bangladesh tour place

• Group Enquiry? NEW

Places to Visit in Bangladesh

• Places To Visit

Tourist Places In Bangladesh

Here is the list of best places to visit in bangladesh:.

Rajshahi is a vibrant city located on the Padma River's plains bounded on the north, west, and east by Paba Upazila. It is situated near the Bangladesh-India border and is surrounded by the towns of Kathakali and Nowhata.  Rajshahi captivates travelers through its world-class architecture, cultural institutions, and narrow cobblestone streets. It overflows with storybook charm due to its colorful buildings, lush green spaces, picturesque gardens, and turreted castles.  If you're hunting for the best places to see in Rajshahi, you can visit the Varendra Research Museum, a storehouse of artifacts and architectural exhibits. You can also visit Hardinge Bridge constructed on the Padma river and take a fascinating tour of Paharpur Buddhist Bihar. If you're a spiritual enthusiast, you can also visit Puthia Temple Complex, which is a large Annik temple. No trip is complete without trying out some of the best activities that guarantee unlimited thrill and excitement to the visitors. You can seek enlightenment at Choto Sona Mosque and peek into the city's rich history at Mahasthangarh Museum. Rajshahi is the coldest region in Bangladesh, with an average high temperature of 30 degrees centigrade. The best time for traveling to this city is from October to March as the weather remains pleasant.

Sylhet is a beautiful city in Bangladesh located on the bank of the River Surma in northeastern Bengal. It is the district-headquarters and the divisional headquarters of Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Sylhet District. The postcard-perfect city has all the makings of an idyllic fairy tale world: a scenic harbor, sweeping views of the surrounding mountain group, and colorful rows of wooden houses. With its peaceful, tree-lined parks and cobblestone streets, it's not hard to see Sylhet as one of the most beautiful fairytale settings come to life. Sylhet is home to some of the most iconic sites you should definitely include in your bucket list. You can visit Manipuri Rajbari, a significant piece of Sylhet's architecture, and take a tour of Hakaluki Haor, a marsh wetland ecosystem with a wide range of biodiversity. If you're looking for endless fun and excitement, you can visit Dreamland Park that offers some of the best rides.  Some of the best activities that you must try in Sylhet are enjoying a boat ride, shopping at the local stores, and sampling the lip-smacking cuisines. You can enjoy camping on the riverbank, explore Crusader Shah Syed Nasir Uddin's shrine, and take a trip to the Ratargul Swamp Forest.  The weather in Sylhet is generally temperate and warm, with a good amount of rainfall. The average annual temperature ranges around 23.6 °C, and annual rainfall is 198.7 inches.

Dhaka is the largest city in South East Asia, situated on the northern side of the Buriganga River. It is situated in central Bangladesh on the lower reaches of the Delta Ganges.  Dhaka is Bangladesh's megacity with swathes of green spaces, beautiful museums, and storied red-brick facades. Here, glossy high-rises are beautifully juxtaposed against thousands-year-old mosques, giving the city a charismatic appeal you won't find anywhere else.  There are many popular attractions in Dhaka that will leave you spoilt for choices during your tour. You can visit the Ahsan Manzil museum to have a glimpse of the Mughal lifestyle and head to Lalbagh Kella that is renowned for its architectural beauty. Dhakeshwari Mandir, The Khan Muhammad Mirza Mosque, and Baitul Mukarram are the most famous spiritual attractions of the city.  Some of the best things to do in Dhaka for an ultimate experience are enjoying a boat ride to Buriganga, strolling around Gulshan Lake Park, and enjoying fun rides at Nandan Park. You can also learn about the rich history and culture of Dhaka by visiting the Bangladesh National Museum. Dhaka experiences a tropical wet, and humid climate with a distinct monsoonal season.  The temperature mostly varies from 93°F to 57°F and is rarely above 98°F or below 52°F.

Khulna is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, located in the central part of the country. It lies on the bank of the Rupsha river and is served by Port of Mongla which is the second-largest seaport in the country. Khulna remains a popular draw for the tourists due to its lush foliage, traditional shophouses, and best skylines. It is one of the most vibrant cities in Bangladesh that has glammed up with contemporary art galleries, religious centers, and boutiques. From fantastically craggy mountain ranges to beaches, you'll be greeted by spectacular vistas over here.  There are many impressive sites in Khulna that deserve the topmost spot in your itinerary. You can visit Shait Gumbad Mosque, Ron Jaipur Mosque, and Tomb of Khan Jahan Ali to satiate your spiritual soul. To learn about this city's rich history, you can take a tour of the Bagerhat Museum.  If you're looking for some of the best things to do in Khulna, you can admire the architectural beauty of the Nine-Domed Mosque and watch how the legal proceedings are carried out at High Court Building.  You can also learn about the life of Rabindranath Tagore at Kuthibari.  Khulna experiences temperate and humid weather with a good amount of rainfall. June is the wettest month, with 368mm rainfall on average.

Best of Kathmandu

Chattogram is a financial center and a major coastal city in Southeastern Bangladesh. It is situated on the banks of the River Karnaphuli between the Bay of Bengal and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Chattogram is a wonderland for visitors looking for a digital detox from the fast-paced city life. On one side, you can see breathtaking mountain ranges overlooking the sea, and on the other is the vast ocean's tranquil water. Due to its geographical position, sea, lush greenery, and mountain, there is no other city in Bangladesh that offers similar geodiversity. If you're looking for the best places to visit during your Chattogram, you must head to Patenga Beach, where you can soak the sun and enjoy picturesque views. You should also visit Chandranath Hill & Temple, a popular pilgrimage site, and explore Rangamati, a hilly district.  Some of the best things that you can try during your Chattogram tour are enjoying a scenic walk in Sajek Valley and boating at Kaptai Lake. You can also hike up to Nilgiri Mountain and enjoy shopping at Cox's Bazar. Chattogram experiences dry and humid weather, and July is the hottest month of the year. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 15.8°C.

Best of Nepal

Other Attractions

Cox's bazar.

