A Sundarbans tour from Dhaka almost always means travelling to Khulna or Mongla first, then spending two or three nights aboard a licensed tour launch that sails into the mangrove forest with a Forest Department permit and an armed forest guard on board. Every year from 1 June to 31 August the forest is closed to tourists for the breeding season, except for the Karamjal centre near Mongla, and the usual tourist season runs from about October to March. Most visitors book a package that bundles the boat, meals, guide and permit, because arranging the permit yourself is slow.
Details below are correct as of November 2026. Fees and rules in the Sundarbans are set by the Bangladesh Forest Department and change from season to season, so confirm them with your operator before you pay.
What the Bangladeshi Sundarbans actually is
The Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal mangrove forest in the world, shared between Bangladesh and India, with the larger part on the Bangladeshi side. It is home to the Bengal tiger, saltwater crocodiles, spotted deer, rhesus macaques, river dolphins and hundreds of bird species.
There are no roads. The forest is a maze of rivers, creeks and tidal channels, and the only way through it is by water. Visitors live on a boat, step ashore at designated forest stations and trails, and take small country boats into narrow creeks at dawn and dusk. Expect deer, monkeys, kingfishers and crocodiles. Tigers are present but are very rarely seen; go for the forest, and treat a tiger sighting as luck.
Mangrove ecology in brief
The forest grows on islands of silt laid down where the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers meet the Bay of Bengal. Twice a day the tide floods much of the forest floor and then drains away, which is why the trees push up pencil-shaped breathing roots (pneumatophores) through the mud around their trunks. You will see carpets of them at every landing. The name is usually linked to the sundari tree, the dominant species in the less salty northern and eastern parts of the forest. Further south, closer to the sea, the water is saltier and the mix of trees changes, with more gewa and goran and open grassland near the coast where deer graze.
UNESCO status
The Bangladeshi part of the forest was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 under the name The Sundarbans. The Indian side is a separate World Heritage Site, the Sundarbans National Park.
Getting from Dhaka to Khulna or Mongla
The Padma Bridge, opened to road traffic in June 2022 and to passenger trains in late 2023, changed this journey completely. Before it, buses waited for ferries across the Padma river and trains took a long detour north over the Jamuna. Today you have three realistic options.
By bus
Buses from Dhaka to Khulna and to Mongla cross the Padma Bridge, which has cut hours off the old ferry journey. Journey times depend heavily on traffic leaving Dhaka, so ask the operator for its current estimate. Air-conditioned coaches leave from the southern bus terminals around Sayedabad and Gabtoli, and overnight departures let you arrive in the morning, ready to board. Pick an established operator, book a seat near the front if you get travel sick, and check that the coach goes to the right town, since Mongla services are fewer than Khulna services.
By train
The Sundarban Express runs between Dhaka and Khulna on the Padma Bridge route, which it has used since late 2023. The journey takes about seven to seven and a half hours. The train is slower than the bus but more comfortable for a night journey, especially in an air-conditioned sleeper or chair class. Tickets are sold through Bangladesh Railway's official online system and sell out early before public holidays. Check the current timetable and the weekly off day before planning around it, since schedules have changed several times since 2023.
By air
The closest airport to Khulna is Jashore (Jessore), served by short domestic flights from Dhaka. From Jashore you continue by road to Khulna, and further to Mongla. Tour operators often arrange this pickup if you ask. Flying makes sense if you are short of time or arriving on an international flight the same day. Check current domestic schedules on our flight page.
Khulna or Mongla?
Most launches leave from Khulna, from the Rupsa river and the BIWTA launch ghat, or from Mongla port in Bagerhat district, which sits closer to the forest. Leaving from Mongla means less time on the river before you reach the trees, while Khulna has more hotels, restaurants and onward transport. If you are joining a multi-day launch, stay where your boat boards, and plan to arrive the evening before. If you only want a day trip to Karamjal, base yourself in Mongla. Hotels in Khulna are listed on our hotels page.
Trip types compared
Sundarbans trips come in three kinds: a cheap day trip from Mongla to Karamjal, which sees only the northern edge of the forest; the standard two- or three-night launch cruise into the forest; and premium or private boats. The launch cruise is the standard tour, and the packages below show what each usually includes.
