Days
Imagine a river journey on a century-old Rocket paddle steamer, its wheels churning the moonlit waters of the delta. Picture yourself stepping ashore to wander the domes and shrines of 15th-century Bagerhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where history still whispers from every brick.
Then, for four magical days, lose yourself in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest: dawn rows through silent creeks, watchtowers above deer-grazed clearings, wild boar tracks in the sand at Jamtola Beach, and crocodiles sliding into tea-coloured tidewater.
This 10-day private tour balances history, wilderness, and culture—ending with a rare encounter in Narail, where fishermen still partner with trained otters, and a final day in Sonargaon & Panam Nagar, Bengal’s abandoned merchant capital, round off the journey in a Jamdani weaving village, where artisans practice the Traditional Art of Jamdani Weaving—inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and considered one of the finest textile traditions in the world.
💡 Pro Tip: Panorama Bangladesh limits Sundarbans departures to a maximum of 4 guests—quieter creeks, better wildlife moments, and a depth of immersion that big boats simply can’t match.
• Overnight on the legendary Rocket Steamer (first-class AC cabin when available)
• Explore UNESCO-listed Bagerhat: Sixty Dome Mosque, shrines, Kodla Temple
• 4D/3N deep Sundarbans expedition: dawn rows, wildlife trails, BBQ dinner on deck
• Wildlife focus: spotted deer, boar, crocodiles, monkeys, dolphins, kingfishers & waders (tiger—if you’re lucky)
• Witness traditional otter fishing on the Chitra River in Narail
• Old Dhaka by rickshaw & Buriganga river boat at sunset
• Sonargaon & Panam Nagar: Bengal’s medieval trading capital + Jamdani weaving village
• Day 1: Arrival in Dhaka
• Day 2: Old Dhaka sightseeing → Rocket Steamer overnight
• Day 3: Bagerhat mosques & Kodla Temple → Mongla
• Days 4–6: Sundarbans houseboat expedition (Kotka, Jamtola, Kochikhali, Dublar Char, Horintana)
• Day 7: Karamjol sanctuary & Joymoni village → Khulna
• Day 8: Narail otter fishing → Dhaka
• Day 9: Sonargaon & Panam City + Jamdani weaving village
• Day 10: Departure
📸 Photo Assist Hour: Hands-on help for better street portraits and composition.
🧵 Rickshaw-Art Mini Demo: Meet an artist and learn how the panels are painted.
🚤 Extended River Loop: Extra 30 minutes on quieter channels at golden hour.
Day 1 — Arrival in Dhaka
Welcome to Bangladesh. Your guide greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel in Dhaka. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a short walk or simply rest and reset. Overnight in Dhaka.
Day 2 — Old Dhaka & the Rocket Steamer
Dive into Dhaka’s living museum: Parliament House (exterior), incense-scented Dhakeshwari Temple, Lalbagh Fort, shimmering Star Mosque, the quiet Armenian Church, and the riverside pink grandeur of Ahsan Manzil.
Wind through Chawk and Shankhari Bazaars by rickshaw, where spices, sweets and steelware spill into the alleys. At sunset, float on a wooden rowboat across the busy Buriganga, lanterns flickering on ferries all around you.
By around 18:00, board the historic Rocket paddle steamer—or a comfortable modern overnight ferry if the Rocket isn’t running—and settle into your cabin as the city lights fade behind you.
Day 3 — UNESCO Bagerhat & Mongla Gateway
Disembark at Barisal in the early morning and continue by road toward Mongla. En route, explore the UNESCO Mosque City of Bagerhat:
Late-afternoon drive to Mongla, gateway to the Sundarbans. Overnight in Mongla.
Day 4 — Into the Sundarbans
Board your private houseboat after breakfast. While permits are processed and your armed forest ranger joins, you’ll begin cruising along mangrove-fringed channels.
Walk the Harbaria eco-trail for your first introduction to mangrove flora and fauna. Lunch is served on deck as the boat glides deeper into the forest. At dusk, switch into a small rowboat near Kotka, gliding quietly along creeks in search of deer, birds and crocodiles. Overnight on the boat, anchored in the forest.
Day 5 — Kotka, Watchtowers & Jamtola Beach
Wake sunrise before sunrise to climb the Kotka watchtower—spotted deer graze in the clearings and raptors circle overhead.
After breakfast, row silently through narrow channels, scanning for monkeys, kingfishers and waterbirds. Later, walk the forest trail to Jamtola Beach, where mangroves give way to an empty, wild stretch of sand.
Return to the boat for lunch and a gentle cruise toward Kochikhali, with another sunset row or a short walk, depending on tides and wildlife movement, and overnight near Kochikhali.
Day 6 — Dublar Char & Horintana
Morning row among salt-laced channels alive with kingfishers and egrets. Then cruise out toward Dublar Char, watching wild boar crossing mudflats and crocodiles basking when the tide is right.
In the afternoon, navigate through the Horintana area, known for open channels and excellent chances of spotting deer along the banks. As night falls, enjoy a BBQ dinner on deck under a star-filled sky, listening to the forest’s nocturnal chorus. Overnight on the boat.
Day 7 — Karamjol Sanctuary & Khulna Rest
Your final dawn row is a hushed farewell to the mangroves. On the way back, stop at Joymoni village for a glimpse of riverine village life shaped by tides and storms.
Finish at Karamjol, where a short boardwalk introduces the mangrove nursery and crocodile breeding centre. Disembark at Mongla, then drive to Khulna for a hot shower, hotel comforts and a relaxed evening. Overnight in Khulna.