The Sundarbans

Lalbagh Fort

Saint Martin

Amiakhum Waterfall

Bangladesh National Parliament

Ahsan Manzil Museum

Liberation War Museum

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque

Banglar Taj Mahal

Armenian Church

National Botanical Garden Dhaka

People Also Ask About Bangladesh

Which are the famous historical places to visit in bangladesh, which are the famous beaches to visit in bangladesh, which are the best national parks to visit in bangladesh, what is the best time to visit bangladesh, what is bangladesh famous for, popular related destinations.

Best Domestic Packages

Best international packages, domestic honeymoon packages, international honeymoon packages, places to visit in india, international places to visit, things to do in india, international things to do, popular on thrillophilia.

• We assure the privacy of your contact data.
• This data will only be used by our team to contact you and no other purposes.

Your enquiry has been received successfully. Our destination expert will reach out to you soon!

APRIL SALE:   Book now and get   up to 60% off!

Bangladesh Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Bangladesh. We've got 25 adventures going to Bangladesh, starting from just one day in length, and the longest tour is 15 days. The most popular month to go is November, which has the largest number of tour departures.

25 Bangladesh tour packages with 1 review

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Discover Ancient North in Bangladesh

It was a unique way to discover the history, see the lush greenery, meet locals, and have a trip around Bangladesh. Everything was taken care of and thought out. If you needed a bottle of water, just had to ask, if needed a rest stop, just had to mention it.

9 Days Customized Bangladesh Tour, Daily Start & Private Guide

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

10 Days Tailor-Made Bangladesh Tour, Private Guide & Driver

Experience Bangladesh through Thrilling Adventures & Lifestyles

Treasures of Bangladesh

Tailor-Made 9 Days Private Bangladesh Vacation, Daily Start

10 Days Private Bangladesh Photography Trip, Daily Start

Looking for tours beyond just bangladesh.

Explore tours with itineraries going through multiple countries, including Bangladesh.

5 Days Private Tailor-Made Bangladesh Tour, Daily Start

6 Days Customized Private Bangladesh Sundarbans Safari Tour

Bangladesh Expedition from the Northwest to the Southern Region

Explore Beautiful Sylhet and Srimangal in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Holiday in Amazing South Bengal

Tailor-made Bangladesh Tour: Unveil the Treasures of Bangladesh

12 Days Private Customized Bangladesh Glories Tour

Bangladesh Vacation with Stunning River Cruise Experience

What people love about bangladesh tours, travel styles.

• Small Group (21)
• Singles and Solo (22)
• Fully Guided (21)
• Personalized (20)
• Private (20)
• Explorer (18)
• Family (12)
• In-depth Cultural (5)
• 7 Day Tours (10)
• 10 Day Tours (6)
• Spring 2024 (21)
• Summer 2024 (17)
• Fall / Autumn 2024 (22)
• Winter 2024 / 2025 (21)
• Spring 2025 (21)
• Summer 2025 (16)
• Fall / Autumn 2025 (21)
• Winter 2025 / 2026 (20)
• April 2024 (21)
• May 2024 (21)
• June 2024 (17)
• July 2024 (17)
• August 2024 (17)
• September 2024 (21)
• October 2024 (21)
• November 2024 (22)
• December 2024 (21)
• January 2025 (21)
• February 2025 (21)
• March 2025 (21)
• April 2025 (21)
• May 2025 (20)
• June 2025 (16)
• July 2025 (16)
• August 2025 (16)
• September 2025 (20)
• October 2025 (20)
• November 2025 (21)

Bangladesh Tours starting in

• Starting in Dhaka (22)

Bangladesh Scenic Tours

Leading Tour Operator in Bangladesh

13 Best places to visit in Bangladesh

Beautiful Bangladesh. It is a land of beauty and heritage. There are so many places to be enjoyed here. In this article, you get 13 best places to visit in Bangladesh.

Wondering to check the best places to visit in Bangladesh?

Bordering with India and Myanmar, Bangladesh is one of the most wonderful countries in the world. But according to a World Bank report, this is placed on one of the least tourist destinations. It happened as the tourism facilities are not up to the mark here.

However, despite all the negative aspects, there are lots of things to see and explore. There are no tourism scams, people are friendly and the spots are heavenly. Besides, people of the rural areas are also curious about the tourists and welcome them from their hearts.

The tourist spots are not that much busy in handling the global and local tourists. But a remarkable number of people annually visit the spots. Luckily, the number of tourists is on the rise here.

So, if you want to explore Bangladesh, this is a great option for you. We have gathered 13 must places to visit in Bangladesh. They are tourist-friendly and provides almost all sorts of facilities to the visitors.

You can also read the Experience of Western travelers in Bangladesh and Traveler’s opinion about Bangladesh visiting experience. Surely, you will be surprised at their remarks upon their arrival and visit in the country.

Where to visit in Bangladesh

It is always tough to create a list as all of them are attractive and lovely. It was hard to make the list. Frankly speaking, it was a great trouble to discard the places from the list. After visiting the country, you can share your experience at the comment box.

We can make some friendly debates over the issue. Besides, you can also provide your valued recommendations to make the places better than before. Lets see the wonderful places to visit in Bangladesh.

1. Sundarbans – the largest Mangrove Forest

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest mangrove forest on this planet are Sundarbans. The forest is on the borderline of Bangladesh and India but Bangladesh owns the largest part of this mangrove. Sundarbans is the home of the Royal Bengal Tigers. Besides, there are lots of other wild animals are available here too.

The environment of the forest is amazing. You will have a special experience after visiting Sundarbans. Honestly, it would be a lifetime experience for you if you visit the forest. The surrounding environment, wildlife, nature – all are breathtaking. So, this is on the top of the list.

We arrange a trip to Sundarbans with a maximum of six people and you can check out the Sundarbans small group tour here. The trip would remain in your memory for a long time.

Besides, you may also check – Top things to do in Sundarbans.

2. Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT)

Chittagong Hill Tracts (also known as CHT) is made with wonderful hills and natural outlook. A notable number of tribal people live in the areas. If you love adventure, this is the right place for you.

Trekking deep inside the CHT for a couple of days will provide you an amazing taste. But we need to get permission from the local authority prior to the trekking for different reasons.

Meeting the tribal, exploring their life and living, visiting the Sangu River – the most beautiful river of the country – will be a memorable event in your life. The boat ride on the river during monsoon is also adorable.

We have placed CHT on the second position considering all the grounds.

You can check our Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram trip package here if you want to visit the CHT.

3. Sreemangal Upazila

If you want to see the tea capital of the country, you must visit Sreemangal Upazila of Sylhet District. The spot is in the north-east part of Bangladesh.

A wide range of lush green tea gardens will blow your mind. You will be surrounded by tea plants during the visit. The environment is serene and wonderful.

There is a provision of cycling through the tea plantations and it can render you joy and amusement.

Alongside the tea plantations, you can visit the Lawachhara National Park. Trekking towards the Hamham waterfalls is another thrilling activity here.

If you want to spend a couple of days in the lap of nature, this is the right place for you. So, we have placed it in the third position of the ladder while visiting the country.

To get the best experience and know the details of the trip, you can check our Sreemangal and Sylhet trip packages here.

4. Rangamati

Rangamati is located in a part of the vast CHT. Kaptai lake is the key attraction here. Surrounded by beautiful hills, this is a lake that was made by humans long ago to increase the natural beauties.

Riding boat for an entire day on the lake would be the most memorable experience for you. Besides, you can also meet some of the tribal people living in the spot.

They have their own products and sell those on the handicraft market. You can collect some of the best handmade fabrics.

The Buddhist monastery named as Rajban Bihara is another attraction of Rangamati.

Based on all the grounds, we have placed it in the fourth position.

You can check our Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar tour packages here. It will provide you with detailed information about visiting Rangamati and other related activities there like riding a boat in Kaptai Lake, among others.

5. Paharpur

Somapuri Mahabhihara is an impressive tourist site and the other UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bangladesh and it is located in Paharpur. Paharpur is located in the north-western part of the country and smaller in size and shape.

During the 8th century, this monastery was the second in the position of shape and size in the south region of Himalayas. The place was used for learning and monks from around the globe visited the place.

In fact, it was one of the best monasteries for Buddhists in the world. So, we have placed the location on the fifth position considering its archaeological values.

You will find our archaeological tour packages here. It will inform you of the necessary information about this particular archaeological site.

6. St. Martin’s Island

If you are hungry to enjoy a holiday on a coral island, St. Martin’s Island is the best place for you. This coral island is located at the Bay of Bengal. The place is always occupied with local and global beach lovers.

But this is better for a day trip. And most of the locals come here to spend a day or two. The island turns quiet once the visitors leave the area.

There are numerous resorts and private beaches available on the island. You can stay at any one of them and enjoy nature for the next couple of days. This is the perfect place for relaxation after visiting other places in Bangladesh.

Staying in a resort that has a private beach would be the best solution for your relaxation.

Based on all the features, we have placed St. Martin’s Island on the sixth position of this list. If you are a sea lover then it is the best places to visit in Bangladesh.

You can check the Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar tour packages before visiting this wonderful island of Bangladesh.

There were many historic cities in Bangladesh and Gaur is one of them. This is a ruined city now that was once a significant city during the medieval period. The city is also located on the border between Bangladesh and India.

The city passed its golden days between the 12th and 14th centuries. Once it was the capital of the then Bengal. And of course, the city was wealthy during the ancient days.

Unluckily, due to the outbreak of cholera, people left the city and never returned. However, some of the ancient relics are still visible here in Gaur and there are some mango orchards that are also available.

The restoration and renovation work from the Bangladesh Archaeological department has brought back the beauty of the city. They undertook a renovation to some of the mosques.

If you have an interest in history and love to explore the ancient relics, this is the best place for you. So, we have positioned it on the seventh place of the must visiting list.

You can get details of archaeological tour packages here if you wish to explore Gaur – the ancient city.

In a single word, this is not possible to describe Sylhet. This is a place of natural beauty. It is located in the north-eastern part of the country. Besides, the district is nearby to the Indian district of Meghalaya.

The district offers some scenic beauties and nice views to the visitors. It has a green-water canal named Lalakhal. Besides, the stone collection zone of Jaflong is the other attraction. The Ratargul swamp forest will blow your mind.

And of course, the tea gardens are the other attraction of the district. While meeting with the tribal people, you can know about their life and living. Most of them are known as Khasia and they mostly grow betel leaves in the places where they live and inside the forest.

Based on all the aspects, Sylhet is on the eighth position of the ladder.

You can get detail information about Sylhet and Srimangal tour packages here. Then select what you need and where you want to visit.

9. Barishal

Bangladesh is a riverine country and you will have the feel during your trip to Barishal. Have you heard the name of Ganges Delta? Well, Barishal is located in the center of the Ganges Delta.

The life and living of the local people is the key attraction of visiting Barishal. While visiting the district, you will find many floating markets, schools, villages, market places and more other things. All the elements make the culture of the region.

But when you are in monsoon in Barishal, you can experience the real beauty. The water bodies are in full bloom and the nature turns green. You can also get some guavas from the floating guava markets. Remember, you can also capture some of the best shots of your life from here.

So, we have placed Barishal on the ninth position of must visiting list in Bangladesh.

Find the Barisal Backwater Tour package here. And book your desired package.

Filled with wonderful Hindu temples, this tiny rural spot is located in Rajshahi. In fact, Puthia holds the largest number of temples in the country and they are well-maintained as well.

Alongside the unique design, you will find the application of wonderful terracotta in the temples. Different Hindu stories are inscribed on the terracotta plaques.

So, based on historical importance, we have listed it in the tenth position.

Find the archaeological tour packages here and do not miss the chance of visiting Puthia, also known as the temple village.

