Paddle Steamer Trip Around Bengal Delta – 4 Days
$431 per person
Paddle Steamer Trip Around Bengal Delta travels through the vast river network and some important heritage sites in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is proud of her vast rivers. Therefore, it is warmly called the land of rivers by her people. The civilization in this delta evolved around the rivers. Paddle steamer and Heritage trip around Bengal Delta offers an adorable river trip through the southern river starting from Dhaka and some archaeological sites around Barisal and Bagerhat.
On this four-day trip, you will experience an in-depth excursion through Old Dhaka on the first day. Really a unique river journey by overnight paddle steamer / Modern Ship through one of the world’s largest deltas on the planet. The UNESCO world heritage site and historic mosque city of Bagerhat is very potential to attract tourists who like to explore life, culture, nature and architecture. Bagerhat town contains some of the most significant structures of the primary period of the development of the Muslim architecture of Bengal. Furthermore, splendid backwater canal cruises and floating markets around Barishal is an impressive impression for a lifetime. The riverine life around the southern delta is still undiscovered that offers unique activities.
Operations of BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) have resumed their regular public transport routing between Dhaka – Morrelgonj – Dhaka via the Barisal route. Unfortunately, the paddle steamers still could not join the race for an unknown reason. Only Madhumoti – a modern ship with nice AC cabins, leaving from Dhaka each Thursday at 6 PM and on Saturday from Morrelgonj. Until the paddle steamer resumes its journey, we have to use the MV Madhumoti public launch for this trip. This trip is very unique to Bangladesh and highly recommended.
Dhaka – Morrelgonj |
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| Thursday | Modhumoti (Launch/ Modern Ship) |
Morrelgonj – Dhaka |
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| Saturday | Modhumoti |
- Basic Plan
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$
431
Per-person trip price for a group of 4+ PAX
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Destination
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Departure
Please arrive by 9:15 AM for a prompt departure at 9:30 AM. -
Departure Time
Approximately 8:30 PM. -
Dress Code
Casual. Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes, hat and warm jacket. -
Included
AC vehicle with experienced chauffeur for sightseeing and transfersAccommodation in twin sharing basis as per itineraryAll air, bus, train and launch tickets as per itineraryAll entrance fees and local permitsAll Museum TicketsAll rickshaw/ cycle / boat / local transportsBottled water, soft drinks and seasonal fruits during the sightseeingExpert English-Speaking GuideLunchTrip as per itineraryTypical Souvenir -
Not Included
Any activity not mentioned in the itinerary.DinnerGratuitiesLocal guide/ escort/ experts/ academicsPersonal expenses
From Our Gallery
A journey through the Ganges delta and riverine life of southern Bengal by boat
Not a trip, a memory that you will cherish forever
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Day 1 - Thursday: Old Dhaka Heritage walk and Crossing over the Ganges delta
Your guide and driver will pick you up at 8 AM from the hotel/ residence. This tour will drive you through the heart of old Dhaka. Today's old Dhaka excursion would include: visiting Kawran Bazar, Parliament Building from outside, Lalbagh fort, National Hindu Temple, the lively campus of the University of Dhaka, walking through biryani street, Bongshal Residential area, Carpenter Street, Koshai Tuli Street, Star Mosque, lunch at Nanna biryani/ Al-Razzak / Heritage Lunch (Minimum 4 PAX required), continue to visit the Armenian Church, walkthrough Tanti and Shakharibazar Hindu Street, pass by the Pink palace (we would discourage you to visit museums to have more time on exploring culture and the places you would not find by yourself), chaotic Sadarghat Riverport, short boat trip on Burigonga River, visiting of Shipbuilding yards, heavy metal recycling industries and avail overnight Launch (Paddle Steamer) for Hularhat. Enjoy the sunset and last-minute busy scenes of the Burigonga river before the ship leaves. Simply it is interesting, and one cannot stop watching the rhythmic river activities. You will have a comfortable first-class AC cabin for the overnight journey. You are welcome to roam through the ship during the journey. Typical Bangla foods are available and served in the dining area. Please order the food right after embarking on the ship to get it at your desired time. Have a beautiful journey and a good night today.
[You may remove the old Dhaka trip if you have already visited, or one may replace it with any of our other day trip itineraries. You will get the revised trip costs in that case]
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Day 2: - Friday: Life around the river and the City of Past Glory
This morning you will wake up by passengers disembarking and embarking at Barishal river port. It is actually wake-up time to enjoy the views and beautiful rural riverine life till Hularhat. Nice to be seated at the front end of the ship with a cup of tea in the morning. You can also have breakfast on board. Upon arrival at Hularhat (between 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM) meet and greet your driver and continue driving towards Bagerhat through a beautiful landscape. The Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat is an ancient city, formerly known as Khalifatabad, founded by the Turkish general Ulugh Khan Jahan in the 15th century. The town contains some of the most significant structures of the initial period of the development of the Muslim architecture of Bengal. This city has the highest number of mosques after Dhaka city. Your first visit will be at Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali mausoleum (1 hour and 15 minutes driving time) by a holy water tank, where you may see some Marsh crocodiles.
