Bohmong King | "We welcome guests, but don't want Bandarban to become crowded or polluted like Rangamati. We don't want to lose our culture nor see it consigned to a museum."
- Raja A S Prue | Bangladesh Ecotours is an experienced group of tribal leaders, ecotour operators, local guides, ecologists, social activists and other sundry personalities dedicated to deep ecotourism. We're the founding member of the local Ecotour Association as well as the pioneer (and still the only) eco adventure tour & trek organization in Bangladesh.
Established on the principle that sensitive tourism, if under the guidance of enlightened indigenous people, may prove a viable, sustainable alternative resource to the local people to protect the environment and their traditional and diverse cultures - we strive to at least have an interesting time trying and learning.
You'll appreciate our focus on people -- their culture and the environment. These are not simply sight-seeing excursions, but real-time learning experiences. Enjoy an ideal blend of adventure and exploration with comfort and relaxation. Good, clean accommodation in the towns and hill tribe eco cottages or homestays in the interior allow a close interaction with your host families. Additional local guides and experts are used for treks and special interest tours. Oh, and our rates are as pocketbook-friendly, as you'll find anywhere in South Asia, and help to preserve the environment and the indigenous cultures at the same time. We're committed -- most of our profits stay in the villages and areas visited, with the local communities -- directly supporting local initiatives.
 We offer both standard and customized tours for you to choose from, the later being our specialty and passion. If you're into nature, culture and unique experiences; traveling alone or with a very small group of like-minded people, are an 'off-the-beaten-path' type, and can manage a laugh (or at least a smile) when things get rather too earnest, you're definitely on the right track... Join any of our exciting tours and help develop ecotourism in a planned, intelligent and interactive manner. We know the region and the people well as we live here and work with them, you can help by visiting with an open mind and heart. Our idea of an ideal group is from four to six people - just right for fun, flexibility and a low-impact. Still we're more than happy to host any individual, couple or groups of up to a dozen. Note that we're only able to accommodate smaller groups overnight in the interior villages. Larger groups will spend their nights comfortably in nearby small towns.
Bangladesh Ecotours cooperates closely with the indigenous communities and generously contributes to, and helps coordinate their local initiatives aimed at conserving both the natural bio-diversity and their unique cultural heritage.
Didar, Monindra and Mostafa are serious about developing sustainable, interactive community-based ecotourism in Bangladesh. Our company's primary aim is to provide sustained financial support to the local folk and to preserve and protect both the indigenous cultures and the ecosystems of the hilltracts and coastal regions. It's an uphill struggle no doubt, with plenty of ebbs and swells in unknown waters, but we intend to have an rewarding and interesting time trying, and would like to share and explore this attempt with all our friends, guests and visitors.
 Didar is 'Khokan' to his family and a post graduate of the National University. He calls the beautiful offshore island of Maheskhali 'home', though he seldom gets to visit it these days. Didar worked for many years as a travel and tour operator and later founded his own tour company. Being deeply concerned about the long-term negative impacts of tourism, he then began this, the very first (and still the only) ecotour organization in the country. He loves to travel all over Asia and being one of the founders of the Bangladesh Numismatic Society, has one of the finest collections of ancient coins in the country.
 Mostafa was born in the coastal area of south-eastern Bangladesh and brought up in Chittagong city which was the home to the largest population of British in Bengal next to Kolkata (Calcutta) during the colonial times. After graduating in bachelor of commerce, he worked as a tour guide in travel and tourism industry and joined Bangladesh Ecotours in 2001. Mostafa has travelled widely throughout Bangladesh, (Especially trekked in the Chittagong Hill Tracts), also travelled in India & Nepal. Walking has always been his passion and he loves discovering new areas & routes. He also enjoys cooking, singing, photography and meeting new people.
 Monindra Tripura or 'Tum Tum' as the Mru call him, coordinates our cultural, social and educational programs and projects. He is a graduate in social sciences and for many years was the local director of an international development organization. After concluding they could do much better on their own, with an agenda for and by the indigenous people themselves, he is now working with tribal village education, indigenous land rights and other development projects. He recently abandoned his treetop 'control center' and is presently building a home in the hills for his new family.
 Besides the above, we have a large network of experienced Bengali and Indigenous women and men who act as part or full-time tour managers, local guides, caretakers, teachers and office staff, far too numerous to mention, but all are great people, good friends and caring teachers.
Last mentioned but, certainly the most important - are the many wonderful host families and communities in the hilltracts and around the country who care for our guests while on tours & treks and teach us how to do things the right way.
Join us to learn about & experience unique lifestyles
and explore nature in and around secluded hilltop tribal villages.
"Thank you for everything, our eco-holiday to the hills and beaches of Chittagong was beyond our expectations. We really enjoyed ourselves and came away so much more aware of many things that we wouldn't have been able to on any regular tour. It was so much more than simply a vacation, and we thank you so much for it and all the things we learned about the wonderful Mru culture. Every country or region should have tour options like yours." -- Michelle & Terry Johnson, Minnesota, USA -- |
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