11. Bagerhat – the Mosque City

Earlier known as Khalifatabad, A Turkish general and preacher founded Bagerhat in the 15th century. The city is famous for its mosques, especially the sixty-dome mosque. And this is a globally famous mosque too.

The entire city is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site and also one of the 15 lost cities of the world.

The city has over 50 monuments related to Islamic structure. They have been discovered recently and remained hidden several centuries.

This is on the eleventh position of our must-visit list. You can get a Rocket Steamer Tour while preparing to visit Bagerhat.

12. Cox’s Bazar

Enjoying the breeze on the longest sandy sea beach is not a matter of luck now. You can easily have it in Cox’s Bazar. This is the longest sea beach in the globe and its length is 125 kilometers.

Moreover, this is the most famous tourist spot in the country among the locals. In line with the locals, a significant number of foreign nationals also visit the beach to enjoy the natural beauty.

Since the place is always crowded, you may select a resort that owns a private beach. It will help to get rid of the crowds and enjoy the beach, wave, and the sea.

Besides, you can pay a visit to the local fish market and check the fishing process. They have different types of fishes including the dry fishes.

Thereby, we have placed it in the twelfth position. If you are a beach lover then it is the best places to visit in Bangladesh. You can get more information about the Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar tour packages here.

13. Sonargaon

In line with Gaur, Sonargaon was the capital of Bengal. It was in the medieval period when the region passed its golden days. Though the glory is lost, the shadow remains.

You will find some lost relics and heritage here. Moreover, there are a few interesting places which will blow your mind. If you love photography, nothing could be perfect than this.

Visitors crowd here for the Panam Nagar. Panam Nagar is an ancient merchant city and now is abandoned. Once it was the place of wealthy Hindu merchants.

But they left this city during religious riots in the area after 1947. The year is also known as the partition year when India and Pakistan were divided into two separate states based on religious beliefs.

However, the merchants had the intention to return but they did not.

At present, there are 52 houses available on a single row.

The Folk Arts and Crafts Museum and the Goladi mosque are the other attractions of Sonargaon. You will find your day filled with joy after visiting this place.

Find your Old Capital Tour here and book accordingly to pay a visit to Sonargaon.

Finally, 13 best places to visit in Bangladesh list is finished. We hope you enjoyed the list of the best 13 places to visit in Bangladesh. If you have any questions about this article please comment or contact us.

You may also like...

Diary of my trip to Bangladesh by Mr. Bob (Part I)

Diary of my trip to Bangladesh by Mr. Bob (Part II)

Places to visit in Khulna

Car Hire & car rental services in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is the most undiscovered country in the world, as I am from a village in sunamgonj, I know how tranquil life can be in rural villages as for commercial tourist spots Banderbon, cox Bazar, st Martin’s island khagrachori and many others. There are unspoiled locations to see well as commercial ones.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The Pilot Who Explores

Travel the world like an Airline Pilot.

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.

Like it? Pin this article!

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!

Share this:

Keep exploring the world, senegal & the gambia: the ultimate 2 week itinerary (by a pilot).

Croatia: One Awesome 8 Day Road Trip Itinerary

The Ultimate One Month West Africa Itinerary

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Discover more from The Pilot Who Explores

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Wander-Lush

15 of the Most Beautiful Places in Bangladesh

Bangladesh might be one of the world’s least-visited countries but that certainly doesn’t mean this south Asian nation is lacking in beauty.

The country is brimming with fascinating archaeological sites that reveal tales of ancient Bengal cities, mosques, Hindu temples and Buddhist viharas . From the treasures of Old Dhaka to the vast expanses of tea country, water-bound villages painted with lilies to the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the world’s longest sea beach, there are beautiful natural and urban landscapes around every corner.

Here are 15 of the most beautiful places in Bangladesh to visit – my own personal Bangladesh wish list!

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

15 of the most beautiful places in Bangladesh

Did I miss your favourite place in my research? Let me know in the comments below.

1. Sonargaon

Situated in central Bangladesh, the historic city of Sonargaon is one of the old capitals of Bengal and an important river port.

Famous for khasa , a cotton-based cloth prized for being of the finest quality, Sonargaon was once the centre of muslin production and textile manufacturing. However, it is the hauntingly-beautiful ruins of Panam City (known previously as Panam Nagar) that now attract visitors from around the world.

What was once the textile trading hub of the 19th century is now mostly abandoned after fires razed this thriving city to the ground. It is not known with certainty why Panam was consumed so quickly by the fires (or what started the fires in the first place), but unfortunately only a mere 52 buildings remain. Mughal monuments and fine examples of British colonial architecture retain a certain kind of haunting beauty.

There are rumours that Panam’s last remaining residents fled due to the area being haunted, leaving the old city in a fully-abandoned state. Thus the once-bustling town has been nicknamed by locals as ‘City of the Dead’ or ‘Ghost City’.

Located in the country’s far northeastern corner, Sylhet city is considered one of Bangladesh’s most important spiritual and cultural centres. The stomping ground of folk poets and chai merchants, Sylhet is also associated with verdant tea fields.

The Surma River cuts through the centre of the city, with the iconic 19th-century Ali Amjad Clock overlooking the northern bank. Beyond the river and bridges, beautiful mosques dot the skyline, with the 14th-century saint Hazrat Shah Jalal being one of the most important pilgrimage sites.

The Malnicherra Tea Estate and national parks to the north give the city a perennially green backdrop. Quite incredibly, Sylhet is responsible for producing the largest amount of tea in the country.

3. Old Dhaka

Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city, is a thronging metropolis infamous for its traffic jams and swarming sidewalks. Its urban landscape is fascinating: modern masterpieces such as Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban , Bangladesh’s assembly building that was designed by Louis Kahn in 1982, throw the architecture in the oldest part of the city into even sharper contrast.

Old Dhaka is the most beautiful part of the city. It’s home to countless heritage gems including the Mughal-era Lalbagh Fort, the 12th-century Hindu temple Dhakeshwari Mandir, and the pretty pink Ahsan Manzil Museum.