Day 8 — Otter Fishing in Narail & Drive to Dhaka
After breakfast, drive through the countryside to Narail, one of the last strongholds of otter-assisted fishing. From a local boat, watch fishermen whistle and gesture as trained otters dive and herd fish into waiting nets—a centuries-old, community-led tradition still alive today.
Share tea and conversation with the fishing family, then continue by road over the impressive Padma Bridge, the longest in Bangladesh, back to Dhaka. Overnight in Dhaka.
Day 9 — Sonargaon, Panam Nagar & Jamdani Weaving
Head out to Sonargaon, Bengal’s medieval capital:
In the afternoon, visit a Jamdani weaving village, where master weavers handloom intricate saris thread by thread. Learn how this UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage is woven and what sets authentic Jamdani apart. Return to Dhaka. Overnight in Dhaka.
Day 10 — Departure
Free time depending on your flight schedule. Private transfer to the airport for your onward journey. The tour ends with rivers, ruins, mangroves, and rare encounters, all still vivid in your mind.
🔒 Exclusive Dhaka Discovery – Affordable Private Luxury Tour
💲 Start: The first 1–2 guests are a flat fee of $180 USD total
➕ Add-On: Each additional guest (up to 2 more) is $70 USD per person
👥 Maximum Group Size: 6 guests total
🚐 Custom Tour? Solo, groups & families — contact us for a personalised quote
Your Day, Your Way – Fully Tailored Experience
Special Offer
Fair Pricing Promise
Free Rescheduling & Cancellation
🔍 Seeking a Guaranteed Fixed Departure or Tailored B2B Tours in Bangladesh?
We’ve got you covered.
www.bangladeshunbound.com | 
info@bangladeshunbound.com | 
WhatsApp: +880 1601-652679• Meals and drinks not mentioned; alcoholic beverages
• Drone permits in Sundarbans (approx. $400) & video camera fee (approx. $20)
• Porterage, tips/gratuities and personal expenses
📌 Key Notes
• Start Days: Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday are recommended for the best alignment with site openings and Rocket schedules.
• Rocket Reality: Heritage vessels with basic cabins; AC can be patchy, and showers are not available. If the paddle steamer is not running, a comfortable modern passenger ferry is used instead.
• Wildlife Expectations: Tigers are incredibly elusive. Expect deer, wild boar, macaques, crocodiles, dolphins, monkeys, masked finfoot (with luck), raptors and a wealth of birdlife.
• Boat Comfort: Simple but safe houseboat—clean cabins, western toilet, solar lighting, generator in the evening, bucketed hot water on request.
• Connectivity: Mobile signal is patchy to non-existent inside the forest—embrace the digital detox.
• Permits: Sundarbans permits should ideally be arranged at least 2 weeks in advance; CHT permits are not required for this itinerary.
• Practicalities: Modest dress for mosques and villages; bring insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, a light jumper (Nov–Feb), and sturdy, easy-to-clean shoes/sandals.
• Hotels: 4–5★ local-standard hotels in major hubs; best available, clean options elsewhere.
🌍 Responsible Travel Pledge
🤝 Ethical, Community First Travel: We ensure fair pay for guides, drivers, boat crews, artisans, and local families. We support community-led enterprises and ethical craft traditions with dignity and respect.
🗑️ Leave No Trace: We minimise waste on every tour and take out everything we bring in. Nature and communities remain exactly as we found them—or better.
🐦 Wildlife Comes First: No baiting, no chasing, no disturbance. We avoid flash photography around animals and always respect ethical viewing distances.
🕌 Cultural Respect Always: Dress modestly in sacred spaces, behave respectfully, and ask permission before taking close-up portraits of people—especially elders, artisans, and children.
🌱 Carbon-Aware Travel: We prioritise CNG-powered and fuel-efficient vehicles whenever possible. Remaining emissions are offset through local tree-planting initiatives in Bangladesh.
Is the Rocket Steamer guaranteed?
No. If it’s unavailable or cabins are sold out, we switch to a modern overnight ferry with a private AC cabin. The night on the river remains a highlight.
What is the Sundarbans boat like?
A private traditional houseboat with basic but clean twin cabins, a western toilet, solar lights, fresh Bengali meals cooked onboard, and an armed forest ranger accompanying the group.
Will I see a tiger?
Highly unlikely. The Sundarbans is genuine wilderness; tiger sightings are rare. The real magic lies in the forest’s atmosphere, biodiversity, and quiet creeks.
Can I spot a masked finfoot?
Possibly. We use routes and creek timings that have a good track record for this shy species, but sightings are never guaranteed.
Is otter fishing real or staged?
It’s a genuine, working tradition. Narail is one of the last places where otter-assisted fishing is still practised. We visit families who treat their animals well and welcome visitors respectfully.
How strenuous is this tour?
Moderate. Expect short forest walks, boarding small boats, climbing watchtower steps and exploring ruins on uneven ground. No long-distance trekking is required.
Are Panam City & the Jamdani weaving village authentic?
Yes. Panam Nagar is an original abandoned merchant quarter under conservation, and the weaving villages are active Jamdani communities recognised by UNESCO.
👥 Small-group ethos (max 4 guests) — quieter forest experiences and better wildlife viewing
🤝 Deep cultural touches — otter fishing, weaving villages, riverine communities; not tourist shows
🗺️ Forest logistics handled end-to-end — permits, rangers, tides, dawn starts & safety
🚫 Transparent pricing — no forced shopping stops, no hidden extras
🏞️ Balanced design — heritage, wilderness, and living traditions woven into one seamless loop
🚗 Reserve your Private Dhaka City Tour today.
Get in touch with us anytime for a quick quote and custom tweaks.
info@panoramabangladesh.com | WhatsApp: +880 1601-652669
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