For this beautiful four-day trip we’ll be traveling to the north-east of Bangladesh to discover the green lush region of Sylhet where we will go on a swamp tour in a boat, discover the tea plantations and meet the tribes of the Sreemangal Region.

Day 1 Sylhet

We will depart for Sylhet by plane in the morning as it is quite far. At the moment flights are at 11 am, so we’ll be just in time to have lunch after being picked up at the airport. We’ll use our afternoon to explore the region and also Ratargul Swamp Forest, which is actually best visited during the rainy season. If the water is too low, we’ll make sure to have plenty of other activities. In the swamp we can find mongoose, monkeys, monitors and many interesting birds such as herons, egrets, king fishers and eagles.

Sylhet is one of the must-visit destinations for anyone coming to Bangladesh. It is located in the beautiful Surma Valley in between the scenic tea plantations and deep green tropical forests surrounding it. It is a welcome break from the flatness of the country as it is located between the Jainta and Tripura Hills and is an excellent location to go for forest and swamp explorations as well as a good base to travel further on to the tribal areas.

The Sylhet Valley is formed by the meandering Surma and Kushiara rivers which are making their way south. The green landscape consists of haors, which are wetland ecosystems: a shallow depression known as a backswamp. During the monsoon they get flooded with water and turn into vast inland seas with the villages looking like islands. Afterwards they turn into green lands again. These haors attract millions of migratory birds coming from Siberia to shelter from the cold winter.

The region is home to tribes such as the Tipperas, Monipuris, Khasis and Garos of whom some still live according to the ancient ways and traditions.

Day 2  Srimangal

We’ll continue our journey to Srimangal, an area made up of green tea plantations, it is the wonderland of the Sylhet region. Tourism has been boosted in Srimangal as a former tea plantation owner decided to turn to domestic tourism after crops failed. The owner developed a special type of tea: ‘Seven layer tea’, a cup of tea with seven different layers of tea on top of each other. Quite unique and something that made more Bengalis come to Srimangal for a few days of vacation. Today, Srimangal is a real tourist hotspot for the wealthy Bengali population. Not only due to the ‘Seven layer tea’, but because of the green tea fields, wild waterfalls and untouched nature. Foreign tourists have not discovered this green pearl yet, so we’ll have the place to ourselves!

Besides the tea plantations, the area is rich in beautiful rainforest, wetlands, several villages of tea workers, local schools and indigenous tribes such as the Monipuri and Khasiya tribe. Today we will visit it all.

Day 3 Waterfall Trekking

Today we’ll have an exciting long hike to the famous Hum Hum waterfall, also called Ham Ham in the Rajkandi Forest. Go on an adventure and experience the true nature of Bangladesh, walking through water, muddy trails and jungle. The waterfall is located in the reserve forest of Razkandi and was just discovered in 2010. Tonight we’ll stay in Sreemangal.

Day 4  Lawachara Forest

In the morning we’ll go to Lawachara Forest, one of the small, but charming national parks of Bangladesh, not too far from Srimangal. We can find 264 bird species, 4 amphibian species, 6 reptile species and 20 mammal species in the park. One of these is the critically endangered western hoolock gibbons, of which only 62 individuals remain in the area. The Lawachara population is considered of critical importance as it is likely to be the last viable population of western hoolock gibbons that will survive into the next century. We’ll have lunch in Sreemangal and will then head to Dhaka to arrive somewhere in the evening. 

Includes:
– Transport by private car
– Professional English speaking guide
– Accommodation
– Park entry fees

Doesn’t include:
– Flights
– Meals

Please bring:
– DEET/Mosquito repellent
– Clothes which dry easily from humidity and water
– Appropriate walking shoes
– Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat to protect yourself against the sun
– Long pants and long sleeve shirts to protect yourself against mosquitoes
– Some extra drinking water and maybe a few snacks
– Rain jacket
– Medicines