Other key landmarks in Old Dhaka including Northbrook Hall (pictured), Ahsan Manzil, Ruplal House (a dilapidated merchant’s mansion) and the Church of the Holy Resurrection ( an Armenian Apostolic church ) tell the story of a storied metropolis with a far-ranging history and diverse cultural makeup.

4. Satkhira

Located southwest of Bangladesh on the west Bengal and Indian border lies the district of Satkhira. It is a conglomerate of little islands formed by criss-crossing rivers and it is well known for its pottery, bamboo and cane weaving, shrimp, and leather exports.

Satkhira is also famous for its Sundarbans, which house the world’s largest tidal halophytic mangrove forests. One of Sakkhira’s most iconic sites is the Tetulia Jami Mosque in the village of Tetulia. Built in a Mughal style in 1858-59, it features six splendid domes and minarets that reach high above the treeline.

5. Sundarbans National Park

Part of the Sundarbans on the Ganges Delta and home to one of the largest Bengal tiger reserves, Sundarbans National Park is one of the most naturally productive biological ecosystems on earth. Furthermore, Sundarbans is the largest area of mangrove forest globally and the only one inhabited by tigers.

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, Sundarbans, which means ‘beautiful forest’ in the local Bengali dialect, also plays an important role as a storm barrier and shore stabiliser.

There are a variety of things to see and do within the park including wildlife tourism, visiting the Sudhanyakhali Watch Tower, Mangrove Eco Garden, and the Sangha Temple. This beautiful natural wonder in Bangladesh is guaranteed to take your breath away.

6. Sreemangal

Home to more than 163 tea plantations and widely known as tea country, Sreemangal is famous for its tea gardens. Tea lovers can take tours of the plantations or even cycle around the gardens.

If you thought that tea was the only thing this beautiful place offers, think again. The Manipuri tribal village is great for a cultural experience and offers the chance to taste the local’s favourite drinks, known as the seven layers of tea.

Nature lovers can take a trip through the Rema Kalenga reserve forest, full of endangered species, or trek through the Lawachara rainforest, one of the last tropical rainforests in Bangladesh. No matter what activity you choose, your Sreemangal visit is sure to hold a place in your heart.

7. Keokradong

Known as one of the cloudiest places in Bandarban and a mountaineers’ paradise, Keokradong is the third-highest peak in Bangladesh. It offers two different hiking routes, both of which end up at the same small shelter.

It’s said that the signboard next to the hut was installed by the Bangladesh Army, proclaiming Keokradong to have a height of 967 metres at its summit. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the remote communities who reside on either side of the mountain.

8. Cox’s Bazar

In the southeastern part of Bangladesh lies the fishing port city of Cox’s Bazar. Best known for sandy shores and seafood, Cox’s Bazar can claim the longest sea beach in the world at 120 kilometres (74.5 miles).

The seemingly never-ending stretch of sand runs into the horizon, dotted with moon-shaped Sampan boats, giving Bangladesh one of its most impressive landscapes. Horse riding on the beach, parasailing, water biking and much more are available.

From visiting the third-largest Buddha in the world at 100 feet long to an overnight stay at the beautiful Mermaid Beach Resort , Cox’s Bazar is an absolute must when visiting Bangladesh.

9. St. Martin’s Island

Better known as Narikel Zinzira, which means ‘coconut island’ in Bengali dialect, this is a small island in the southernmost part of Bangladesh. At only 8-square-kilometres, St. Martin’s Island might be small but it’s not insignificant: this is the only coral reef island in Bangladesh.

You can easily make a round trip of the island on foot in a day. Although the island has been without electricity since a devastating hurricane in 1991, the town survives on generators until 11pm.

St. Martin’s comes to life during the day with water sports, beach parties and twilight bonfires. Stay in a resort or camp on the beach and treat yourself to fresh coconuts and crab.

10. Barisal

One of the oldest river ports in the country, Barisal – sometimes called the ‘Venice of Bengal’ – is fast becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bangladesh. Monsoon season between March and November is the best time to visit this corner of the country, where one of the most beautiful natural phenomena in the region takes place.

This is waterlily ( shapla ) season in the village of Satla, when the national flower of Bangladesh grows in abundance. The carpet of pink flowers blooms on the village canal and over 10,000 acres of village wetlands.

Not only are the lilies a beautiful sight, they are also extremely important to local culture and the economy. Around 70% of Satla’s residents work in lily cultivation. The stems are used in many traditional Bengali dishes, and have medicinal uses too.

11. Puthia Temple Complex

Within the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh lies the culturally-rich town of Puthia. It’s home to the breathtaking Puthia Temple Complex, which holds the largest number of temples in Bangladesh within its boundaries.

All were built by Hindu Zamindars Rajas of the Puthia Raj family, who were Rajshahi’s renowned philanthropists at the time. Of all the structures in Puthia, 13 temples and one palace have been declared protected monuments.

If you have a keen interest in architecture or simply enjoy immersing yourself in history, then the Puthia Temple Complex is definitely a must-visit.

12. Rangamati

Rangamati, home of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, is a town In the southeastern part of Bangladesh on the western bank of Kaptai lake. The man-made lake was created in 1960 and today, boat cruises are one of the most enjoyable ways to explore this area’s scenic beauty.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts is made up of rolling mountains and inhabited by 13 indigenous tribes including the Mongolian Chakma, Tipra, Murong, and Magh, each of whom have their own culture . Alongside weaving factories and craft markets , the most sought-after attractions are the Chakma King House and Bonorupa, the largest tribal floating market.

13. Dinajpur

Lying on the Punarbhaba River, Dinajpur is the largest of the 16 districts in northern Bangladesh and a region that is well known for its architectural heritage. Besides being home to the famous Kantanagar Temple (Kantajir Temple), built in 1752 out of baked bricks with terracotta panels, Dinajpur is also an important area for crop cultivation, including rice, wheat, jute, and sugarcane.

