Sundarbans (সুন্দরবন): travel guide

UNESCO World Heritage mangrove forest — largest in the world, home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, Irrawaddy dolphins, and ancient tidal river channels.

Sundarbans is in Khulna district, Khulna division, Bangladesh. Compare bus, train and air fares to Sundarbans and see the route on a map.

Things to do in Sundarbans

  • Dublar Char: Island in the Sundarbans (Bagerhat District) where fishermen camp during the fishing season for three to four months; a Raas Mela fair is held there every year. Listed by the Forest Department as a tourist spot; visits are by boat within a package. Nature, free entry, best time: October to February
  • Tin Kona Island: Island in the Sundarbans popular for wildlife viewing. Nature, free entry, best time: October to February
  • Hiron Point (Nil Komol): Forest Department tourist spot, also known as Nilkamal, noted for tiger and other wildlife spotting and mangrove scenery; a guide is required. Nature, free entry, best time: October to February
  • Karamjal Wildlife Centre: Forest Department eco-tourism centre and deer breeding centre, the easiest Sundarbans stop from Mongla; it also has monkeys and crocodiles, and a foot trail of about 1 km with a suspension bridge and information centre (2026). Nature, free entry, best time: October to February; open year-round, including the monsoon closure
  • Katka and Jamtala Sea Beach: Katka (Kotka) is a Forest Department safari base and a spot for tiger and bird watching; a walk of about two kilometres leads to Jamtala beach on the Bay of Bengal. Nature, free entry, best time: October to February
  • Kalabogi Ecotourism Center: Forest Department ecotourism centre on the Khulna side of the Sundarbans, listed among the official spots. Nature, free entry, best time: October to February
  • Kochikhali: Forest Department tourist spot in the Sundarbans whose main attractions are deer, snakes, crocodiles and colourful birds; it is a regular stop on 3-day ship packages. Nature, free entry, best time: October to February

Where to stay in Sundarbans

  • MV Silent 69 (N A Tour) (MidRange). Tourist liveaboard vessel registered on the Forest Department eco-tourism site; operator N A Tour; capacity 40 persons, crew 8. Departure port and price depend on the package, so ask the operator
  • MV Star Cruise (Galaxy Tours and Travels) (MidRange). Tourist liveaboard vessel registered on the Forest Department eco-tourism site; operator Galaxy Tours and Travels; capacity 45 persons, crew 11. Departure port and price depend on the package, so ask the operator
  • ML The Sail (Grameen Jano Unnayan Sangstha) (MidRange). Tourist liveaboard vessel registered on the Forest Department eco-tourism site; operator Grameen Jano Unnayan Sangstha; capacity 46 persons, crew 6. Departure port and price depend on the package, so ask the operator
  • MV Golpata-2 (Ruhanee Shipping Lines) (MidRange). Tourist liveaboard vessel registered on the Forest Department eco-tourism site; operator Ruhanee Shipping Lines OPC; capacity 30 persons, crew 6. Departure port and price depend on the package, so ask the operator
  • MV The River Cruise (Holidays Shipping Lines) (MidRange). Tourist vessel registered with the Forest Department, capacity 54; ask the operator for package prices.
  • MV The Wave 2 (Holidays Shipping Lines) (Luxury), about ৳25,000 - ৳50,000/person (3 days 2 nights package). Air-conditioned cruise ship registered with the Forest Department, 75 beds, 31 rooms (suites) with private balconies and a swimming pool.
  • MV The Wave (Holidays Shipping Lines) (Luxury), about ৳17,000 - ৳18,000/person (3 days 2 nights package). Cruise ship registered with the Forest Department, capacity 75; Khulna - Sundarbans - Khulna package with cabins, attached bath, balcony and swimming pool.

Travel advice for Sundarbans

  • Typical trip length: A standard package is 3 days and 2 nights by ship from Khulna (Harbaria/Andharmanik, Katka and Jamtala, Kochikhali and Dim Char, Hiron Point or Dublar Char, then Karamjal). Tides can delay the return by 2-3 hours.
  • Forest permit needed at least 3 days ahead: The Forest Department's eco-tourism rules say a visitor must apply on the prescribed form to the responsible forest officer at least three days before the trip, arrive at the forest station named on the permit with the vessel, pay all fees there, and hand the pass back at the end.
  • Banned items and booking terms: One registered operator lists guns and drones among the things that cannot be brought on its Sundarbans trip, and confirms bookings by phone before you pay at its office. The same operator charges nothing for children aged 0-3, 50 percent for ages 4-6 and the full price from age 7 (policies differ...
  • Overnight stays, swimming and group rules: Staying overnight in the Sundarbans needs prior Forest Department approval. Visitors must not walk alone away from the group, bathe or swim in the sea, river or canals because of wildlife, and tour operators must keep generators off after 10 pm, carry life jackets and first aid, and have at least...
  • Best time to visit: October to February is cool and dry, March-May hot and humid, June-September monsoon. The Forest Department closed fishing and all tourist spots except the Karamjal Eco-Tourism Centre from 1 June to 31 August 2026 and reopened the forest on 1 September 2026;
  • Crocodiles, disease and water: Saltwater crocodiles live in the Sundarbans but the risk is small if you stay on the boat; the Forest Department forbids swimming or bathing in rivers, canals or the sea. Malaria and dengue are present, with the highest risk in the wet season, so bring repellent.

More places to explore in Bangladesh

JatraSathi is a free Bangladesh trip planner in English and Bangla. Prices are estimates; check before you travel.