Special ‘Monsoon & Hilsha’ Trip

Trip Highlights

Start from Khulna: 12th August, Saturday (late afternoon)

Back to Khulna/Mongla: 15th August (evening)

Duration: 3 nights & 3 Days

Minimum Group Size: 8 persons

For a city dweller monsoon comes as misery. But actually monsoon is something worth celebrating. In the nature monsoon is the time to celebrate as it gives life to the forest and it announce that with a thousand shades of green. Come and join us for a trip to the Sundarbans to witness the celebration on board M.L. Bawali, a beautiful air-conditioned tourist boat designed and built only for Sundarbans. And this is also the time for Hilsha, the national fish of Bangladesh. This trip is also about having a lifetime Hilsha experience. You can expect at least 10 different Hilsha preparation during the trip, by the finest chef of the Sundarbans.

This trip has been designed around the Janmastami, the Hindu festival and the national mourning day on 14th and 15th August 2017, which are holidays. The trip will start from Khulna on the 12th, Saturday, late afternoon and will end at Khulna on 15th, Tuesday, after dinner.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: BOARDING AND SETTLE IN

Get on-board anytime before evening. If you are coming from Dhaka, you can come with US-Bangla or any other airlines morning flight from Dhaka to Jessore. Take the airlines shuttle bus to Khulna. In that case you’ll be boarding the boat before lunch. After lunch you can have a rest or you can explore the Khulna city for an hour or two. If you’re coming by road transportation then coming via Maowa would be a better choice. In that case you’ll be boarding Bawali in the late afternoon. Have a cup of tea and slowly settle down. The boat will start it’s cruise towards the forest as soon as everyone is on board. The boat will cruise for 4-5 hours and anchor next to the Dhangmari Forest Station to pick up forest guards and complete the forest formalities. The boat will be staying here for the night.
DAY 2: ENJOY THE CRUISE AND MEET KATKA

Early morning the boat will resume it’s cruise through the forest and by mid day it will reach Katka, the wildlife sanctuary, all the way down to the coast. After a huge lunch followed by a snooze go for a walk through the forest on a wooden trail. If you’re up for a bit of adventure then go off trail. Don’t worry, the armed forest guards and your guide will keep you safe. The boat will be staying here for the night. After dinner, while you’re sitting on the observation deck and star gazing, keep your ears wide open. listen to the sound of night jar or bats or the breathing sound of the dolphins or deer alarm call and if you’re lucky you’ll hear something no one will have to tell you what is that.
DAY 3: EXPLORE THE FOREST MEET THE SEA

This whole day will be full of activities. In the early morning, after a cup of tea you will have a Silent Country Boat Trip through the narrow creeks. This is the best way to observe wildlife, especially Birds and occasionally Tigers. Around 8am breakfast on the lounge, get ready for next three hours. You will start a gentle walk through the meadow looking at herds of Chital, the spotted deer and other animals. After about 40 minutes you will enter into the woods and eventually reach Badamtala beach. A pristine sandy beach. By now the Sun is high and you can not resist to jump into the tropical warm water. Also you have to keep it mind that you might have a lots of rain and in that case we’ll all find some alternative and exciting activity to do. On the way back you might want to sit on the watch tower and enjoy the view for a while. By then you will be ready for a proper lunch. No rush, enjoy it. In the late afternoon, with the last magical light go for another silent boat ride with your coffee mug and no harm to have your pillow next to you. let the boat drift with the tide through the twilight. When you’re back the boat will lift the anchor and head for Tambulbunia where the boat will anchor for the night. And Enjoy the BBQ
DAY 4: RECHARGE YOURSELF ON THE CRUISE BACK

In the morning the boat will start head to Harbaria Eco Park where you will have a very nice mud free walk though a beautiful patch of Sundari forest. While you’re having your Lunch, the boat will start cruise back to Khulna. Note that if you’re taking the evening flight from Jessore then you’ll disembark at Mongla about 2:30 in the afternoon. And if you’re taking the night coach from Khulna you will be disembarking at Khulna Jailkhana Ghat after an early dinner. You might also be able to explore Khulna city for an hour or two.

Boat Overview

M.L. Bawali and it’s Captain & Crew will host this trip. Bawali is a 20 meters long beautiful tourist boat especially designed and built for Sundarbans Expeditions. Bawali has 6 rooms consisting a double and a single bead. It has 2 lounges. Lounges, accommodation area and wash area is completely separate from the crew area to ensure privacy. Visit M.L. Bawali.

Price

Price for this trip is Taka 15,500/person (Khulna-Khulna)

*Plus Taka 5250 forest fees for foreign nationalities.

*Price does not include the transportation (flight, bus, car, etc.) cost from/to Dhaka.

Terms and Condition:

Your booking will be considered confirmed only with an advance payment of minimum 50% of the total tour price. The rest will have to be paid at least 5 days before the departure.
All bookings are subject to the cancellation rules and fees of the company.
Please note that if situation demands, the accompanying guide reserves the right to make adjustments to the above itinerary. If due to fog, rain or any other problems the flights are delayed or cancelled, we will not be responsible. However, we shall do our best (like running the ship late into the night to make up for the lost time) to make your holidays enjoyable. However, if you decide not to avail the trip, you will have to pay the cancellation fee according to our policy.