The variety of attractions here is endless, as well as diverse, but some of the most popular spots are the Kantajew Temple, Ramsagar National Park, Shopnopuri Amusement Park, Nayabad Mosque, and the Goddess Kali Temple.

14. Paharpur

With the rise of a new form of Buddhism, Paharpur became one of the most significant intellectual centres in the region. Located in the northwest corner of Bangladesh, Paharpur is reputed to be the second-largest Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas, with the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara dating back to the 8th century.

It has been said that the main temple of Paharpur was used as an inspiration for some of the greatest Buddhist monuments across southeastern Asia, including the Temples of Angkor in Cambodia .

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and formerly known as Somapura Mahavihara, the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the country and is commonly cited as a key example of pre-Islamic Bangladeshi architecture.

15. Bagerhat

The historical town of Bagerhat, an inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, is situated in southwestern Bangladesh. Lying at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, the ancient town known as ‘the Mosque City of Bagerhat’ is this area’s most beautiful attraction.

Formerly known as Khalifatabad, this city holds 360 mosques as well as mausoleums, bridges, water tanks, roads, and public buildings – all built from baked bricks covered in terracotta artwork and arabesque designs.

From admiring the 60 domed mosques and the Singair Masjid, to visiting the Bagerhat Museum where you can learn about the legend of Khan Jahan Ali Dighi, Bagerhat offers one of the most beautiful cultural experiences for any traveller.

Beautiful places in Bangladesh: Save it

One Comment

Thanks to share this place where i want to visit one of time. Every place is so good and more entertainable. Thanks to say again for help me.

During my recent trip to Bandarban, I had the pleasure of staying at the Labah Tong hill resort and restaurant. In my opinion, it was the best resort in the area, boasting not only breathtaking views but also a friendly and helpful staff. The resort’s interior design was also impressive, adding to the overall ambiance of the place. I would highly recommend a visit to Labah Tong to anyone looking for a refreshing getaway.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Subscribe to future posts

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.

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.

View More Packages

Popular Short Tours

View More Short Tours

Popular Day Tours

View More Day Tours

Recent Blog Post

Unfolding bangladesh: unveiling stories, secrets, and smiles.

Travel Blogs

From our Recent clicks!

Find more blogs

The Largest Beach in the World - Coxs Bazar Sea Beach

Read More...

Sign of 800-900 AD - Paharpur Bihar / Sompur Bihar

World Cultural Heritage - Sixty dome mosque

The sign of Pala Era - Mahasthangarh

The World Largest Unit Mangrove Forest -Sundarbans

Kantaji Temple / Kantanagar Temple

Lalbagh Fort

Capital of Tea - Srimangal

Amagon Forest of Bangladesh - Ratargul

Mujibnagar Memorial and Complex

The State of Clouds - Nilgiri

The Land of Natural Beauty - Jaflong

Searching your nearest spots...... .

Favourite Spots

Golden Temple

Sona Mosque

Ethnological Museum

Shalvan Vihara

St. Martins Island

National Museum

Sitakot Bihara

Safari Park

Folk-Crafts Museum

Chandranath Hill

Banskhali Eko Park

Guthia Mosque

Kuakata Beach

Parikunda Fountain

Hakaluki Haor

Zainul Abedin Museum

Air Force Museum

Martyrs' Memorial

In The World Map We are Here ..............

• Bangladesh Tourist Places: A full list of the best sights

Bangladesh is a wonderful country. It has many sights of historical value and beauty. Some of them are very famous, and other people don’t even know about it. It cradles the largest mangrove swamp in the world, Buddhist kingdoms dated back to the 3rd century B.C., lush tea plantations, stunning beaches, temples with full of terracotta in the walls, mosques, and it’s people – most generous and open-hearted you’ll meet. In this article, we listed Bangladesh tourist places. If you know about any other site which we’ve missed here, let us know in the comment.

The tomb of Pari Bibi inside the fort. © Photo Credit: Gan Hui Hoon

Tourist places in Dhaka City

• Lalbagh Fort – A 17th century fort built by the Mughals.
• Ahsan Manzil (Pink Palace) – Residence of the Dhaka Nawabs built in 19th century.
• Armenian Church – Beautiful church built by the Armenians in 18th century.
• Star Mosque – A beautiful 19th century mosque decorated with star motifs.
• Khan Muhammad Mridha Mosque – Beautiful mosque from early 18th century built by the Mughals.
• Dhakeswari Temple – National Hindu temple of Bangladesh dating back to the 12th century.
• National Assembly building – Finest work of world-renowned American architect Louis Kahn.
• Sadarghat River Port – Main river port of Dhaka city full of activities.

Abandoned city Panam Nagar in Sonargaon. © Photo Credit: Raw Hasan

Tourist places around Dhaka City

• Panam Nagar – A fully abandoned city of the Hindu merchants from early 20th century.
• Folk-Art and Crafts Museum – Museum showcasing Bangladeshi culture located in Sonargaon .
• Goaldi Mosque – Historical mosque in Sonargaon built in 16th century.
• Baliati Palace – A mysterious palace of Hindu feudal land-owners from colonial period.

Axis Deer at a wildlife sanctuary in Sundarbans. © Photo Credit: Raw Hasan.

Tourist places in Khulna Region

• Mosque City of Bagerhat – A lost city from 15th century full of beautiful mosques and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Sundarbans – Largest mangrove forest on earth; a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar Site (internationally important wetland).

Sundarban Tour in Budget

Check out our sister company BTA Holidays for a budget Sundarban Tour package in Bangladesh starting from 7,500 TK per person. Private tour available for no extra cost, if you have a group of just 10 people – great option to experience Sundarbans with family, relatives, and friends with privacy.

Dilapidating temples at Puthia Temple Complex in Rajshahi. © Photo Credit: Raw Hasan

Tourist places in Rajshahi Region

• Puthia – Village full of temples where the largest number of historical temples are located.
• Gaur – The lost historic city (7th – 16th Century) in India-Bangladesh border.
• Mahasthangarh – The Oldest known city in Bangladesh, dated back to the 3rd century B.C.

