Bangladesh Encounter
Exotic. Untouched. Remote. Bangladesh is like no other travel experience.
Test the senses!
This is an authentic adventure through one of the worlds most misunderstood destinations. Commonly referred to as a ‘basket case’ complete with floods, poverty and natural disaster, Bangladesh is in reality a breath of fresh travel air.
Bangladesh provides the traveller with an opportunity to discover a culture in its purest form. Circumstances have placed this region of Asia in amongst some of the more travelled tourist destinations of the world. Yet it remains astonishingly untouched. The people are wonderfully curious and not at all shy in sharing their day with you.
There are natural features that will astound you such as the beautiful Kaptai lake, the Sunderbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and the longest stretch of beach sand on this good earth. And to chug along the huge rivers and small backwaters in the ageing and rustic ‘rocket’ boats is to experience the land as it has been travelled for eons.
However the monuments you will find come in the form of a handshake, a conversation over a locally brewed “char”, and the purity of a smile that comes from the genuine pleasure of contact in a land that seems to have passed by the indifference the outside world.
Bangladesh will challenge you. It could very well make you remember why you travel and remind you what the world holds in store for you. You may find that this is indeed the kind of destination you have sought all along.
*Please note that Rangamati and Bandarban and the Chittagong hilltracts in general are periodically closed to foreigners. It is pot luck whether we will be able to visit either or any of these two destinations. Global Drift will monitor the situation and make an informed decision on the ground. Should both areas be closed we intend to visit the tea estates in the Sylhet region
| 14 Day Itinerary | ||
| Departure: | 29th January 2011 | (Saturday to Friday) |
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| Price: | USD$1450 | (or AUD$ equivalent) |
| Plus Local Payment: | USD$300 | (What is this?) |
Day 1 - Dhaka Arrival day (no activities planned). Day 2 - Dhaka onto overnight boat Today we schedule a visit to the home of an esteemed rickshaw art painter. Rickshaws are distinguished by the bright colours and scenes from history, cinema and wildlife. No respectable rickshaw driver would settle for less than the brightest designs. We also have time to view some wonderful museums and architecture or immerse yourself in the riverside bustle of the market.
Bangladesh is a land of rivers and much of the local life is centred around the water. What better way to experience this than from the “Rocket”, a classic paddle steamer. Your local cuisine is prepared by the crew and your overnight cabins are ready! An amazing river journey Day 3 - Mongla On arrival we check into our Hotel. We take a look at this small river town and perhaps visit one of the most run down cinemas in Asia to see a Bangla Blockbuster “Dhakawood” style Day 4 - Mongla The Sunderbans is the largest littoral mangrove belt in the world and they stretch more than 80kms into Bangladesh's interior, providing a sanctuary for a wide variety of wild life including the illusive Bengal Tiger. We explore the area using country boats and launches and also take a walk in the jungle Day 5 - Mongla to Chittagong We drive north to the terminus town of Jessore. Depending on our flight time we may call in on the ancient ruins of Bagerhat. We catch our flight (not included*) to Chittagong arriving in time to explore the bustling city in the evening
*The internal flight from Jessore to Chittagong on Day 5 is not included in the tour cost. You will pay for this on the ground. The cost should be in the vicinity of U$100-120. Your group leader will collect the payment in Dhaka Day 6 - Chittagong to Rangamati or Bandarban This morning we plan to visit the interesting 'Tribal Cultures of Bangladesh' museum. Perhaps you may wish to wander out to the ship’s graveyard and visit the swarms of workers stripping down sea craft from small boats to the largest of ocean liners and tankers. Truly an amazing sight. We travel in the afternoon and enjoy a very picturesque drive up to Rangamati or Bandarban Day 7-8 - Rangamati and/or Bandarban We depart early for the very picturesque drive up to Rangamati or Bandarban. In Rangamati we plan to stay on the shores of the lake and find ourselves guests of the Chakma people. We will enjoy a taste of the culture and way of life of these lake peoples. Possible activities include a boat trip on emerald blue water of Kaptai Lake, visit a Buddhist temple, tribal markets and the Chakma king’s palace.
In Bandarban we plan to visit nearby Bhom and Marma tribal villages. This remote tribal area provides stunning mountain views and access to villages that are well off any tourist trail Day 9 - Rangamati and/or Bandarban to Cox’s Bazar If possible we drive to Chimbuk, which is the highest accessible place in Bangladesh by car. We are extremely fortunate to visit a nearby Mru tribal village. On the way back we can take shower at Shailapropat waterfall. After lunch we will drive on to our resort accommodation in Cox’s Bazar. We may decide to spend the evening on the longest sea beach in the world and enjoy the sunset Day 10 - Cox’s Bazar We take zippy speedboats over to the remote island of Maheskhali which has a mixture of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim residents. Time to visit the remote Hindu ashram and the hilltop stupa, which commands fantastic views of the island. We return to have the afternoon to explore the beach and shops which attract all and sundry as the preferred holiday destination of the country Day 11 - Cox’s Bazar Today is a free day but there is any number of great options. There is time for a trip down to Teknaf which is an old smuggler’s hideout very close to the Burmese border. You may jump on a ferry over to St Martin’s Island. We are getting quite remote here and have a chance to visit age-old fishing communities existing pretty much as they have done for hundreds of years.
We may decide to spend the day at the beach in Cox’s. Other options include a visit to the legendary Himchari beach, the local fish market, a Buddhist temple and the Burmese market. So much to see and do Day 12 - Cox’s Bazar to Chittagong Overnight train to Dhaka We catch our morning bus to Chittagong and depending on our schedule we may have time to enjoy some last minute sightseeing in this vibrant city. Later in the day we head for the station and board our overnight train to Dhaka. Sleeper cabins await us however the vibrant train life will keep us interested long into the night Day 13 - Arrive Dhaka Arriving in the morning we check into our hotel and have a free day for last minute shopping and exploration. Our farewell dinner will give us an opportunity to reminisce about our experiences in one of the world’s last untouched destinations for the truly Day 14 - Dhaka Departure day |
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