Sundarbans Wildlife & Safari Tour

Your journey kicks off amidst the energetic pulse of Old Dhaka. As late-afternoon shadows lengthen, explore historic backstreets buzzing with rickshaws, fragrant spice markets, and time-worn colonial storefronts.

At sunset, retreat to Sadarghat River Port and step onto a private wooden boat to watch the cityscape transform into a golden silhouette across the Buriganga. By nightfall, board the iconic Rocket Steamer—where wooden corridors and glowing lanterns transport you to a bygone era of travel—and drift downriver beneath a sky full of stars.

Overnight: River vessel.

After leaving the overnight vessel, continue towards Bagerhat. One of the day's stops is Kodla Moth, also known as Ayodha Math, a tall brick temple standing in a rural setting. Its structure introduces a distinct strand of the region's religious and architectural history, predating the Bagerhat mosque circuit.

Continue to the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat, where the old settlement preserves an important collection of early Islamic architecture in Bengal. The main visit includes the Sixty Dome Mosque, along with other heritage sites connected to Khan Jahan and the historic city. After sightseeing, travel to Khulna, the main urban base before the Sundarbans section begins.

Overnight: Khulna.

Leave Khulna for Mongla, where you board the safari houseboat and continue the journey through the Sundarbans by river. After completing the required formalities, settle aboard your private houseboat and begin moving into the forest waterways.

Beyond Mongla, the channels gradually become quieter and narrower, with mangrove-covered banks drawing closer as the boat travels farther from the port area. Falling tides expose sections of mudflat, while smaller creeks branch away from the main rivers. The day's route continues towards areas such as Andhar Manik and Kotka, with wildlife watching from the boat along the way.

Keep watch along quieter banks for spotted deer, macaques, crocodiles, monitor lizards and birds. Wildlife remains wild, so sightings vary from trip to trip. Dinner is served aboard the houseboat before the boat settles for the night in an authorised area.

Overnight: Sundarbans safari houseboat.

An early start gives better conditions for listening, watching the riverbanks and moving through the forest before the heat builds. At Kotka, leave the main boat for the day's forest section. Walking here may involve mangrove ground, exposed roots, sand and patches of mud depending on recent tides and weather.

Your guide and required forest support accompany the walk. Look for animal tracks and other signs along the trail, while keeping realistic expectations: even in tiger habitat, actually seeing a Royal Bengal Tiger is uncommon.

The route continues towards Jamtola Sea Beach, where the forest opens towards the coast and the Bay of Bengal.

Later, return to the waterways and travel towards Kochikhali, using smaller channels when conditions permit. These quieter sections are useful for birdwatching and observing animals along the banks.

Overnight: Sundarbans safari houseboat.

The final morning in the forest is spent on another stretch of wildlife watching before the boat begins moving towards the exit route. Travel through waterways around Horintana, checking open banks, tree lines and creek mouths for movement.

Deer and monkeys are among the more realistic mammal sightings, while crocodiles, water monitors, kingfishers, eagles, herons and other birds may appear depending on season, tide and luck. Continue towards Karamjol, one of the better-known forest visitor areas, before completing the Sundarbans section.

After leaving the forest, transfer back towards Khulna for a quieter evening after two nights on the water.

Overnight: Khulna.

Today moves away from the protected forest and into the river communities of southwest Bangladesh. Travel towards the Chitra River area of Narail, where a small number of fishing families continue a practice that has become rare even within Bangladesh.

From narrow wooden boats, fishermen work with trained otters that move through vegetation and shallow sections of the river, helping bring fish within reach of their nets. The activity is observed as a local fishing tradition rather than an animal-handling experience. Guests do not handle the otters.

Later, continue to the Egaro Shiva Temple, a group of eleven Shiva shrines, before visiting the Dakkhindihi Rabindra Complex. Dakkhindihi is closely connected with Rabindranath Tagore's family history and adds another cultural layer to the journey through southern Bangladesh. Return to Khulna after the day's visits.

Overnight: Khulna.

Begin your final leg on the Jahanabad Express train as it crosses the engineering marvel of the Padma Bridge, revealing expansive delta views below.

Before returning to Dhaka, stop at historic Sonargaon to wander through Panam City’s abandoned 19th-century merchant mansions and observe local Jamdani weavers practising their UNESCO-recognized craft. Arrive in the capital having experienced the rich nature and history of Bangladesh.