Best Bangal Panoramic Tour

Let’s dive into Kawranbazar Vegetable Market, the busiest wholesale marketplace to find Dhaka’s most dynamic side. Then, drive to the National Assembly (Parliament Building) and take time to photograph its stylish design from outside. The next spot is the nearly-200-year-old Star Mosque, impressive for hundreds of blue star motifs all over the exterior of its white domes. Next, we will learn the early history of Bangladesh’s independence in Curzon Hall at Dhaka University and pay respect to the Hindu goddess Durga at Dhakeswari Temple. Our agenda also contains the unfinished yet haunting palace of Lalbagh Fort, Armenian Church, the only recognized heritage left that marks the presence of Armenian in Bandladesh, and Ahsan Manzil, a pink palace that was once the residence of the Nawabs (landowner) of Dhaka.

After the visit, we are going to Sadarghat River Port. As Dhaka’s water transport hub, the port is where to find the thrilling scene of numerous people and goods arriving and leaving. There are many eye-opening moments for you to capture, whether it be locals maneuvering their wooden boats loaded with passengers, or it be how narrowly a boat steers clear of a giant proud ferry. If you will, take a short boat ride around and have a panorama of the fascinating chaos on both bank and river? At about 08:30 pm, let’s board a modern ship for Barisal from the river port. Spend the night aboard.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Modern Ship - 1st Class A/C Twin Cabin

The ship will arrive at Barisal in the very early morning. After breakfast, leave the ship and drive to Banaripara to start our backwater cruise to a traditional floating market. Located on one of largest deltas on this planet, Bangladesh is known for its extensive river network, with the essence found in Barisal. As such, water becomes the cradle of local life and business. Today, we will navigate our way along a tranquil backwater canal into a local water market, where talking vendors and wooden boats full of crops offer you some best moments of authentic Bengali life. If you have a long-neck phone holder or even a drone with you, try a higher angle to photograph the dense clusters of small wooden boats brimming with fruits and vegetables - trust us, you will get wonderful photos.

After lunch, we will drive to Bagerhat to visit Sixty Dome Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Acclaimed as the most impressive mosque on the Indian subcontinent and from the Sultanate era (1204-1576 AD), it dwarfs all others in representing the ancient Bengal architecture. Follow your guide to admire its stunning brickwork and terracotta designs! Next, visit Shrine of Khan Jahan Ali, the mausoleum of a celebrated Sufi, and the nearby Nine Dome Mosque, before we drive for about 1.5 hours to take the Sundarbans reserved boat.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sundarbans Reserved Boat

In the morning, we will transfer from a pier in Mongla to the Sundarbans National Park by boat. A UNESCO World Heritage Site for boasting the largest mangrove forest on earth and varied rare wildlife, it is home to Royal Bengal Tigers that can swim, a unique result of adaption to the environment. You can also expect endangered dolphins, wild boars, deer, and a variety of other curious animals. First, let’s ask for entrance pass from Chadpai Forest Office and invite a guard to protect us throughout the forest trip. Boat to Harbaria Eco-Center, “the house of tigers”, from which we will go deep into the Park. After a safari tour for some time, head for Kochikhali and have lunch aboard. At night, the boat will dock near the Kochikhali Forest Office. Sleep on boat.

► What to Expect from the Sundarbans Boat:
Free from noise of air-conditioner and shared by no more than 20 passengers, the small Sundarbans boat will take us quietly through the park for an eco-friendly exploration. Keeping a low profile means we will not scare away wildlife we intend to spot. If you like very cool weathers, come during November to February. Although it can be hot in September, October and April, the steel (aluminum) hull and a solar-powered fan at every room will make the night cooler.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sundarbans Reserved Boat

This morning, we will take the boat to Kotka. It will take around 2 hours to arrive at Kotka. The diverse wildlife and natural beauties along the way will keep your mind engaged. After getting off the boat, we plan to go to the least-travelled Jamtola Sea Beach to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Bay of Bengal.

