Inclusions
Exclusions
What's it all about?
Our Bangladesh and Bhutan tour is designed to take you across all the highlights of both countries in only 11 days.
We start in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, a wonderfully chaotic assault on the senses. Cruise overnight south to Barisal to explore floating markets and life on the delta. Sail back to Dhaka in time to visit the ancient capital of Sonargon, before flying onto Paro, Bhutan.
In Bhutan the opposite experience awaits. Swap chaotic street life for spiritual and meditative vibes. Visit the capital city of Thimpu, before exploring Punakha, Paro and all the temples, monasteries and mountain views in between.
Due to the wonderful contrasts between these countries, we believe they are both best experienced as one combo tour starting in Bangladesh first 😉
Check out the itinerary below and feel free to get in touch for more info!
Highlights
Where?
Dhaka – Barisal – Sonargon – Panam City – Dhaka – Paro – Thimpu – Punakha – Paro.
When?
October 12 – 22nd, 2025
Visa?
We will supply you with an invitation letter to allow you to get the visa on arrival in Bangladesh.
For Bhutan, we take care of the visa application for you and then send you a copy of the visa before the tour.
The Itinerary
October 12 | Day 1 - Old Dhaka
- Upon arrival, our local team will meet you at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and transfer you to the hotel.
- Start our tour of Old Dhaka. Walk on Hindu Street, the centre of Hindu culture and community in Old Dhaka, full of jewellery shops, local musical instrument shops, Hindu bridal shops, kite shops, cookery shops, temples, rickshaws, and people.
- Visit Islampur Road, the largest clothing market in Bangladesh.
- Drive to the hotel in the late evening battling the traffic as we go.
- Dinner and overnight in Dhaka.
October 13 | Day 2 - Dhaka / Overnight Ferry
- After breakfast, visit some interesting backstreets and bazaars in New and Old Dhaka. These are full of photo opportunities, including Kawran Bazar – the largest wholesale vegetable market of Dhaka, Tejgaon Railway Station, Chawk Bazar – a wholesale market for street vendors, and Swarighat – a busy river port.
- Before sunset, enjoy a boat ride on Dhaka’s river Buriganga, and capture the busy activity on the river.
- Board our passenger ferry for the 21.00 departure overnight journey to Barisal.
- Overnight on the boat in second class (enquire for an upgrade to first class!)
October 14 | Day 3 - Barisal
- Arrive at Barisal early in the morning, freshen up and disembark.
- Have breakfast at a local restaurant and drive to our waiting boat in a remote backwater.
- Today we’ll experience real life in Bangladesh – starting with visiting a floating timber market and bazaars.
- Visit a brick factory and see the labour-intensive process of making bricks, the primary construction material in Bangladesh. You’ll find endless photo opportunities here. Lunch will be served on our local boat.
- Return to Barisal city in the late afternoon.
- Dinner & overnight in Barisal.
October 15 | Day 4 - Barisal / Dhaka
- Early breakfast in a local restaurant.
- Today you’ll visit the bustling floating rice market and experience the sorting and processing of rice manually by the families at their homes.
- Visit a school (if open), experience the education system of Bangladesh, and interact with the school children and the teachers.
- Lunch will be served on the boat with local fruit.
- Drive to Barisal River Station (1 hr), board a passenger ferry in the late afternoon, and rest.
- During sunset, capture the activities at the river station before departing for our overnight journey to Dhaka.
- Overnight on the boat.
October 16 | Day 5 - Sonargon
- Arrive at Dhaka early in the morning, freshen up and disembark.
- Capture the busy activities in the river port when all the overnight ferries will be arriving at the same time.
- After, we visit a busy riverside Bazaar and landing station, where you’ll get a lot of photo opportunities.
- Have breakfast at a local restaurant. Visit the shipyards of Dhaka and capture the busy ship repairing activities.
- Drive to Sonargon (50 km, 2 hr), the old capital of eastern Bengal.
- Visit the medieval period Goaldi Mosque, Folk-arts and Crafts Museum, and Panam Nagar – the abandoned city of the wealthy Hindu cotton merchants from the early 19th century. Take a boat at river Meghna and visit a Char (sandbank island) to experience the traditional life of the farmers.
- Return to the hotel in the evening.
- Dinner and overnight in Dhaka.
October 17 | Day 6 - Flight to Bhutan
- Transfer early to the airport for the 09:10 direct Drukair flight to Paro, Bhutan.