Day trip from Mongla
A day trip uses a small engine boat from Mongla to Karamjal, sometimes adding Harbaria if the tide and timing allow. You spend a few hours on the river and walk the Karamjal boardwalk. It is cheap, needs little planning and fits into a visit to Bagerhat, but you see only the northern edge of the forest, where villages and shipping traffic are close. Karamjal has a daily limit of 1,600 visitors, and the Forest Department portal has a one-day ticket section. Karamjal was also the one spot that stayed open to tourists during the 2026 closure.
Two-night or three-night launch cruise
This is the standard Sundarbans tour and the one most international visitors choose. A mid-sized launch carries a group through the forest for three days and two nights, sleeping at anchor in wide rivers and reaching the coastal stations at Kotka, Jamtola, Kochikhali and Hiron Point. A three-night version covers the same stops with more time in creeks and fewer early starts. Group sizes range from a dozen passengers to well over fifty, which affects noise levels on creek rides more than any other factor.
Premium and private boats
A handful of operators run smaller vessels with air-conditioned cabins, attached bathrooms and fewer passengers, or charter whole boats to families and photography groups. The route is the same; what changes is comfort, flexibility on timing and how quiet the dinghy trips are. These sell out first in December and January.
What a package usually includes and excludes
A standard package from a registered operator covers the launch cabin, all meals and tea on board, the Forest Department permit and sanctuary entry charges, the armed guard, a guide and the dinghy or country-boat trips. Pickup from the Khulna railway station or bus stand is often included too. Items usually left out are travel from Dhaka, hotel nights before or after the cruise, bottled soft drinks, tips for the crew and any extra charge for foreigners. Since the foreigners' fee is higher than the local rate, an advertised price in taka on a Bangladeshi website is often the price for citizens only; ask for the foreigner price in writing.
Permits and who needs one
Everyone entering the Sundarbans needs permission from the Forest Department. For tourists, this is issued through the Divisional Forest Office in Khulna, and fees are charged per person per day, with different rates for Bangladeshi visitors, students and foreigners. Separate charges usually apply for the boat, the guide, the forest guard and certain sanctuaries.
Published fee figures for foreigners disagree widely between sources, and some charges were revised after the forest reopened in September 2026. For that reason we have not printed figures here. A licensed operator will include the current permit cost in its package price and list it on the invoice; ask for that breakdown.
The Forest Department runs an official Sundarbans tourism portal at sundarbantourism.bforest.gov.bd, which lists registered operators, vessels and packages (170 operators and 196 vessels when we checked in November 2026). It also sells one-day tour tickets and publishes daily visitor limits for each spot, such as 1,600 a day at Karamjal, Harbaria and Kotka. Booking with an operator that appears there is the simplest way to know the boat is licensed.
For foreigners, the operator will need:
- A copy of your passport photo page.
- A copy of your Bangladeshi visa or visa on arrival.
- Your full name, nationality and passport number as they appear on the passport.
- Your travel dates, sent early enough for the permit to be processed.
Editor's Note: Forest Department rules for tourists, operators and guards can change between seasons. Ask your operator what has changed before you go.
Seasons and the annual closure
The Sundarbans is closed to tourists from 1 June to 31 August every year. September is a quiet, wet reopening month, October to March is the main season, and April and May are hot and quieter, with cyclone season adding its own risks on the coast.
June to August: closed
The Bangladesh government closes the Sundarbans from 1 June to 31 August every year to protect fish breeding and the forest's wildlife. In 2026, fishing and the harvesting of forest resources were banned during those three months, and tourists could visit only the Karamjal eco-tourism centre. The forest reopened to tourists and forest workers on 1 September.
September: reopening
September is still the tail of the monsoon. Rivers are high, the forest is very green, and crowds are small, but rain and rough water are common. A few operators run trips; many wait until October.
October to March: main season
This is the time most operators run regular trips. The weather is drier, the light is good, mornings are cool, and the rivers are calmer. December and January are the coolest and busiest months, with weekends and holidays booking up first. Fog on winter mornings can delay departures by an hour or two.
