TOURS
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Below are a few appetizers for you to peruse.
Window-shop to choose one or more tour that
suits your needs, then go to our reservations
page to request a booking. The best adventures
are open & personalized to match your
mood and preferences -- resulting in a most
enjoyable experience. To request a custom
tour, email
us and ask our expert tour tailor for a perfect
fitting... So enjoy, browse down or use the
'shortcuts' to navigate around and
find your dream ecotour!
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SHORTCUTS -
Hill
Tract and Tribal Tours Beach
and Island Tours Rainforest
and Sundarban Tours
Historical
and Archeological Tours City
Sightseeing and Other Tours
RETURN
TO TOP BOOK
A TOUR
Hilltract and Tribal Tours
Situated in the far southeastern
corner of Bangladesh, bordering Myanmar (Burma)
the Chittagong Hilltracts are home to over
a half a million indigenous peoples of 14
unique tribes. Much of the traditional lifestyle
is still preserved - tribal kings, village
headmen and a self-sustaining, natural lifestyle.
All in a rich, still pristine foothill ecological
environment. This region has only recently
become accessible - with the signing of an
internationally acclaimed accord between the
indigenous people and the government. Truly
an area with adventures and experiences to
treasure. It's the best Bangladesh has on
offer.
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You'll stay as house guests in traditional tribal
villages or quaint eco-cottages, enjoy river and
lake cruises, forest walks, easy treks, handicraft
shopping (or learning), bird watching, sightseeing
& photography and of course just relaxing, sunbathing
and most of all -- absorbing the pristine atmosphere
and observing the local indigenous cultures.
Include indigenous cultures, village-based conservation
& education projects, tribal crafts, music and
dance, festivals, Buddhist and Hindu temples, pristine
islands, beaches and more.
These tours are available year-round, The oft-preferred
season for many is the cooler and dry 'winter',
from late September to early April. Late April and
May are fairly warm and humid, relief arrives when
the rains begin in June, lasting up to October.
The monsoon (rainy) season is a great time for touring
by country boat, the hills become a green and lush
paradise and the lowlands resemble 'oceans' of flooded
rice plains. Each season has its own flavor and
advantages.
Our idea of an ideal group is five or six, large
enough for fun and companionship, yet small enough
to leave a small footprint. Still we're more than
happy to host individuals, couples or even platoons
of up to a dozen. Note that we'll only be able to
accommodate smaller groups overnight in the interior
villages. Larger groups will spend their nights
comfortably in nearby small market towns.
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SHORTCUTS -
Hill
Tract and Tribal Tours Beach
and Island Tours Rainforest
and Sundarban Tours
Historical
and Archeological Tours City
Sightseeing and Other Tours
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A TOUR>
Beach and Offshore Island Tours
This historic resort town boasts one of the longest
sea beaches in the world and is one of the more
popular tourist destinations in the region. It's
still easy to find long uncrowded stretches and
recreation spots. Up from the surf, there is much
to do and see in this colorful tribal market town.
Maheskhali and Sonadia islands are both just a short
county or speedboat ride away. Saint Martin's island
(southernmost point of the country, is reached via
a scenic two hour drive south to Teknaf (a border
town with Burma) and then a breezy 14 km launch
journey. Its a small, sparsely populated coral reef
island with a single hotel and plenty of vacant
beaches and coconut trees.
are offshore cruises, swimming, sunbathing, seashell
& handicraft hunting, beach-combing, sightseeing
and photography or helping with sea turtle conservation,
green coconut drinking, pony-back riding, and a
host of other varied pastimes.
include the beaches, coral or alluvial islands,
fishing villages, indigenous tribal cultures, conservation
projects, traditional sea-salt extraction, fish
and prawn hatcheries, optional live-in guest facilities,
Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic shrines and architecture,
a still pristine ecological environment and plenty
of chances to observe the profuse local flora and
fauna.
