Mangrove Forest
About Mangrove Forest
The Sundarbans spreads across the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, shared between Bangladesh and India, with the larger part on the Bangladesh side. Its wildlife sanctuaries are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forest is named after the sundari tree, and twice a day the tide floods and drains it, leaving mudbanks dotted with breathing roots.
Most visitors explore on a tourist boat from Khulna or Mongla, sleeping on board and going ashore with a guide at forest stations. Spotted deer, rhesus monkeys, wild boar, monitor lizards, kingfishers and crocodiles are common sightings. Tigers live here but are shy and rarely seen, so come for the forest itself rather than a guaranteed sighting.
Entry needs a Forest Department permit, and an armed forest guard travels with every group. The forest closes to visitors for three months in the monsoon, usually June to August. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours arranges private boat trips with permits and a local guide, from a day at Karamjal to longer journeys to Katka, Jamtola Beach and Harbaria.
Things to do
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Boat cruise on the rivers
Watch the forest slide past from the deck, with stops at forest stations and narrow creeks.
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Wildlife spotting
Look for deer, monkeys, crocodiles and birds along the banks, best at dawn and dusk.
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Guided forest walks
Go ashore with an armed forest guard on trails, boardwalks and watchtowers.
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Country boat into the creeks
Switch to a small boat to slip into narrow channels where big boats cannot go.
Getting there
From Dhaka: travel to Khulna or Mongla by road via the Padma Bridge or by train, then board your boat. Most trips run two to three nights.
Short visit: from Mongla, a day trip to Karamjal gives a first taste of the mangroves.
Where to stay
On multi-day trips you sleep on the boat, in simple cabins with shared or private bathrooms depending on the vessel. Before or after, stay in Khulna, which has the widest choice of hotels.
Tours that visit Mangrove Forest
Short Tours
Dhaka, Barisal & Sundarbans Heritage Tour
from $300 per person
Questions
When is the Sundarbans closed?
It is closed to visitors for three months in the monsoon, usually June to August. Winter is the most comfortable season.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. A Forest Department permit is required, and an armed forest guard accompanies every group. Tour operators arrange both.
Will I see a tiger?
Possibly, but sightings are rare. Deer, monkeys, crocodiles and birds are seen on most trips.
How many days do I need?
A day trip shows the edge of the forest. Two to three nights on a boat lets you reach Katka and Kochikhali.