April and May: hot and quieter
It gets hot and humid, and pre-monsoon storms in the Bay of Bengal can disrupt sailings. Trips still run, often at lower prices, but you need flexibility.
Cyclone season
Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are most likely in the months either side of the monsoon. When a storm signal is raised for the coast, launches stay at the jetty or turn back. Reputable operators will postpone the trip. Ask in advance what happens to your payment if a trip is cancelled for weather, and keep a spare day in your plans in October and November.
Boats: what to expect
Most Sundarbans tours use a two- or three-deck river launch with cabins, an open upper deck and meals cooked on board, from basic boats with shared toilets and fans to air-conditioned cabins with attached bathrooms. For the narrow creeks you transfer to a small country boat or dinghy, and an armed forest guard travels with the group.
Tour launches
Most tours use a two- or three-deck river launch with cabins, shared or private bathrooms, a dining area and an open upper deck for watching the banks. Some are basic, with shared toilets and fans; others have air-conditioned cabins with attached bathrooms. All meals are cooked on board, usually Bangladeshi rice, fish, chicken, dal and vegetables, with plenty of tea. Tell the operator in advance about vegetarian or other diets.
Country boats and dinghies
The launch anchors in a wide river. For the narrow creeks, you transfer to a small wooden boat or dinghy, often rowed or driven slowly to keep the noise down. These trips, early in the morning and late in the afternoon, are where you see most wildlife.
The forest guard
An armed forest guard travels on every licensed tourist boat. This is a Forest Department requirement, for your safety from wildlife and to enforce forest rules. Follow the guard's instructions on shore without argument.
Choosing a boat
Ask operators the following before you book:
- Is the launch registered and licensed for this season?
- Are the cabins air-conditioned, and are bathrooms private or shared?
- How many passengers does the boat carry on this trip?
- Is there an English-speaking guide?
- Does the price include permits, the guard, meals, drinking water and transfers?
- Which stations and trails are on the itinerary?
Where the tours go
Sundarbans tours visit Karamjal near Mongla, the easiest stop, the mangrove trail at Harbaria, Kotka and the walk to Jamtola sea beach, Kochikhali, Hiron Point and Dublar Char, with the tides deciding the order. Most longer tours stop at Karamjal on the last day on the way back to Khulna.
Karamjal
Karamjal, on the Pasur river near Mongla, is the easiest part of the forest to reach and is popular for short trips. It has a raised wooden walkway through the mangroves, a small watchtower, a deer enclosure and a breeding centre for saltwater crocodiles and the river terrapin. Rhesus macaques hang around the walkway and will grab food from bags. Most longer tours stop here on the last day on the way back to Khulna.
Harbaria
Harbaria has a wooden walking trail through the mangroves, with a freshwater pond and a watchtower. It is a good place to see breathing roots and sundari trees close up, and the boardwalk keeps your feet out of the mud. Launches from Khulna usually reach it in the afternoon of the first day.
Kotka
Kotka, on the southeastern coast, is one of the main stops on two- and three-night trips. There is a forest station, a watchtower and grassland where herds of spotted deer graze in the evening. The guard leads a walk through forest and open meadow toward the sea, and the creeks around Kotka are among the best for kingfishers and eagles from a dinghy.
Jamtola
Jamtola lies a short distance from Kotka and is usually visited on the same morning. A trail leads past a watchtower to Jamtola sea beach, a long, empty stretch of sand facing the Bay of Bengal. Tiger pugmarks are sometimes found in the mud along this route, which is why operators refer to the area as a tiger zone. Walk in a single group behind the guard.
Kochikhali
Kochikhali, also near the coast, has open meadows, a beach and creeks that are good for birds and deer. Operators often call it a tiger area because of tiger signs reported nearby, and the area around the meadow is sometimes labelled Tiger Point on itineraries. Treat that as a name, since actual sightings are rare.
Hiron Point
Hiron Point (Nilkamal) sits on the southern coast and has a forest station. It is further from Khulna than Kotka, and launches reach it only when the tide allows, so it is not on every itinerary.