The highlight for today comes in the afternoon as we visit the Kotka Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the most accessible wildlife viewing spots here. Monkeys, deer, crocodiles, various birds… Get your camera prepared! You can also prepare a pair of binoculars to spy shyer or unapproachable animals. In the evening, the boat will stop at Chadpai and the chef will prepare a delicious BBQ dinner for you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sundarbans Reserved Boat

Today we will arrange a special trip for you: go to a local fishing village to experience the life of Bangladeshi fishermen and learn about their life. Lunch will mark the end of our Sundarbans tour. After getting off the ship that docks at a Mongla’s port, drive for 1.5 hours to Khulna and have a one-night hotel stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: City Inn Khulna (3 stars) / Tiger Garden International Hotel (3 stars)

Today, the guide will accompany you on a train to Rajshahi. Enjoy the vibrancy at the train station and the pleasant views outside on your way. Speaking of taking train in Bangladesh, a picture may occur to you about the insane Bengali culture of train surfing. Truly, to steal a ride, the poor can risk their life crowding on the train roof or simply hanging themselves on the door handles. Many deaths and injuries have been reported due to slipping off the train or hitting obstructs like bridge arches, and this is why prohibitive policies have been made. Don’t worry about being pushed - we have selected for you the most advanced train for you, which has relatively spacious seats and is more strictly managed. If the train surfing scene really interests you, come during the Eid Festival.

On arriving at Rajshahi six hours later, check in at the hotel, have a short break, and hop in our car to Puthia Temple City, the largest Hindu temple complex in Bangladesh. At Govinda Temple, you will appreciate elaborate terracotta designs depicting Hindu epics. Another we will visit is Shiva Temple, the largest temple dedicated to Shiva, whose white walls and intricately carved spires are reflected in a big pond, which adds more charm to its beauty. Finally, go to Padma River bank and admire sunset over the river. Go back to the hotel after the sightseeing.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Royal Raj Hotel Rajshahi (4 stars) / Hotel X (4 stars)

In the morning, we will drive to the village of Paharpur. On the way, stop by Kushumba Mosque, a rare stone mosque whose image is printed on the 5 Bangladeshi taka note. Afterwards, pass a great expanse of sugarcane fields and gardens until we arrive at Paharpur to visit another UNESCO site, Paharpur Buddhist Bihar, also known as Sompura Mohavihara. The impressive architecture of this Buddhist temple seems to be a work of modern geometric art, while its history can actually date back to the 9th century. With statues of Buddha and Hindu deities found in abundance, the thick otherworldly atmosphere will carry you away. Your knowledgeable guide will detail to you the temple’s history and how it is structured, which is not much officially explained on site.

After lunch, drive to Bogra and we’ll visit Mahasthangarh, an archaeological site to find ancient traces of the lost Pundra Kingdom that dates from 300 BC. At dusk, we will enjoy an amazing sunset from Vasu Vihara. After that, transfer to your hotel in Bogra.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Momo Inn Park & Resort Bogra (5 stars)

The first attraction for today is the Navaratna Temple at Sirajganj. Although its nine minarets were lost in some 300 years of history, it’s still an architectural gem with beautiful sophisticated motifs entirely covering its terracotta walls. Next, we are going to experience a 1.5-hour cruise on the Jamuna River, a main river of Bangladesh. Later, drive around 3 hours back to Dhaka. We will arrive in Dhaka at dusk and check in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sky City Hotel Dhaka (4 stars) / Hotel Grand Palace (4 stars)

From 7:00 am, a 4.5-hour drive will take us to Srimangal, the tea capital of Bangladesh. Before you will unfold boundless terraced tea gardens, along with waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, tribal villages, as well as plantations of other crops like rubber and pineapple. After checking into the hotel, begin our tour with a visit to a famous local tea garden.

After lunch, have a walk inside the Rubber Garden, visit Manipuri Tribal Village, and learn about local people’s traditional weaving methods. In this way, we are playing a role in protecting the tradition, which is slowly dying for lack of support. In the evening, we will taste the "7-Layer Tea", which the tribe is particularly famous for. Overnight in Srimangal.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Paragon & Resort Srimangal (4 stars)

In the morning, we will go on an adventure in Lawachara National Park. We will walk among the rays of morning sun filtered through green canopies, with endangered Hoolock Gibbon curiously watching us. If you ever watched the Hollywood movie Around the World in 80 Days, you will also find the rails inside very familiar to you, as it’s the one of the shooting locations. Then, drive to Madhabpur Lake, originally a water-supplying reservoir and now a sightseeing spot, to stroll its banks amidst tranquil scenic views. From the dam, you can also view the Indian territory of Tripura. After having a meal at a local restaurant, we will return to Dhaka.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Vistana Dhaka (4 stars)

Today, take a morning flight to Chittagong. Out from the airport, we will first stop by Potenga Sea Beach to see a spectacle of vessels sailing towards the port of our destination. Then, we will go for Karnafully fishing front and Sadarghat area, Chittagong’s oldest waterfront area to find fascinating fishing boats, bazaars, and colorfully-painted rickshaws. After, we go for check in and have lunch in a good restaurant.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Chittagong World War Cemetery, a peaceful land burying Commonwealth soldiers who sacrificed themselves during World War II. Our last activity today is taking a boat ride to the coastal region of Kumira to visit the world’s largest ship breaking yard. 