A front view of Tajhat Palace (Jamidar Bari) in Rangpur. © Photo Credit: Raw Hasan

Tourist places in Rangpur Region

• Kantajew Temple – Most beautiful Hindu temple in Bangladesh located at Dinajpur, every inches of the walls ornamented with terracotta plaques describing epic Hindu stories.
• Tajhat Palace – Palace of Hindu land-owners at Rangpur.
• Nayabad Mosque – 18th Century mosque in Dinajpur, built by the Muslim workers who came to build Kantaji Temple.

Tea plantations of Srimangal. ©Photo Credit: Raw Hasan

Tourist places in Sylhet Region

• Jaflong – Naturally beautiful place located on India-Bangladesh border offering unique photo opportunities.
• Ratargul Swamp Forest – Only fresh-water swamp forest in Bangladesh.
• 17 Best places to visit in Bangladesh you can't miss on your holiday
• 13 Places to visit in Dhaka you can't miss on your trip
• 16 Top Bangladeshi food you must try on your visit
• 11 Major tribes (ethnic/indigenous groups) of Bangladesh and their culture
• 8 Top things to do in Sundarbans for a great experience of the forest
• 8 Top things to do in Sreemangal for the ultimate experience
• 10 Most impressive archaeological sites in Bangladesh you can't miss on your trip
• 10 Most beautiful historical mosques in Bangladesh
• Lawachara National Park: A Guide to its diverse flora and fauna
• Puthia Temple Complex: A village full of historic Hindu temples in Bangladesh
• Kantajew Temple—The most beautiful terracotta temple in Bangladesh
• Gaur (Gauda / Gour): The rich ancient capital of Bengal located on the India-Bangladesh border
• Mosque City of Bagerhat: A Lost 15th-Century City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Panam Nagar: An entirely abandoned city of the wealthy Hindu cotton merchants in Bangladesh
• Sonargaon Travel Guide: Visiting Museum and other attractions in the old capital
• Jaflong: A popular tourist site in Bangladesh with unique photo opportunities
• Tajhat Palace: The finest Jamidar Bari in northern Bangladesh
• Mahasthangarh: Ruins of the oldest known city of Bengal from the 3rd century B.C.

Know about any other tourist places in Bangladesh? Write in the comment. We’ll add that on this list.

Check out our 1-7 days Bangladesh tour packages and 8-28 days Bangladesh holiday packages to visit Bangladesh with comfort.

Sundarban Safari

Bangladesh Photography Tour

Classic Bangladesh

Glories of Bangladesh

Raas Festival Tour

Express Bangladesh

I am the Owner & CEO of Nijhoom Tours, a multi-award winning local tour operator in Bangladesh specializing in organizing memorable holidays in Bangladesh for western travelers. Connect with me on Facebook or Mastodon , or join our Facebook group Let's Go To Bangladesh for updates and help about traveling to Bangladesh.

View all posts

Awards & Recognitions

Connect with us

Affiliation

Featured On

Online Payment Details

How to pay us

Content Protection

Content of this website is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. of USA. Any content (text, photo, video, graphics) theft from this website and hosted somewhere else will be taken down by their ISP under the DMCA law, no matter which country the site is hosted in.

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)

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. 

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.  

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

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. 

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… 

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(!).  

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. 

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.  

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 

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.   

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). 

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. 

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… 

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… 

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!).  

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.  

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) 

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.

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. 

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 

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!).  

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. 

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 

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

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

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!

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.

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.  

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 . 

Top Destinations

• Cook Islands
• New Zealand

Latest Posts

Full time traveling as a family for five years some questions and answers., asilah souk: visiting the thursday weekly market in asilah, morocco., nepal 10 day itinerary including 5-day poon hill trek., driving, motorhome parking and finding free camping in spain. , epic 10 day rajasthan itinerary: marigolds, forts, desert and palaces., 10 day punjab india pakistan itinerary: the best of both..

We are the Steiners: Sarah, Gavin, Harry and Oscar – a family from New Zealand with a love of travel and adventure together… Especially where it takes us off the beaten track! 

Away with the Steiners uses affiliate links. That means that if you buy something through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 

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

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?

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

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.

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!

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 🙂

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! 🙂

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.

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.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email.

• [email protected]

Travel Advice

Stay healthy while traveling.

Health is the key of happiness.  We go for a travel in a variety of activities. A pleasure travel can be spoiled due to illness. So you need to healthy in travel period. Keep much needed medicine in traveling. Like Paracetamol, Antihistamines, Antacids Take your regular need medicine. Collect antiseptic cream and liokoplasta. Take some […]...

Photographer Uniform

Cox’s Bazar tourist police distributing uniform to prevent harassment of tourist from photographer and Jet Ski.  And at this uniform will write the phone number of tourist police and their own ID number.  So if you think, you are Abused by them just make a call to tourist police of cox’s bazar zone help line […]...

Travel with Baby/Child

Tour/Travel always interesting and exciting but after being mom it will be difficult.  But you can make it easy by taking some step. Lets’ start our subject “Travel with baby/child”. Booking: Pre Booking for Hotel, Bus, and Plane is the most important to avoid extra pain in tour. For bus and plain you can book […]...

Select Travel Bags

We need to take extra care about travel bag selection. If your travel bag is not Convenient, It will make you upset. You can select water proof bag to save your favorite dress from water and rain.  Comfort or parachute is best, you can also choose from Jeans, Max, linen or leather bag. You can […]...

Dress Selection

Dress is the key element of comfort and comfort make happy. So we need to select perfect dress for different type of tour. If you want to make a trip in summer season you need to select thin and cotton dress for match with Weather. For winter trip you need to select warm clothes because […]...

Respect the local people

If your destination is rural area of Bangladesh you need to respect there and there culture. Also you need to maintain their rule and behavior because they are maintain this rule and regulation from there born. If you go to any holy places you need to put off you shoes and it is system and there […]...

