On this individual trip, which can be completely adapted to your wishes, you start the adventure in the capital Dhaka. a dizzying cauldron full of energy and activity, where you will be short of eyes and ears to process all first impressions. Every day, some 600,000 brightly painted cycle rickshaws move like colorful waves through an endless sea of ​​traffic… A boat trip on the Buriganga River, the heart artery of Old Dhaka, will introduce you to an unforgettable spectacle of life in this hard-working metropolis.

In the Rajshahi Division, in rural northwest Bangladesh, the cheerful colors of the bazaars and the exuberant casualness of the city dwellers alternate with sleepy villages and forgotten remnants of a rich history. Crumbling monuments such as the red sandstone Hindu temple of Kantanagar, the Buddhist monastic ruins of Paharpur and the ancient citadel of Mahasthangarh bear silent witness to the mighty principalities that once thrived here in prosperity.

Short Itinerary for your Bangladesh Trip 

Day 1 arrival Dhaka
Day 2 Dhaka
Day 3 Tangail
Day 4 Day train to Dinajpur
Day 5 Bogra
Day 6 Rajshahi through Natore and Puthia
Day 7 Rajshahi
Day 8 Kushtia
Day 9 Dhaka

Day 1 arrival Dhaka

You will be awaited by our team at Dhaka airport and be transferred to your hotel. You will have the time to take some rest before you make your first acquaintance with the capital in the afternoon/evening depending on your time of arrival. You will visit the Lalbagh Fort, a 17th century Mughal palace that today is an oasis of calm in the middle of the city. Particularly popular as a meeting point for local youth. 

Although the majority of the population is Muslim, there is also room for a Hindu temple: the Dhakeswari Temple. A first acquaintance ends in the Newmarket shopping complex. Everything is for sale here and there is a cozy atmosphere. On the top floor, the textile department is very colorful and photogenic. Here the cloths and rugs are still old-fashioned with blocks provided with their pattern.

Day 2 Dhaka

Today you will get to know this immense city, which is bustling with life. Dhaka is a chaotic city full of people and endless rows of rickshaws, cars, taxis, mopeds, bicycles, street vendors, etc. The ‘rickshaw capital of the world’ does cause countless congestion; be patient and be amazed at how everyone finds their way. Of course you will visit Sadarghat today, where the boats come and go to bring people and goods to the other side of the river. We will take a boat trip on the impressive Buriganga River, the bustling lifeline of the city, to see it all up close. Also on the program are the Star Mosque, the Pink Palace and Hindu Street. In short, an overwhelming amount of colors and scents that the Indian subcontinent is so famous for.

Day 3 Dhaka – Tangail

After visiting the busy city, today you will explore the countryside. We’ll drive to the village of Tangail, located a short three-hour drive from Dhaka. Here we spend the night in a guesthouse of the organization Ubinig that, in addition to supporting sustainable agriculture, also sets up community-based tourism projects to support the villagers of Bangladesh in their livelihood. In the village you will learn more about the activities of this organization and about village life. You can see how various crafts are still performed in the traditional way. The bicycle is ideal for such a ride through the countryside (if available at the time).

Day 4 Tangail – Dinajpur

In the morning we’ll go to Dinajpur by train. Along the way, you can feast your eyes on the train and the surrounding landscape. After traveling for about eight hours we will arrive in Dinajpur.

Day 5 Dinajpur – Bogra via Kantanagar and Paharpur

In the morning we will go to one of the most special Hindu temples in the country, the Kantanagar Temple, built in 1652 by the Maharaja of Dinajpur. The temple is an hour’s drive away and is one of the finest examples of the terracotta architecture that was so common in Bangladesh. The walls of the complex have beautiful images of gods, people, animals and floral motifs. The makers had a special fantasy resulting in special sculpture. We then continue to Joypurath for a stop for lunch.

Then we will visit one of the cultural highlights in the northwest of the country: Paharpur. This Buddhist monastic complex dates back to the time of the Pala dynasty (7th to 12th century). The ruin complex is beautiful and peaceful in a rural setting and was the largest Buddhist building south of the Himalayas. Larger than, for example, Borobudur in Indonesia.

Day 7 Rajshahi

You will visit the area around Rajshahi and the mosque of Choto Sona, located near the border, the Darasbari mosque and Madrasa and the Khonia Dighji mosque. Afterwards we will make a lunch stop in Chapai Nawabganj, to then return to Rajshahi and visit the Barendra research museum. Rajshahi is an important silk production center on the border with India and there is the possibility to view a silk factory and get a closer look at the process from caterpillar to silk. In the evening we can take a walk along the Padma River.

Day 8 Rajshahi – Khustia

In the morning we’ll drive for about four hours to Kushtia. Here we will visit the mausoleum of Lalon Shah and the home of the famous poet Rabindaranath Tagore. We’ll have lunch and you will have a free evening.

Day 9 Dhaka

Today we drive back to Dhaka where you’ll arrive before noon. End of tour.