 2024, from late January to mid-February. I was originally going to India, but diplomatic relations between India and Canada are strained. India has stopped issuing visas to Canadian citizens… So, here I am planning a trip to Bangladesh. My primary goal when I travel is photography. I am working on a book project that includes 15 years of traveling through different countries. I wish to visit the city of Chittagong to explore the ship graveyard and everything around it. I read on your blog that access can be challenging. Is it possible to get close to it? Thank you for your blog; it is very well-documented. Best regards, Louis P. Instagram @parlimages

Hi Louis we had an incredible time in Bangladesh! I highly recommend sending Jafar a message (on his WhatsApp number above) and getting in touch. He would be the best person to ask. From what I understand the yards in Chittagong are closed to tourists and especially photographers. But I really recommend a tour with Jafar when you arrive as a great way to find your feet and get a good understanding to start with in Bangladesh. An amazing country!

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I’m traveling to Bangaldesh as a female solo traveler (for work, but will still be solo for most of the trip) so thank you very, very much for this honest and comprehensive travel guide and description. I’ve lived in Singapore for many years and travelled throughout most of SEA, yet Bangladesh seems next level. I was happy to read your blog to get an insight on what to expect. Unfortunately, I won’t make it to most of the places you’ve been and I also probably won’t make it on a boat or train ride (due to work and corporate compliance…), but all your information on food, hygiene, what to wear etc. helped me a lot. Thanks!!

Thanks very much Shumona! Wishing you a fantastic trip 🙂

' src=

Great blog post. Heading there this December with a friend and always nice to read a REAL review to get the low down from a foreigners POV. Fine work

Hi Iain and thanks very much! Have a brilliant time in Bangladesh. We really enjoyed the adventure and am sure you will too! 🙂

' src=

I’m traveling to Bangaldesh as a female solo traveler (for work, but will still be solo for most of the trip) so thank you very, very much for this honest and comprehensive travel guide and description. I’ve lived in Singapore for many years and travelled throughout most of SEA, yet Bangladesh seems next level. I was happy to read your blog to get an insight on what to expect. Unfortunately, I won’t make it to most of the places you’ve been and I also probably won’t make it on a boat or train ride (due to work and corporate compliance…), but all your information on food, hygiene, what to wear etc. helped me a lot. Thanks!!

Hi Sarah! This is amazing to read and thank you very much for taking the time to write that. Wishing you a fantastic time in Bangladesh! It is somewhere very special. And even with limited time I am confident you will have maximum experiences! Have a brilliant time! Sarah.

' src=

Wow! This travel guide for Bangladesh is incredibly comprehensive and informative. It’s evident that you had an amazing experience exploring the country. The unique culture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality of the Bangladeshi people shine through your words. I’m inspired to visit Bangladesh myself after reading about your adventures. Thank you for sharing this detailed guide and providing valuable insights into the history, attractions, transportation, and even local customs. Your enthusiasm and love for the country are contagious. Safe travels to all those planning to visit Bangladesh – book your trip now and embark on a one-of-a-kind adventure! You may love to know about Everest Base Camp Trek Guide which is an exhilarating and challenging trekking adventure that takes you through the majestic Khumbu region of Nepal.

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9 Days Customized Bangladesh Tour, Daily Start & Private Guide

  • Fully Guided
  • Personalized
  • Christmas & New Year

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

  • Introduction
  • Day 1 Dhaka Arrival, Airport Pick-up
  • Day 2 Dhaka City Tour: Historical Sites & Local Market
  • Day 3 Drive to Rajshahi with Visit to Tangail, Natore and Puthia
  • Day 4 Rajshahi City Tour: Historic Mosques & Silk Markets
  • Day 5 Visit Sompura Mohavihara, Drive to Bogra for Mahasthangarh
  • Day 6 Drive to Rangpur with Visit to Dinajpur Rajbari
  • Day 7 Experience the Local Village and See Tajhat Palace
  • Day 8 Transfer back to Dhaka with visit to Navaratna Temple & Jamuna River
  • Day 9 Dhaka Departure; Airport See-off

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  • -10% Friday 31 May, 2024 Saturday 8 Jun, 2024 English Sharing a twin room €2,132 €1,918 Confirm Dates
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Frequently Asked Questions

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Good to Know

  • Currency ৳ Taka Bangladesh

As a traveller from USA, Canada you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, D, M, G, K. As a traveller from England you will need an adaptor for types A, B, C, E, F, D, M, K. As a traveller from Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types A, B, C, E, F, D, M, G, K. As a traveller from South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B, C, E, F, G, K.

  • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
  • Typhoid - Recommended for Bangladesh. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
  • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Bangladesh. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
  • Cholera - Recommended for Bangladesh. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
  • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Bangladesh. Ideally 3 months before travel.
  • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Bangladesh. Ideally 2 months before travel.
  • Rabies - Recommended for Bangladesh. Ideally 1 month before travel.
  • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an infected area for Bangladesh. Ideally 10 days before travel.
  • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for Bangladesh. Ideally 1 month before travel.
  • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
  • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • For any tour departing before 1st August 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 1st August 2024, a minimum payment of 30% is required to confirm your booking with Agate Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
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Barisal Tour

Experience life in the ganges delta in barisal & megacity dhaka: backstreets, floating markets, bazaars, villages, brick kiln, school, and more, 3 days   $475* us, barisal tour: floating markets, bazaars, villages, brick kiln, school.

Photo of 3 Days Barisal Tour package in Bangladesh to experience life in the heart of the Ganges Delta

Barisal, southern Bangladesh, is filled with dozens of rivers and channels that make up the Ganges Delta , resulting in a lush landscape. Our Barisal Tour will take you to experience life in the Ganges Delta, totally based on water. You’ll visit its floating markets, bazaars, villages, brick kilns, and schools beyond the reach of the guidebooks. You’ll be greeted warmly by locals and have an authentic experience that is hard to find in other parts of the world. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to experience megacity Dhaka’s bustling backstreets, bazaars, and shipyards. This tour is perfect for those who enjoy capturing the essence of people’s lives through photography.

On Barisal Tour, you’ll start with visiting some backstreets and bazaars full of activities in New and Old Dhaka for a whole day, and take an overnight ferry to Barisal and explore its numerous channels and rivers for the next two days on a small country boat. Depending on the season, you’ll visit different floating markets of rice, rice paddy, guava, timber, and vegetables. Also, go overland, visit various bazaars, schools, brick kilns, and villages, interact with the locals, and return to Dhaka on the third day.

Barisal is a region where people have hardly ever seen a foreigner. We’ll take you to explore some remote areas in this region beyond the reach of the guidebooks, where you’ll receive a genuine welcome from the locals and experience their authentic life – an experience you can’t have in most parts of the world. This is a highly photogenic tour for anyone keen on photographing the life of people.

bangladesh tour video

Highlights of Barisal Tour

  • Immerse yourself in the heart of the Ganges Delta, exploring Barisal’s serene rivers and narrow channels and discovering the authentic local life that unfolds there.
  • Delight in the enchantment of endless floating markets, each offering a unique and captivating experience, brimming with treasures to discover.
  • Embark on an exhilarating overland adventure, uncovering diverse bazaars, brick kilns, and schools as you unravel the rich tapestry of Bangladesh’s vibrant culture.
  • Stroll through charming villages, engage with friendly locals, and witness the authentic daily life that defines the riverine beauty of Bangladesh.
  • Explore New and Old Dhaka’s bustling backstreets and bazaars with vibrant activities and charm.
  • Go on an enchanting boat journey along the Buriganga River in Dhaka and experience the city’s liveliness reflected in its lively currents.
  • Discover the thriving shipyards of Dhaka, where passenger and cargo boats find repair, offering a glimpse into the bustling maritime world of the city.

Tour map of the 3-day Barisal Tour in Bangladesh

A map of the 3-day Barisal Tour with Nijhoom Tours to experience life in the Ganges Delta in Barisal & Megacity Dhaka.

Itinerary of Barisal Tour

Contact us for the Detailed Itinerary

Price of Barisal Tour

  • 4 Pax Gruop: $475 US Per Person
  • 2-3 Pax Group: Please contact us for the price
  • Single Supplement: $25 US

Inclusions and Exclusions

Barisal tour includes:.

