How to Visit the Sundarbans from Dhaka: Complete Travel Guide (2026–2027)

Updated October 2026 by the Tour Guide BD team. Seasonal rules and fees can change, so check with your tour operator before you travel.

To visit the Sundarbans from Dhaka, travel first to Khulna or Mongla (about four hours by train via the Padma Bridge), then enter the forest by boat with a licensed tour operator, who arranges your Forest Department permit and an armed forest guard. Most travelers spend two to three days on a boat. The forest is closed to tourists every year from 1 June to 31 August, and the best time to visit is from November to February.

The Sundarbans is the world’s largest mangrove forest and the home of the Royal Bengal tiger. It is one of the most remarkable wildlife experiences in South Asia, but planning a trip can be confusing. This guide explains, step by step, how to get there from Dhaka, when to go, the permits you need, what you will see and how to choose the right trip.

The Sundarbans at a glance

Fact	Details
Location	Southwest Bangladesh, on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, shared with India
Size	About 10,000 km² in total; about 6,017 km² (roughly 60%) lies in Bangladesh
Status	UNESCO World Heritage Site (The Sundarbans, inscribed in 1997)
Tigers	About 125 Royal Bengal tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans (2024 census), up from 106 in 2015 and 114 in 2018
Gateway towns	Khulna and Mongla (Bagerhat district)
Best time to visit	November to February
Closed to tourists	1 June to 31 August every year (except Karamjal)
Recommended trip length	2 to 3 days by boat

When to visit the Sundarbans

The best time to visit the Sundarbans is from November to February. The weather is dry and mild, the rivers are calm and forest trails are easier to walk. March and October are also good, though warmer and more humid. September, when the forest reopens after the monsoon, is green and quiet but can be rainy.

Every year the Forest Department closes the forest from 1 June to 31 August, the main breeding season for fish and wildlife. During this period tourist trips, fishing and honey collection are not allowed, apart from visits to the Karamjal center near Mongla. For a full month-by-month guide, see the best time to visit Bangladesh.

How to get from Dhaka to the Sundarbans

There is no road into the Sundarbans; you reach it by boat. First you travel from Dhaka to one of the two gateway towns, Khulna or Mongla.

Option	Route	Approximate time	Good to know
Train (recommended)	Dhaka to Khulna via the Padma Bridge	About 4 hours	Since late 2024, trains such as the Jahanabad Express run on the faster Padma Bridge rail line. Book air-conditioned seats in advance.
Bus	Dhaka to Khulna or Mongla via the Padma Bridge	About 5 to 7 hours	Comfortable air-conditioned coaches are available; travel time depends on traffic.
Flight + road	Dhaka to Jashore by air, then road to Khulna	About 45 minutes flying, plus 1.5 to 2 hours by road	Fastest door to door if flights suit your schedule.
Private car	Dhaka to Khulna or Mongla	About 5 to 6 hours	Most flexible, and usually included in organized tours.

From Khulna or Mongla, your tour boat takes you into the forest, usually leaving early in the morning.

Ways to visit: day trip or boat expedition?

Day trip from Mongla

From Mongla you can take a short boat trip to Karamjal, a Forest Department center with a wildlife breeding station, boardwalk trails and spotted deer, or to Harbaria. It is a pleasant introduction, but these areas are on the edge of the forest and you will not reach the wilder interior.

2 to 3 day boat expedition (recommended)

To experience the real Sundarbans, spend two or three days living on a boat. You sleep on board, explore narrow creeks by small boat at dawn, and walk forest trails with an armed guard. Multi-day trips reach the best wildlife areas, such as Katka and Kachikhali, and sometimes Dublar Char and Hiron Point on the coast. Our 3-day Sundarbans boat expedition includes permits, meals, an English-speaking guide and small-boat creek safaris.