Dublar Char
Dublar Char is a fishing island at the southern edge of the Sundarbans where fishermen set up camps and dry fish in the winter months. Walking among the racks of drying fish is a very different experience from the forest stations. Each year it hosts the Rash Mela, a Hindu festival around the full moon of the Bengali month of Kartik, which draws large numbers of pilgrims and visitors. Special arrangements and permits apply during the festival; see our guide to Dubla Rash Mela for details.
Sample itinerary: three days, two nights
On a standard three-day, two-night trip you board in Khulna on day one and stop at Harbaria, spend day two on creek rides and the walk from Kotka to Jamtola beach, and return on day three via Karamjal, reaching Khulna or Mongla in the evening.
- Day 1: Arrive in Khulna by train, bus or flight to Jashore. Board the launch in the morning. Sail south, stopping at Harbaria for a short walk. Overnight on board near Kotka.
- Day 2: Early dinghy ride through a creek. Walk from Kotka to Jamtola sea beach. Afternoon at Kochikhali, Hiron Point or Dublar Char depending on the tide. Overnight on board.
- Day 3: Dawn creek trip, then sail back north, stopping at Karamjal. Arrive in Khulna or Mongla in the evening, with time to catch a night bus or train to Dhaka.
Tides and why the schedule moves
The Sundarbans is a tidal forest, and the tide decides when a launch can enter a channel, when a dinghy can reach a creek and when the guard can land you at a jetty. Timings often shift by hours from the printed plan, and Hiron Point in particular is visited only when the tide allows. A dawn creek ride may become a mid-morning one, and a beach walk can be swapped for a different trail at short notice.
Build slack into the days either side of the tour. Arriving back in Khulna three hours late is common, so book a night bus or train with a margin, or stay an extra night and visit Bagerhat the next morning.
Wildlife and how to see it
Spotted deer and rhesus macaques are the animals every visitor sees. Bengal tigers, of which a survey announced in October 2024 counted 125 adults in the Bangladeshi Sundarbans, are rarely seen, and most people find only pugmarks; crocodiles, dolphins and many birds are also possible.
Bengal tiger
The most recent survey, announced in October 2024 after camera-trap work from January 2023 to March 2024, counted 125 adult tigers in the Bangladeshi Sundarbans, up from 114 in 2018. That is a small number spread over a huge, roadless forest, and tigers here avoid people. Most visitors see pugmarks in the mud at Kotka or Jamtola and leave happy. Anyone who promises a tiger sighting is selling something.
Spotted deer and rhesus macaques
Spotted deer (chital) are the animal you will see most, grazing in the meadows at Kotka and Kochikhali in the early morning and late afternoon and often feeding on leaves dropped by macaques in the trees above. Rhesus macaques are common at every station and are bold around food. Keep snacks inside the boat.
Crocodiles, dolphins and other river life
Saltwater crocodiles bask on mudbanks at low tide, mainly in winter sunshine; look along the banks of the wider channels. River dolphins surface briefly in the larger channels. Watch for a short dark back and a puff of breath. Mudskippers and fiddler crabs cover the exposed mud at every landing.
Birds
Kingfishers are the highlight for many visitors. Several species perch on branches over the creeks, and eagles, herons and egrets are regular sightings. A pair of binoculars matters more than a long lens.
Responsible viewing
The best wildlife watching happens on small boats with the engine off and everyone silent. Ask your guide to row or drift into the creeks, keep voices low, and do not ask the crew to chase animals or move closer than the guard allows. Never feed monkeys or deer. Flash photography and drones disturb wildlife and are not part of a normal permit; ask the guard before using either.
Health, safety and comfort on board
Mosquitoes are worst at dusk around the landings and on the dinghies. Use repellent, wear long sleeves after sunset, and close cabin windows or nets at night. Bring your own medical kit, since there is no pharmacy or clinic once you leave Mongla, and mobile coverage drops out in most of the forest.
The rivers inside the forest are calm, but the stretch toward Kotka and Hiron Point crosses wider water close to the sea, where swell can make people queasy. Take motion-sickness tablets before that leg if you are prone to it. Drink only bottled or boiled water provided by the operator, and check that drinking water is included in the price.
Toilets on basic launches are shared, and fresh water for washing is limited, so short showers help everyone. Life jackets should be offered on every dinghy transfer; ask for child sizes in advance. An armed forest guard accompanies every landing, and landings without the guard are not allowed.