  • Pick-up and drop-off from the North Dhaka area (Uttara, Nikunja, Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara area only).
  • All accommodation in hotels and boat cabins as mentioned in the itinerary with complimentary breakfast on a twin-sharing basis.
  • Breakfast at a local restaurant in Dhaka on Day-1.
  • Breakfast and lunch at the country boat in Barisal with locally purchased fruits, drinking water, tea, and coffee on Day-2 & 3.
  • All internal flights.
  • An air-conditioned car, driver, and an English-speaking guide.
  • All boat rides.
  • All entrance tickets.
  • All tips except our guide, driver, and Barisal boatman.

Does not include:

  • Pick-up and drop-off from the South Dhaka area (Hotel 71, FARS Hotel, Asia Hotel & Resort, Ambrosia Guest House, White House Hotel, Hotel Sky City, Suktara Hotel, and the nearby area).
  • Any food or drinks other than those mentioned above.
  • Any personal item.

bangladesh tour video

Departures and Availability

Contact us for the Latest Schedule -->

Watch video of brick kiln in Barisal Tour which you’ll visit.

Reviews of Barisal Tour

bangladesh tour video

Provided many opportunities to take photographs of local people

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TripAdvisor Hall of Fame 2019 Award

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Bangladesh: A dream destination for adventurous travelers!

Welcome to bangladesh, an enchanting haven for adventurous souls seeking extraordinary experiences..

Step beyond the tourist trail and into Bangladesh, a hidden gem where adventure whispers in the ancient temples and vibrant bazaars. Immerse yourself in a land untouched by mass tourism, where genuine smiles and authentic experiences bloom like wildflowers.

Trek through vibrant tea plantations, marvel at soaring peaks, and lose yourself in the emerald embrace of the Sundarbans, home to elusive tigers and whispering mangroves. Dive into the kaleidoscope of Dhaka's bazaars, savor the warmth of village smiles, and feel the rhythm of ancient traditions pulse through every step.

Bangladesh is a tapestry woven with untamed wilderness, vibrant cultures, and hidden wonders. Come, unravel its threads, and let your adventure begin.

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What makes us different?

Easy booking with minimal advance.

With us, you can book a tour for as little as $50 or up to $500 USD, depending on your preferred tour duration.

Flexible Return Policy

We have made the return policy easy and flexible. Please visit our return policy page for more details.

Best Available Hotels in the Area

Luxury isn't limited to five stars. We know the area and can secure you the best value, whether you crave boutique charm or five-star indulgence.

Interactive Tour Experience

Experience real interactions with people, landscapes, culture, and more, while we help capture the moments.

Safe and Friendly Environment

We prioritize safety, making you feel at home with our super-friendly local partners in Bangladesh.

Best Value Tour

Get the best value experience with top-quality hotels, transportation, and guides.

Popular Holidays

Discover the best bangladesh holiday packages, as chosen by users in 2024. book now and embark on your holiday adventure with mystic bengal tours.

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Popular Short Tours

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Popular Day Tours

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Explore Historic Dhaka: A Guided Tour

Dhaka city tour will include all the major tourist attractions of Old and New Dhaka. Join this sightseeing tour which includes all of Dhaka's best tourist attractions. Starting with the outside of the National Parliament Bhaban, later on visiting the Natila Hindu Temple (Daeshwari Temple), Lalbagh Fort, Star Mosque, Armenian Church, Pink Palace, Bustling Bazaar of Dhaka, and Sadarghat River port. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sadarghat River and a rickshaw ride through the bustling bazaar of Old Dhaka.

Tour Duration: 1 Full Day

Start From $ 70

Recent Blog Post

Unfolding bangladesh: unveiling stories, secrets, and smiles.

Travel Blogs

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Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace), the Residence of a Feudal Landlord

Published Date: 2024-05-12

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Explore Lalbagh Fort: Dhaka's Mughal Masterpiece

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Top 15 tourist attraction in Dhaka you must visit in your trip!

Published Date: 2024-05-13

From our Recent clicks!

