Bangladesh travel guide
Sun-dappled waterways, spice-infused alleys, tigers and tea fields: Bangladesh is full of surprises
Bangladesh's claims to fame are not, perhaps, the most immediately enticing.
Lying between India and Burma in the low-lying Ganges Delta, half the country is under flood during the annual monsoon, placing it precariously on the front line of global warming. This is also the most densely-populated country on earth, for its size, and one of the world's poorest.
And yet this is a destination that rewards travellers richly. Here you'll find images of the subcontinent that are fast disappearing from India itself: legions of colourful cycle rickshaws throng the streets of Dhaka, and the Sundarban mangroves are one of the last redoubts of the Royal Bengal Tiger. Bangladesh may be ecologically fragile (hence the global warming tours), but its watery world is also fascinating to explore by boat.
Above all, you'll meet people as friendly as they are resilient, with a life-affirming faith in the future.
Wanderlust recommends
- Drift down the river on a long and leisurely boat trip. Try the Sundarban to Chittagong route by paddle boat, taking in Barisal, Bhola Island, Hatiya Island and Sandwip Island.
- Watch the sun dip into the sea at Cox's Bazaar - Stretching 120 km, this is the world's longest natural beach.
- Hop on a bike - Pedal through the scenic Srimongol tea estates.
- Venture into tiger territory - If you're lucky you will catch a glimpse of a Royal Bengal tiger prowling the Sundarbans mangrove forest.
- Visit the communities inhabiting Jamuna River's remote and precarious chars (shifting silt islands).
Wanderlust tips
Check out the Bradt guide to Bangladesh – the most comprehensive English guide – and the useful accompanying website
If you are a female traveller don a salwar kameez to deflect male attention.
Pack a head torch for the power cuts or buy a storm light once you have arrived.
Be weather savvy; pack sunscreen for the sunny months or, if visiting in monsoon season, take appropriate clothes and waterproof bags to protect your belongings.
Hand sanitiser can help protect against stomach upsets. Always get local advice about safety.