Travel to the cosmopolitan Chittagong, the country’s busiest port city, and a fascinating region of Bangladesh, both scenically and culturally: the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In this forested mountain area that stretches along the Burmese border, tribes like the Chakma and Marma still lead a life of their own, separate from the laws and regulations of the rest of the country. For a long time, this special, predominantly Buddhist area was closed to tourism, but for a few years now, visitors have been slowly admitted. Charming Rangamati is the main town of the region and is situated on a number of small islands in the picturesque Kaptai Lake. A boat trip to the tribal villages on the tropical green shores of this lake is an undisputed highlight of your visit, especially on market days. Discover the tropical island of St Martin’s and visit the longest beach in the world at Cox’ Bazar. A truly wonderful region with lots to offer. 

Day 1 Chittagong

Today we’ll cover a considerable distance to Chittagong, the second largest city in Bangladesh and also the largest port in the country, to the south. We’ll try to travel this route by train, but train tickets can only be booked late and it is never quite certain that we will actually get them. If it is not possible to obtain train tickets, we will simply travel with our own transport. In the afternoon we’ll arrive in Chittagong. In colonial times – except for Calcutta – most of the British in all of Bengal lived here. We’ll visit the shipwrecks on the beach. Chittagong is famous for this, shipwrecks are brought here and completely gutted to resell all parts.

Day 2 Rangamati

In the morning there may be time to look around Chittagong. Then we’ll travel on to the so-called ‘Chittagong Hill Tracts’, a region that is completely different in landscape and culture from the rest of Bangladesh. Rangamati, located on the scenic Kaptai Lake, is the first place we visit here. In the densely vegetated hills live tribal peoples who still live according to the original traditions. Most of these peoples are Buddhist. In Rangamati we will visit some Buddhist temples and monasteries.

Day 3 Kaptai Lake Excursion

We’ll take a boat trip on Kaptai Lake and pass through a gorge to visit Subalong and meet some tribes on the islands in the lake. One of those tribes is the Chakma, who also run a small restaurant where lunch is probably taken. At the end of the afternoon we’ll return to Rangamati where we will visit the local market.

Day 4 Bandarban

We’ll continue south through the hills of the Chittagong Hill Tracts to the tribal market town of Bandarban. Here we can stroll through the town with its market, Golden Temple and Meghla Lake. In the afternoon we’ll take a boat trip on the Sangu River.

Day 5 Cox’s Bazar

Today a further exploration of the hilly area of ​​Bandarban. We’ll visit Chimbuk Hill and some villages of the Rakhain tribe. We also stop at the Ramu Buddhist Temple, on the way to Cox’s Bazar.

Day 6 St Martin’s Island

In the morning we drive to Teknaf. From here you take the ferry (three hours) to Saint Martin’s Island, a small tropical paradise surrounded by coral reefs. There are no roads, rickshaws, cars, just palm trees, fish markets, beaches and a few turtles.

Day 7 Cox’s Bazar

Visit the island in the morning, enjoy your free time on the coral island. There are dry fish markets, local markets to enjoy. We will take you to an island if time permits called Chara Deep! Here the coral is very sharp and you have to be careful if you want to snorkel! In the afternoon, take the boat back to Teknaf and return by bus to Cox’s Bazar. Overnight at Cox’s Bazar.

Day 8 Dhaka

Today we’ll go back to Dhaka by public bus. We will arrive in the late afternoon.
Alternatively you can also book a flight.