It’s interesting to know that, in Chittagong, locals are still debating over whether Chittagonian is a dialect of Bengali, even if linguists have claimed that it is an independent language, like Portuguese to Spanish. Grab the chance to get the cultural insight if there is any to talk with locals about this. Stay overnight in Chittagong.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Agrabad Chittagong (4 stars)

This morning, we will leave for Rangamati, a hidden gem in the Chittagong Hills region. Before we arrive there, we will stop by the Shrine of Bayezid Bostami - a holy place for Sufi Muslims with an exterior painted in soothing whites and soft blues. There are several giant turtles that have lived hundreds of years, who would be happy to eat a banana from you. Your visit is also supporting the work of the caretaker who does the cleaning here, and makes sure respects are given to the divinity.

Upon arrival in Rangamati, drop off luggage at the hotel and start our exciting Rangamati cruise tour on the Kaptai Lake. The Lake, along with surrounding lush greenery and tribal cultures of peoples of Murang, Kuki, Chakma, etc., together make a paradise for adventurers and photographers alike. During the 5 to 6-hour cruise, we will pass by famous Bonorupa Floating Market, Rajban Vihar (a Buddhist temple), Chakma King House, and Shuvolong Waterfall. Late into the afternoon, head for the Bonorupa Bazaar, where locals trade their daily necessities. Overnight in Rangamati.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Parjatan Holiday Complex Rangamati (3 stars lake view)

Today, the guide will take you to visit some tribal villages in Rangamati. Chakma is the largest ethnic group in Chittagong Hill Tracts. It’s perhaps the surrounding idyllic beauties that make the people so peaceful and satisfied. Here, one thing that would immediately catch your eyes is their clothes with unique designs, colors, and patterns - it’s true they excel at weaving fabrics. As we pass by village houses, it’s likely you will see a woman sitting before a handloom doing the work. As a tourist, you can also try their fresh fruits like pineapples and bananas, which are chemical preservative-free. On the way back to Chittagong, pay a visit to the iconic Hanging Bridge over the Kaptai Lake; you will find it more beautiful if it rains today. After arriving in Chittagong, have lunch at a local restaurant. Then drive to Chittagong Airport and fly to Dhaka. Stay near the airport tonight.

★ Meticulous Care: Why We Find You a Hotel near Dhaka Airport
Dhaka is insanely populous: there are averagely 65 thousand people per square km, so you can imagine how congested the traffic can be everywhere in this city. If you stay in the downtown tonight, you will have to deal with it while leaving for the airport tomorrow, and this is why we decided to let you overnight near the airport - sleep tight tonight and wait for your driver to pick you up at a designated time tomorrow. Of course, if your departure time is quite late tomorrow and you want to further explore Dhaka, we are glad to change the hotel to cater to your interest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Grand Vistana Dhaka (4 stars)

Your tour will be over today. We will transfer you to the airport and say goodbye. May you have a safe trip home!

► Recommended Attractions for Your Free Time:
1. Bangladesh National Museum (16km from airport). Exhibitions here include illustrations of Bangladesh’s natural beauties, folk cultural relics (like traditional boats), and history of the Liberation War. 
2. National Art Gallery (20 minutes’ walk from the museum). This is for art lovers. Here you can find works of nationally famous Bangladeshi artists.
3. Shadeed Minar (20 minutes’ walk from the museum). The structure is built in memory of the martyrs who sacrificed during the Bengali Language Movement.

Note: As Dhaka’s traffic speed is as slow as about 4.8km/h (faster walking speed is 4km/h), if you are to visit such distant spots as the museum, you have to leave enough time for you to navigate through traffic jams to catch your flight. Remember that you are also suggested by the airport office to arrive at the airport 4 hours before departure. You will need to wait in a chaotic line to go through the check-in process; the security check, the last pre-boarding procedure, alone requires 1-2 hours to be done.

Meals: Breakfast