- Enjoy the spectacular approach through the mountains into Paro International Airport. Paro is situated in a beautiful valley at 2280 metres and is a fitting introduction to this charming kingdom.
- Take a short one-hour drive along the Paro and Thimphu river valleys to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital.
- Visit the huge statue of Buddha Dordenma, which commands a great view of Thimphu Valley. The impressive 3-storey throne holds several chapels and the body itself is filled with 125,000 smaller statues of Buddha.
- Take a mini hike to Changangkha through a beautiful blue pine and rhododendron forest with a fantastic view of the valley.
- Visit Changangkha temple – perched on a hilltop overlooking the town. Devotees flock throughout the day to circumambulate and turn the prayer wheels. The temple also contains beautiful wall paintings and hundreds of religious scriptures written in gold.
- Take an evening walk around town and soak in the atmosphere of this magical capital with its busy shops, bazaars and photogenic citizens in national dress.
- Overnight in Thimphu.
October 18 | Day 7 - Punakha
- Drive from Thimphu through the Dochu La pass at 3050 metres.
- From Dochu La we will take a day hike to the 18th century Lungchotse Lhakhang. On a clear sunny day, one can see the entire Bhutan Himalayas with its snow-covered peaks. Stop for a hot drink or lunch and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Eastern Himalayan ranges.
- Continue the drive for approximately 2 hours to the old capital, Punakha.
- Take a walk for an hour or so across the terraced fields of Sopsokha village to Chimi Lhakhang (Temple of Fertility) built in the 15th century by the ‘Divine Madman’ (Lama Drukpa Kuenley). Visit one of the many phallic-themed souvenir shops.
- Dinner & overnight in Punakha.
October 19 | Day 8 - Punakha
- Take a morning hike to Jiligang hilltop temple. Inside the temple in the main stupa is a statue of the God of Compassion and the Lama Drukpa Kuenley himself. The temple is now privately owned by the descendants of the Lama.
- Below is the valley of Samdzingkha where local farmers tend their crops.
- Continue the descent down towards the impressive Punakha Dzong where your hike ends and your driver will be waiting for you. The hike is roughly 12 km and should take around 4-5 hours.
- Dinner & overnight in Punakha.
October 20 | Day 9 - Paro
- Take a short hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel Chorten via the village of Yebisa over a suspension bridge.
- From the top, you will see a beautiful view of the valley and surrounding villages. The temple is 30 metres tall and is dedicated to the fifth King.
- In the afternoon drive to Paro, a drive of 4-5 hours making some stops along the way.
- Visit the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang, a temple of historical significance and one of the most sacred shrines in Bhutan.
- Visit a local farmhouse for dinner and sample the restorative properties of a traditional hot stone bath! (extra charge)
- Dinner & overnight in Paro.
October 21 | Day 10 - Tiger's Nest
- Take a day walk to the legendary ‘Tigers Nest’ – the sacred Taktshang monastery which clings to the rock face 900 metres above the valley floor.
- Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site riding on a tigress. He subsequently meditated here for three months. It is one of Bhutan’s most holy sites and draws pilgrims not only from Bhutan but also from neighbouring Buddhist countries. If you feel like it, you can climb higher above the monastery to some small more secluded temples before descending.
- Lunch at the Taktshang cafeteria from where you get a spectacular view of the monastery.
- Visit Dumtse Lhakhang, a temple built by Thangtong Gyalpo, the iron bridge builder or visit the impressive Paro Rinpung Dzong, one of the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture.
- Wander through the main street of Paro taking in some of the many souvenir & craft shops.
- Dinner & overnight in Paro.
October 22 | Day 11 - Departure
- Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
- We’ll stop by a spectacular viewing point on the way which overlooks the airport.
- End of Bangladesh & Bhutan Tour.
What else?
Tour Notes
You’ll be in the vastly experienced hands of our English-speaking local guides as well as your Rocky Road Travel tour leader. After conducting 2 research trips to Bangladesh & Bhutan, we have perfected the itinerary and length of this tour accordingly.
Before each tour, we will add you to a dedicated Whatsapp group so you can share photos easily and chat with your travel mates. Just let us know if you want to opt out of this.
To book simply hit the button below and start the conversation today.
Apply for your spot on the tour now or simply request more info below.
Bangladesh & Bhutan tour
October 12 - 22nd, 2025
Dhaka - Paro
Start in Dhaka and finish in Paro. Book your flight between the two cities and we'll take care of the rest.
Standard Hotels
10 Nights
The price
$2750 USD