BD
Sundarbans
The world’s largest mangrove forest, home to Bengal tigers, deer, crocodiles and river dolphins
The world’s largest mangrove forest, home to Bengal tigers, deer, crocodiles and river dolphins
⚠️ Travel advisory: check before you go
The US asks travellers to reconsider travel to Bangladesh because of unrest, crime and terrorism, and parts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts are restricted for foreigners. Check the latest advice before planning.
Latest official advice: UK FCDO · US State Department · Reviewed September 2026
The easiest place to visit on a day trip from Mongla, with a wooden walkway through the mangroves, a crocodile breeding centre and rhesus monkeys.
Photo: Shahid BDWiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
A wildlife sanctuary on the coast, with a forest station, an observation tower and walks through grassland where spotted deer graze.
Walk only with your armed forest guard.
Photo: Hiroki Ogawa, CC BY 3.0
An eco-tourism site with a raised wooden trail through the forest and a pond, popular on shorter tours.
Photo: Parthapdas100, CC BY-SA 4.0
Spotted deer, monkeys, monitor lizards, kingfishers and eagles are common. Bengal tigers live here too, but sightings are rare.
Photo: AKM Emdadul Islam Bitu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Near Khulna, the 15th-century Shat Gambuj (Sixty Dome) Mosque is the main monument of Bagerhat, a separate UNESCO World Heritage Site often visited before or after a Sundarbans trip.
Photo: Shahedul Islam, CC BY-SA 4.0
On boat tours, meals are cooked on board and usually include rice, dal, vegetables and fresh fish or prawns.
In Khulna, try local prawn curries and chui jhal (meat cooked with a spicy local vine).
Khulna is the main base, reached by train, bus or road from Dhaka (about 4–5 hours via the Padma Bridge), or by flying to Jashore. Mongla, closer to the forest, is the main starting point for boats.
Foreign visitors need a permit and must be accompanied by guides and armed forest guards; licensed tour operators arrange these. Many nationalities, including UK, EU and US citizens, can get a single-entry visa on arrival at Dhaka airport, at the immigration officers’ discretion; you need a return ticket and proof of funds. Applying in advance through a Bangladeshi embassy is the safer option. Your passport needs at least six months’ validity. Check current rules and travel advice before you go.
Bangladesh uses the taka (BDT). It is one of the cheapest countries in Asia for travellers, though good hotels in Dhaka are priced close to international levels. Carry cash outside the big cities. Multi-day boat tours are usually priced per person, including meals, permits and guides.
Prices are approximate and depend on group size.
A classic boat trip from Khulna.
Board the boat in Khulna or Mongla and travel south through the rivers, stopping at Harbaria.
Walk to the grasslands and beach at Kotka at dawn, then explore narrow creeks by small boat.
Stop at Karamjal on the way back; visit the Bagerhat mosques if time allows.
The forest is closed to tourists from June to August each year.
Never leave the group or walk without the forest guard.
Bring repellent and long, light-coloured clothing.
Book with licensed operators that carry life jackets.
Quick answers for planning time in Sundarbans.
It is possible but rare; tigers are elusive and the forest is dense. Deer, monkeys, crocodiles and birds are much easier to see.
Yes. Foreign visitors need a Forest Department permit and must travel with guides and armed guards, which tour operators arrange.
Two or three days on a boat tour lets you reach the deeper areas such as Kotka. A day trip from Mongla only reaches Karamjal.
The forest is closed to tourists from June to August each year to protect breeding wildlife and fish.
November to February, when the weather is cool and dry.
Offline maps help where mobile data is patchy, especially in rural areas.
Free
Bengali (Bangla) is spoken everywhere; English is used in hotels and offices.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Bangladesh travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.