The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home of the Bengal tiger. You can only explore it by boat, with a forest permit and an armed forest guard. This guide explains your options, from a half-day visit to a four-day expedition.
Day trip or boat expedition?
- Day visit to Karamjal: a short boat ride from Mongla to a forest station with a wooden walkway, a deer and crocodile breeding centre and your first taste of the mangroves. Good for a short trip.
- Two to four-day boat expedition: you sleep on board and travel deep into the forest to Katka, Kochikhali and Harbaria, walking short trails and exploring small creeks by country boat at dawn. This is the real Sundarbans experience.
Our Sundarbans Mangrove and Wildlife Expedition is a four-day trip, and the Dhaka, Barisal and Sundarbans Heritage Tour combines the forest with the Mosque City of Bagerhat.
What wildlife will you see?
Spotted deer, rhesus macaques, wild boar, saltwater crocodiles, monitor lizards, otters and, if you are lucky, river dolphins. The birdlife is superb, with eight species of kingfisher, white-bellied sea eagles and lesser adjutant storks. Tigers are present but very rarely seen. Fresh pugmarks on a muddy bank are a thrill in themselves.
Best time to go
November to February is the best season, with calm water, cool weather and the most boats running. March can still be good. The forest is usually closed to tourists for part of the monsoon, roughly June to August, while fishing and boat trips are suspended for the breeding season.
Permits and rules
Every visitor needs a permit from the Forest Department, and boats travel with an armed forest guard. Your tour operator arranges both. Visitors stay on the boat at night and walk only on designated trails. Do not leave any plastic behind.
How to get there
The gateways are Khulna and Mongla. From Dhaka it is about four to five hours by road via the Padma Bridge, or a short flight to Jashore followed by a drive. Combine the trip with the Sixty Dome Mosque in Bagerhat, less than an hour from Mongla.
What to pack
- Binoculars and a long camera lens
- Light layers, plus a warm jacket for misty winter mornings on deck
- Closed shoes for muddy trails
- Insect repellent, sun cream and a hat
- Seasickness tablets if you are sensitive to motion; the estuary can be choppy
Frequently asked questions
Can you see tigers in the Sundarbans?
Sightings are rare because the tigers are shy and the forest is dense. Most visitors see tracks rather than tigers. Go for the forest and the birds, and treat a tiger as a bonus.
Is the Sundarbans safe to visit?
Yes, with a licensed operator. Boats carry forest guards and visitors only walk in designated areas.
