Bangladesh trip itinerary - comments appreciated

I think ur alternative itinerary is perfect. But you can make a bit change to enjoy the journey :

Mar 4 : Go to Hularhat by bus and take the Rocket to go Barisal. The rocket starts at 12.30 p.m and reaches Barisal at 6 p.,. So, you will get the chance to take Rocket trip some hours in daytime. In worse case, if you dont get the Rocket, take small launch to Barisal.

Mar 5/6 : In fact Kuakata is not worthy for only 1 day. Because it takes more than 5 hours to reach Kuakata. If you start 8 am from Barisal, you will reach around 2 p.m and only few hours to see Kuakata. Because next morning you have to take morning bus to reach Barisal before evening.

Better : You pass 2 days in Barisal, through visit a village, taking Barisal/Bhola/Barisal boat trip.

If you need any explanation, please feel free to ask here.

mahmud

I think ur alternative itinerary is perfect. But you can make a bit change to enjoy the journey :

Mar 4 : Go to Hularhat by bus and take the Rocket to go Barisal. The rocket starts at 12.30 p.m and reaches Barisal at 6 p.,. So, you will get the chance to take Rocket trip some hours in daytime. In worse case, if you dont get the Rocket, take small launch to Barisal.

Mar 5/6 : In fact Kuakata is not worthy for only 1 day. Because it takes more than 5 hours to reach Kuakata. If you start 8 am from Barisal, you will reach around 2 p.m and only few hours to see Kuakata. Because next morning you have to take morning bus to reach Barisal before evening.

Better : You pass 2 days in Barisal, through visit a village, taking Barisal/Bhola/Barisal boat trip.

If you need any explanation, please feel free to ask here.

mahmud

I think ur alternative itinerary is perfect. But you can make a bit change to enjoy the journey :

Mar 4 : Go to Hularhat by bus and take the Rocket to go Barisal. The rocket starts at 12.30 p.m and reaches Barisal at 6 p.,. So, you will get the chance to take Rocket trip some hours in daytime. In worse case, if you dont get the Rocket, take small launch to Barisal.

Mar 5/6 : In fact Kuakata is not worthy for only 1 day. Because it takes more than 5 hours to reach Kuakata. If you start 8 am from Barisal, you will reach around 2 p.m and only few hours to see Kuakata. Because next morning you have to take morning bus to reach Barisal before evening.

Better : You pass 2 days in Barisal, through visit a village, taking Barisal/Bhola/Barisal boat trip.

If you need any explanation, please feel free to ask here.

mahmud

I think ur alternative itinerary is perfect. But you can make a bit change to enjoy the journey :

Mar 4 : Go to Hularhat by bus and take the Rocket to go Barisal. The rocket starts at 12.30 p.m and reaches Barisal at 6 p.,. So, you will get the chance to take Rocket trip some hours in daytime. In worse case, if you dont get the Rocket, take small launch to Barisal.

Mar 5/6 : In fact Kuakata is not worthy for only 1 day. Because it takes more than 5 hours to reach Kuakata. If you start 8 am from Barisal, you will reach around 2 p.m and only few hours to see Kuakata. Because next morning you have to take morning bus to reach Barisal before evening.

Better : You pass 2 days in Barisal, through visit a village, taking Barisal/Bhola/Barisal boat trip.

If you need any explanation, please feel free to ask here.

mahmud

I think ur alternative itinerary is perfect. But you can make a bit change to enjoy the journey :

Mar 4 : Go to Hularhat by bus and take the Rocket to go Barisal. The rocket starts at 12.30 p.m and reaches Barisal at 6 p.,. So, you will get the chance to take Rocket trip some hours in daytime. In worse case, if you dont get the Rocket, take small launch to Barisal.

Mar 5/6 : In fact Kuakata is not worthy for only 1 day. Because it takes more than 5 hours to reach Kuakata. If you start 8 am from Barisal, you will reach around 2 p.m and only few hours to see Kuakata. Because next morning you have to take morning bus to reach Barisal before evening.