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Namibia won by 5 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)

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Canada won by 63 runs

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Oman won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)

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KKR won by 8 wickets (with 57 balls remaining)

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Essex won by an innings and 96 runs

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Match drawn

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Northern Knights

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United States of America

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Ali Khan: Series win against Bangladesh 'no fluke', USA will cause upsets at T20 World Cup too

"We need to put USA out there on the world cricket map," he said following his match-winning spell in the second T20I

Ali Khan and Monank Patel take USA to historic T20I series win over Bangladesh

It's the best possible build-up to the T20 World Cup for USA, the co-hosts. For Bangladesh, it's as bad as it gets

'We are no walkovers' - USA's Harmeet Singh after win against Bangladesh

USA allrounder said the visitors made a tactical error by bowling Mustafizur Rahman from the wrong end

Harmeet and Anderson the heroes as USA stun Bangladesh

The hosts chased down 154 with three deliveries to spare in Texas

Bangladesh, USA face off to fine-tune for T20I World Cup

This is the first time they are facing each other in international cricket and have a chance to acclimatise to the Texan conditions

Nepal tour of United States of America 2024 Top Wicket Takers

Nepal tour of united states of america 2024 top run scorers.

COMMENTS

  1. Amazing Places to Visit in Bangladesh

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    Day 1: Arrival in Dhaka. Day 2: Dhaka Tour by TukTuk, Overnight VIP Launch to Swarukpathi, stay at the most epic AirBnB in Bangladesh. Day 3: Explore the river delta by canoe, visit markets, and learn about Spirulina farming. Day 4: Fly to Sylhet, enjoy the world's best $0.10 tea on a plantation for sunset.

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    5. This is the perfect tour to visit Bangladesh if you just have a few days in your itinerary. Bangladesh is a fascinating country to explore and you can obtain a visa on arrival. On my first day in the capitals, I really enjoyed exploring old Dhaka and see how the local people carry out their daily life activities.

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    Holidays, tours and vacations in Bangladesh. Take an escorted group tour in Bangladesh. Explore the sites and street life of Dhaka. Meet the tribes who live on the sandbanks of the Jamuna River. Explore the world's largest mangrove forest on a 2 night voyage to the Sundarbans. Meet local fishermen

  12. THE TOP 10 Bangladesh Tours & Excursions (UPDATED 2024)

    Srimangal Overnight Private Tour from Dhaka. 2. Srimangal is about 200km away from Dhaka, the epicenter of tea-growing culture and should be included in every traveler's itinerary during a visit to Bangladesh. With its picturesque scenery, increasing tourism infrastructure and dominant tea culture, it really is one of Bangladesh's stand ...

  13. Travel In Bangladesh: A Complete Travel Guide For Bangladesh

    Currency and cash in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) is the currency of Bangladesh. There are banknotes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 BDT (although 2 and 5 taka notes are rare). At the time we travelled (May 2022) these are the exchange rates for Bangladesh: 100 BDT = 1.16 USD. 1000 BDT = 11.59 USD.

  14. Bangladesh Tour Packages (Good Value) 2024/25/26

    Sonargaon & Panam City Tour. ⛭ 1 DAY ⛯ $70* US Check Tour Details. Experience the captivating Sonargaon and Panam City Tour, a day trip from Dhaka that showcases the highlights of Bengal's old capital during the medieval era. Discover the abandoned city of Panam Nagar, a 19th-century trading center for Hindu cotton merchants.

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    Start and end in Dhaka! With the Explorer tour 9 Days Customized Bangladesh Tour, Daily Start & Private Guide, you have a 9 days tour package taking you through Dhaka, Bangladesh and 7 other destinations in Bangladesh. 9 Days Customized Bangladesh Tour, Daily Start & Private Guide includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, meals, transport.

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    Barisal, southern Bangladesh, is filled with dozens of rivers and channels that make up the Ganges Delta, resulting in a lush landscape. Our Barisal Tour will take you to experience life in the Ganges Delta, totally based on water. You'll visit its floating markets, bazaars, villages, brick kilns, and schools beyond the reach of the guidebooks.

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    Chasing 153, USA got a decent start through Steven Taylor and Monank Patel, before the latter was run out at the non striker's end. Adries Gous scored some quick runs before holing out in the deep. The chase went a bit astray in the middle overs as Bangladesh's spinners kept things tight.

  21. Mystic Bengal || Discover Bangladesh with the Best Local Tour Operator

    Immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of Bangladesh's rich culture, history, and natural wonders with our expert Western-friendly tour operator. Experience Bangladesh like a local with our personalized itineraries designed specifically for Western travelers. Book your small group or private tour today and discover the true essence of Bangladesh.

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  25. Bangladesh Tour Of America 2024 Live Streaming: All You Need To Know

    Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh are touring the United States of America (USA) to play a three-match T20I series. Here is a comprehensive tour guide of the USA vs BAN T20Is ...

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