How to book a trip step by step
Book a Sundarbans trip through a registered operator listed on the Forest Department portal, sundarbantourism.bforest.gov.bd. Choose dates outside 1 June to 31 August, compare written itineraries and itemised prices, and send passport and visa copies at least a week ahead in peak months so the operator can get your permit.
- Pick your dates, avoiding 1 June to 31 August, and check whether they fall on a Bangladeshi weekend (Friday and Saturday) or a holiday, when boats fill first.
- Open the Forest Department portal at sundarbantourism.bforest.gov.bd and shortlist two or three registered operators and their vessels.
- Ask each for a written itinerary, a passenger count, the cabin type and a price breakdown that shows forest fees, the guard, meals, water and transfers.
- Send copies of your passport and Bangladesh visa so the operator can apply for your permit; send them at least a week ahead in peak months.
- Pay the deposit through the method the operator lists, and keep the receipt and the operator's phone number.
- Book your train, bus or Jashore flight to arrive in Khulna the evening before boarding.
Families, older travellers and limited mobility
Children usually enjoy a launch trip, since the boat itself is the hotel and the wildlife comes to the riverbank. The challenges are physical. Landing often means stepping from a dinghy onto a muddy bank or a wooden jetty that moves with the tide, and some trails at Kotka and Kochikhali cross soft ground. Karamjal and Harbaria have raised walkways and are the easiest stops for anyone who struggles with uneven ground.
Ask the operator how steep the stairs between decks are and whether a cabin with an attached bathroom is available on the lower deck. Carry a torch for moving around the deck at night. Organised options are on our tours page.
Photography, clothing and packing
Light is best in the first two hours after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, which are also the times of the creek rides. A zoom lens in the 200 to 400 millimetre range covers birds and deer; a phone is fine for landscapes and the boardwalks. Dinghies rock, so use a fast shutter speed and keep your camera in a dry bag between landings, because spray and sudden rain are common. Charge everything whenever the generator runs, since many launches power cabins only at certain hours.
Wear light, long-sleeved clothes in muted greens, browns or greys. Bright colours stand out to wildlife and white shows mud. December and January mornings on deck are cold, so pack a fleece or light jacket. Closed shoes or sturdy sandals you do not mind getting muddy work for landings, and a hat and sunglasses help on open water.
For the bag itself, bring insect repellent and sunscreen, binoculars, motion-sickness tablets, your regular medicines with a small first-aid kit, a power bank, a torch, basic toiletries and a quick-dry towel. Keep your passport and visa copies in a plastic sleeve, and carry enough cash in taka for tips and small purchases, as there are no ATMs in the forest.
Responsible travel
Plastic waste harms the rivers and mangroves, so ask your operator how rubbish is kept on board and brought back. Carry a refillable bottle, refuse plastic bags at the market before you board, and never throw anything into the river. Keep music off on deck and voices down at landings.
The forest supports a large population of people who live on its edges, in places like Mongla, Shyamnagar in Satkhira and the villages along the Pasur and Shibsa rivers. Fishermen, crab collectors and honey gatherers (mawali) work inside the forest under permits. If your trip passes fishing boats or a village landing, ask before photographing people. Buying honey, handicrafts or a meal in Mongla puts money directly into the local economy.
Combining the trip with Bagerhat and Khulna
The Mosque City of Bagerhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, lies between Khulna and Mongla and fits neatly into the day before or after a cruise. It was founded in the 15th century by Khan Jahan Ali, originally under the name Khalifatabad, and the remains include brick mosques, his mausoleum and large water tanks. The Sixty Dome Mosque (Shait Gumbad) is the largest building in the group, with rows of stone pillars under a roof of many small domes. Allow half a day for the main mosque, the museum beside it and Khan Jahan Ali's tomb.
Khulna itself is a working river city with few sights, but its riverside along the Rupsa is pleasant in the evening, and it has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants in the region. A sensible four-night plan is one night in Khulna on arrival, two nights on the launch, and a final half day in Bagerhat before the bus or train back to Dhaka. For more on the rest of the country, see our Bangladesh guide and visa page.
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