
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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