Better : You pass 2 days in Barisal, through visit a village, taking Barisal/Bhola/Barisal boat trip.

If you need any explanation, please feel free to ask here.

mahmud

I think ur alternative itinerary is perfect. But you can make a bit change to enjoy the journey :

Mar 4 : Go to Hularhat by bus and take the Rocket to go Barisal. The rocket starts at 12.30 p.m and reaches Barisal at 6 p.,. So, you will get the chance to take Rocket trip some hours in daytime. In worse case, if you dont get the Rocket, take small launch to Barisal.

Mar 5/6 : In fact Kuakata is not worthy for only 1 day. Because it takes more than 5 hours to reach Kuakata. If you start 8 am from Barisal, you will reach around 2 p.m and only few hours to see Kuakata. Because next morning you have to take morning bus to reach Barisal before evening.

Better : You pass 2 days in Barisal, through visit a village, taking Barisal/Bhola/Barisal boat trip.

If you need any explanation, please feel free to ask here.

mahmud

I think ur alternative itinerary is perfect. But you can make a bit change to enjoy the journey :

Mar 4 : Go to Hularhat by bus and take the Rocket to go Barisal. The rocket starts at 12.30 p.m and reaches Barisal at 6 p.,. So, you will get the chance to take Rocket trip some hours in daytime. In worse case, if you dont get the Rocket, take small launch to Barisal.

Mar 5/6 : In fact Kuakata is not worthy for only 1 day. Because it takes more than 5 hours to reach Kuakata. If you start 8 am from Barisal, you will reach around 2 p.m and only few hours to see Kuakata. Because next morning you have to take morning bus to reach Barisal before evening.

Better : You pass 2 days in Barisal, through visit a village, taking Barisal/Bhola/Barisal boat trip.

If you need any explanation, please feel free to ask here.

mahmud

I am sorry for my net problem, the answer replied many times. I am so sorry. I tried but could not delete.

well the place you are missing specially is the Chittagong hill trace, for that it will be best if you could shit your sundarbans tour may be next week as scheduled. then you may check your plan like that:

26 Feb: Akhura to CTG by train. afternoon at CTG.
27, 28 Feb; Bandarbans for 2 days.
01 March: Bandarbans - CTG by Bus, CTG -Dhaka by train.
02 March: After City sightseeing in Dhaka, board on Rocket,
03 March : from Moralgong after arriving drive to Khulna.
then join Sundarbans tour with any reputed company.
then the Bagerhat and to your regular plan.

Hi Mahmud,

Thank you very much for your response. I have seen many of your posts here throughout the years, now I am finally the one to benefit :)

Perhaps you are right that Kuakata is a bridge too far although I did schedule 2 nights (so had one full day there). But it does add 10 hours road time to a schedule that already has a lot of driving around.

If I understood your suggestions correctly my new itinerary after returning from Sunderbans would be something like this:

Revised itinerary
3 Mar, Sunday.......... Sundarbans Tour ends in Khulna at evening
4 Mar, Monday.......... Bus to Hularhot take day-time Rocket to Barisal
5 Mar, Tuesday......... Barisal-Bhola-Barisal
6 Mar, Wednesday.... Day in Bharisal, Board night-time Rocket from Barisal to Dhaka
7 Mar, Thursday........ Arrive Dhaka
8 Mar, Friday............ Maitree Express from Dhaka to Kolkata

Was that what you meant?

A few additional questions:

1) Is there anything particular to see or do in Bhola, or is it more about seeing what small-town Bangladesh is like? Is it a public ferry I will be taking?
2) Nothing much seems to be mentioned about Barisal in the Lonely Planet. Any advice for what to see do in Barisal itself?
3) Is the trip Banaripari worthwhile (e.g. on 6 March before catching the Rocket)
4) Do you know about opportunities for exchanging Rupees for Taka in Agartala? Or could I easily exchange after crossing the border? I don't assume there will be an ATM there?
5) And would anyone be able to help me with Bangladesh train tickets from Agartala?

Thank you again.

/Esben