Top places to see in the Sundarbans

• Karamjal: the most accessible area, with a deer and crocodile breeding center and a boardwalk.
• Harbaria: a short wooden trail through the mangroves, popular for spotting deer and birds.
• Katka: grassland meadows, a watchtower and a walk to the beach; one of the best places to see deer and look for tiger tracks.
• Kachikhali: open grasslands near the sea, known for deer, wild boar and birdlife.
• Dublar Char and Hiron Point: coastal areas at the edge of the Bay of Bengal, visited on longer trips.

Permits, rules and costs

All visitors need an entry permit from the Bangladesh Forest Department. Foreign visitors pay a higher fee than Bangladeshi nationals, and there are additional charges for vessels and guides. For trips into the forest, a licensed vessel and an armed forest guard are required. A reputable tour operator arranges all of this as part of the trip; you only need to send a copy of your passport in advance.

• Do not leave the boat or walk in the forest without your guide and forest guard.
• Do not litter, play loud music or feed wildlife.
• Single-use plastics are discouraged; bring a reusable water bottle.
• Follow your guide’s instructions on trails and when getting in and out of small boats.

What wildlife will you see?

Seeing a tiger is rare. The latest census, published in 2024, counted about 125 tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans, spread across thousands of square kilometers of dense mangrove. Most visitors see fresh tiger tracks rather than the tiger itself. What you are very likely to see:

• Spotted deer, often in large groups
• Rhesus macaques
• Saltwater crocodiles basking on mudbanks
• Water monitor lizards
• Wild boar
• Kingfishers, eagles, herons and many other birds
• River dolphins in the larger channels, if you are lucky

Sample 3-day Sundarbans itinerary from Dhaka

1. Day before: travel from Dhaka to Khulna by train (about four hours) and stay overnight.
2. Day 1: board the boat in Khulna or Mongla, cruise into the forest and stop at Karamjal; overnight on board.
3. Day 2: dawn creek safari by small boat, then a guided walk at Katka and the watchtower; afternoon at Kachikhali; overnight on board.
4. Day 3: sunrise creek trip, then cruise back to Khulna and return to Dhaka by train or flight.

Want to combine the Sundarbans with the tea gardens of Sylhet and Old Dhaka? See our Best of Bangladesh in 10 days tour, which also includes the UNESCO Mosque City of Bagerhat on the way.

Tips for a great Sundarbans trip

• Book early for December and January, the busiest months.
• Choose a smaller group or private boat for a quieter experience and better wildlife viewing.
• Bring binoculars, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a light jacket for cool winter mornings. Our Bangladesh packing list has a Sundarbans section.
• Keep your phone and passport dry in a waterproof bag on small boats.
• Read our guide Is Bangladesh safe for tourists? before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Dhaka to the Sundarbans?

First travel from Dhaka to Khulna or Mongla, the gateway towns for the Sundarbans. The fastest train, via the Padma Bridge, takes about four hours to Khulna. You can also take a bus over the Padma Bridge or fly from Dhaka to Jashore and continue by road. From Khulna or Mongla, you enter the forest by boat with a licensed operator.

Can you visit the Sundarbans in one day from Dhaka?

A same-day return from Dhaka is not practical. From Mongla you can take a short day trip to Karamjal or Harbaria, but to reach the deeper forest areas such as Katka and Kachikhali, where you have the best chance of wildlife sightings, plan at least two to three days on a boat.

When is the Sundarbans closed to tourists?

The Bangladesh Forest Department closes the Sundarbans to tourists every year from 1 June to 31 August for the wildlife and fish breeding season, except for the Karamjal center. The forest reopens on 1 September. The best time to visit is from November to February.

Do I need a permit to visit the Sundarbans?

Yes. All visitors need an entry permit from the Bangladesh Forest Department, and foreign visitors pay a higher fee than Bangladeshi nationals. Trips into the forest also need a licensed vessel and an armed forest guard. A tour operator normally arranges all of this for you; you just provide a copy of your passport.

Will I see a Bengal tiger in the Sundarbans?

Probably not, but you may see fresh tracks. The latest census, published in 2024, counted about 125 tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans, spread across a huge, dense forest. Most visitors see spotted deer, monkeys, crocodiles, monitor lizards and many birds, and sometimes dolphins in the rivers.