Popular Tourist Spots

Bichanakandi – sylhet.

Bichanakandi is one of outstanding geographical tourist place between India and Bangladesh border. You can see the flags of India standing there 100 feet’s away.

Tamanna World Family Park – Mirpur

Tamanna World Family Park is most popular and famous park in Dhaka which is located beside the bank of Tuerag river at Mirpur, Dhaka.

Dream Holiday Park – Narsingdi

Dream Holiday Park in Narsingdi, Really you will enjoy here international standard service.

Jaflong – Sylhet

Jaflong of Sylhet is called the daughter of nature. This is a lovely land of natural beauty on the foothils of Jointa hill. The decorted stone on the bank of Pian river increases its beauty.

Rayerakathi Landlord House – Pirojpur

Rayerakathi landlord house located just three kilometers away from the district town of Pirojpur.

Lalakhal – Sylhet

Lalakhal is situated in Jointapur Upazila about 35 km away from Sylhet city. The location of Lalakhal is just below the Cheraponji of India.

Travel Style

Bangladesh tour photos.

Are you Looking for Bangladesh tour photos? We have organised photo album of Bangladesh tour and travel.

Travel of this Month

Atkobor – chuyadanga.

The eight graves is also known as Atkobor which is located at Jagannathpur, Chuadanga. The eight graves  are an important historical site in, where the private initiative has preserved the memory of the Liberation War. To be more precise, Razakar Kubad Kha’s magical deception is being caught up in this detention.   On August 3rd, […]

Police Park – Chuadanga

Police Park is a popular entertainment center located on Police Super Road in Chuadanga district headquarters. The park, which has been developed in a prequel environment, will have an open stage, sit-down chat facilities along with various rides of children’s entertainment, and all the facilities in the modern entertainment center.   The police park is […]

Thakurpur Jami Mosque – Chuadanga

About 2 kilometers apart Thakurpur Village from Chuadanga City. The annual Isal-e-Chhawab, Hala-e-Jikir, and Orsh are all organized by the locals on the 12th falgun of The Month of Bengal. Older people claim it has been around for close to 300 years even though it is only 88 years old on paper. But the name […]

The Sundarbans – Khulna

One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Sundarbans are a vast forest land on the Bay of Bengal’s coast. This stunning woodland extends across the Bangladeshi districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, and Barguna in the delta region of the Padma, Meghna, and Brahmaputra rivers. As the world’s largest mangrove forest, located […]

The Rupsa River – Khulna

The Rupsa River, which winds through the heart of Khulna, is a popular destination for city residents looking to relax in nature or channel their creative energies. Numerous visitors of all ages frequent this location frequently. The crowds grew larger as the day went on. The night has more allure. The entire area, from the […]

The Khulna Divisional Museum – Khulna

In terms of square footage, the Khulna Divisional Museum (Bibhagio Jadughar), which is managed by the National Museum and under the direction of the Department of Archaeology, is the biggest museum in the nation. This museum exhibits various archaeological artefacts discovered in various regions of the nation, particularly barbazars in Jhenaidah, Bharat Bhayana in Jessore, […]

Rana Resort and Amusement Park – Khulna

It’s a common desire among travellers to spend some time in the great outdoors away from civilization. The Pasur River Basin in Batiaghata, Khulna, is home to the new “Rana Resort and Amusement Park,” which was built with the time and entertainment needs of the city’s vacationing residents in mind. The handy location of Rana […]

Khan Jahan Ali Bridge – khulna

Khan Jahan Ali Bridge, also known as Rupsa Setu, is a popular entertainment area close to Khulnabasi due to its clean air and distinctive beauty. People of all ages gather here every day to chat while taking in the river and the open air. The bridge in Khulna is now a well-liked tourist attraction. Any […]

Katka Beach – Sundarban

One of the most beautiful spots in all of the Sundarbans is Kotka Sea Beach. Khulna and Bagerhat, in the southeast corner of the Sundarbans, are home to Katka Beach. What this means is that it is the most visited and most important sanctuary in the eastern part of the Sundarbans and is situated roughly […]

Karamjol – khulna

Katka, Kachikhali, Neelkal, Dublar Char, Sheikh’s Tek Mandir, Mandarbaria Beach, Herbaria, Dobeki, Kalirchar, Mrigamarim Supati, etc., and Karamjal are just a few of the interesting places to visit in the Sundarbans. Karamjal is the most popular tourist destination among them. On the banks of the Pasur River, a 30-hectare tourist attraction has been built as […]

Tourist Review

Tour Today BD is complete package of bangladesh tour. Grate innovation and effort from Tour Today BD team. will see you soon at new tour destination of Bangladesh.

Aran Roijen -Student

Thank you Tour Today BD, for lot of information in one place about Bangladesh tourism. I have collect some information about Bangladesh for my summer vacation. Hope will see a mobile app about it.

Roxanna Kuijsters -Student

Travel blog, hotel in sylhet bangladesh, মোবাইল অ্যাপে বাংলাদেশের দর্শনীয় স্থান গুলো দেখুন.

TourTodayBD is the largest directory of Bangladesh tour and travel. We have tried to list out all tourist spots of Bangladesh. It's will help you to make trip plane based on spots description, rating, photos as well videos.

Quick Links

• Bangladesh Travel Blog
• Bangladesh Travel Tips
• Hotel in Bangladesh
• Travel Accessories Shop
• Privacy Policy
• Entertainment Center
• Gardens and Forest
• Hill Tracts Tour
• Historical Places
• Lake, River and Beach
• Modern Architecture

Division Based Travel

• Tourist Spots in Dhaka
• Tourist Spots in Chittagong
• Tourist Spots in Rajshahi
• Tourist Spot in Khulna
• Tourist Spots in Barisal
• Tourist Spots in Rangpur
• Tourist Spots in Sylhet
• Tourist Spots in Mymensingh

Bangladesh Tour Guide: TourTodayBD © 2017 All rights reserved.