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SHORTCUTS -
Hill
Tract and Tribal Tours Beach
and Island Tours Rainforest
and Sundarban Tours
Historical
and Archeological Tours City
Sightseeing and Other Tours
RETURN
TO TOP BOOK
A TOUR
Rainforest
and Sundarban Tours
The
Sundarbans are the largest continuous mangrove forests
in the world, covering about 6,000 sq. km of both
land and water. Part of the world's largest delta
formed by the great Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers,
which converge on the Bengal basin. The western
portion lies in India and the rest (about 60%) in
Bangladesh. About one third of the total area of
this forest is covered by river channels, canals
and tidal creeks, varying in width from a few meters
to five kilometers. The Bangladesh portion of the
forest is dominated by high mangroves, the climate
is tropical maritime, with lots of rain during the
monsoon. During the winter it is mild and dry.
The
National Park area is home to a wide variety of
mangrove and other flora as well as many species
of fish, birds and mammals. This is home to the
Royal Bengal tiger (a rarity), as well as Rhesus
macaques,clawless otters, leopard cats, fishing
cats, spotted deer. In the water are found river
dolphins, fifty species of reptiles and eight species
of amphibians and the only population of the estuarine,
or saltwater crocodile in Bangladesh..
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SHORTCUTS -
Hill
Tract and Tribal Tours Beach
and Island Tours Rainforest
and Sundarban Tours
Historical
and Archeological Tours City
Sightseeing and Other Tours
RETURN
TO TOP BOOK
A TOUR
Other
tour opportunities that may interest you...
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Bangladesh is heir to a rich cultural heritage
and has many fine examples of ancient &
mediaeval stone and terra-cotta architecture.
In two thousand years, many dynasties and
conquerors have ruled Bengal, each leaving
their particular mark, despite the hot, humid
climate many are still visible. Buddhist monasteries,
Hindu temples and Moghul mosques dot the landscape,
standing above the rice fields. A few are
being restored with UNESCO assistance. More
recent colonial architecture offers a wide
number of differing styles and materials around
the country.
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On your way in & out of the country, you'll
undoubtedly stay in the overcrowded and slightly
daffy cities of either Dhaka or Chittagong.
But there's totally different side to these
erstwhile colonial towns that we can show
you - the old bazaars, markets, goldsmiths,
Mogul & Portuguese forts, colonial mansions,
mosques, temples, and more. Of course there's
the modern to explore as well, shopping centers,
NGO projects and handicraft shops. Various
bazaars and back-streets offer surreal smells
and tastes that are often as or more interesting
than the 'sights'.
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This is typical of our trekking adventures,
a 5-7 day trek including a river journey by
country boat to Ruma, then an moderate day's
hike up a river bed to the lily-filled Boga
lake and a lakeside Bawm tribal village. Below
the lake you'll find a Marma village. On and
up to Keokaradong, the highest peak in Bangladesh
(4,400 ft.). There's no roads nor electricity
this deep, but your heart will surely glow
bright with the warm association of the Bawm
and Marma people. You'll really enjoy their
profound hospitality, and 'guitar' evenings.
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Bangladesh offers many and varied birding
opportunities, especially during the migratory
winter season. It's possible to observe and
photograph a large number of bird species
that include rare forest birds, Herons, Basas,
Hornbills, Pheasants, Fortails, Laughing Thrushes,
Babblers, Raptors, Jacanas, waders, passerines,
Kingfishers, Kites, Eagles, and perhaps the
Masked Finfoot. If this activity interests
you, contact
us for more details.
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There are 1,300 voluntary organizations in
Bangladesh, home to the infamous 'Grameen'
or Village Bank. You can visit a variety of
different successful and not-so
successful programs & projects. You
can get an in-depth understanding of what,
why and how they are doing. You'll gain the
knowledge to make up your own mind or conclusions
as you'll discuss with the village beneficiaries
as well as the benefactors.
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Since British colonial days, the northeast
of the country has been dotted with innumerable
tea and rubber estates. You'll enjoy unique
visits to see close up the entire way of life
these encompass- growing, picking and processing.
You'll also visit the homes of the tribals
who do all the work to understand the bottom
line of things. As these gardens are located
in the hills, you can picnic in nearby forests,
swim in cool rivers and maybe even see a waterfall.
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