Continue visiting a series of mosques, Including nine domed mosques, Jinda Peer Mosque, Sixty Domed Mosque (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and site museum, Shingair Mosque, and Ronobijoypur Mosque. You will be hungry by now to have lunch at a local restaurant called Dhanshiri. Continue a scenic drive (±3 hours) to Barishal by a reserved vehicle. On the way, Kodla Moth should not be missed (30 Minutes from Dhanshiri Restaurant). Welcome to Barishal, the famed land of Jibanananda Das, of Manasha Mangal, of Kirtonkhola. Check-in at Grand Park Hotel for an overnight stay. If we are allowed by daylight, you may have 30 minutes drive to visit the beautiful Korapur Miah Bari Mosque, and we would argue to explore a nearby charming evening fish market in Barishal town. Dinner at a local restaurant called Jafran.
[The spiritual beliefs in conserving wildlife species in different religious places of Bangladesh: Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali used to raise two Mugger/ Marsh crocodiles named Kalapahar and Dhalapahar in the pond located right in front of his mausoleum. Off-course, none of that pair is alive now. There are two (male and female) marsh crocodiles in the pond now. These marsh crocodile pairs were received from the Indian government. The conservation of biodiversity is developing into one of the biggest challenges of the century. Rapidly declining forests and the degradation of wild habitats directly result from a lack of public awareness and participation in the conservation process. However, in small land areas in undeveloped countries characterized by high population density and poor public awareness, local religious and/or spiritual beliefs favour biodiversity conservation at both species and habitat levels. Some local beliefs have been protecting important wildlife species such as the Black Soft-shell Turtle, Mugger Crocodile, Rock Pigeon and Rhesus Macaque for generations]
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Day 3 - Saturday: Impressive Backwater trip and glorious floating Bazaars and return to Dhaka
Leave the hotel at 5:45 AM by reserved car for Banaripara (40Minutes/hour drive). Embark on a country boat for a half-day backwater cannel cruise and floating market exploration. The boat will cruise towards Boithakatha floating vegetable market for about an hour and 25 minutes. After about half an hour of floating market activity exploration, continue a backwater canal cruise (1 hour and 15 minutes) through remote villages towards Showrupkathi floating timber market. Almost impossible to explain the impressions you will earn from this journey and markets. Once we are done with the timber market activities, the return journey (1 hour and 10 minutes) towards Banaripara will begin. Here you will visit another floating market of rice and paddies. Drive back to Barishal town for lunch at a local restaurant, on the way, visit the charming guthia mosque. Ghorowa restaurant at girja Moholla offers very nice local Bangla dishes. After lunch, 20 minutes drive to visit gorgeous Islamic architecture at a nearby village and explore the old Bazar streets of Barishal town late in the afternoon. Embark on the launch at 6 PM from the Barisal launch terminal for an overnight journey to Dhaka.
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Day 4: Dhaka arrival and transferred to your hotel/ residence
Dhaka Sadarghat launch terminal is the last destination of your boat, therefore, you may wait inside your boat (cabin area) even though the boat arrives very early in the morning. Your driver will pick you up at 6:30 AM and drive towards your hotel/ residence. You may try a typical old Dhaka breakfast on the way to a local restaurant.
[you may include a day trip to Sonargaon – the first capital of Bengal, on this day additionally. In that case, you will get the revised trip costs]
End of tour.
Tour Location
Old Dhaka, Barishal and Bagerhat
koiruli Helsinki
Friendly, helpful, informative guidance
Dec 2018 • Couples
We exchanged messages with Jewel Mostafizur Rahman at Royal Bengal Tours. We needed some help in booking boat tickets in Dhaka, before we arrived there.
Jewel responded kindly and got us the boat tickets. We paid him via bKash and added a little commission for his services.
Jewel also volunteered some good information to help our plan our trip better, without ever asking for any compensation for it. His messages really made a difference and helped us to do our trip without problems.
We are impressed with the open and friendly way he helped us, and his replies to all our questions proved well thought-out and knowledgeable.
Travelling in Bangladesh is interesting, but some planning and local knowledge is needed. We highly recommend Jewel and Royal Bengal Tours to anyone. And should we return to Bangladesh at some point, we know who we will ask to be our guide.