Overall, this was a high/low trip. Bangladesh is all about the outdoors and is a budget traveler’s dream.
Where I went:
Dhaka: If you’re flying to Bangladesh, you’ll arrive in Dhaka so it’s worth a half day of tourism. Dhaka traffic is INSANE so don’t plan much! Stay in the embassy region, if possible. The Intercontinental Hotel is a must after roughing it in the Sundarbans!
Cox’s Bazar: The Mermaid Resort is lovely but remote. It felt like a chill hippie commune with funky artwork and inspirational signage. The bungalows are charming, and the food is delicious. It’s hard not to relax here, and the prices are super reasonable.
The Sundarbans: Definitely travel by private houseboat to access the remote areas but expect VERY basic conditions. My shower was a garden hose! But that’s part of the adventure...and my favorite part of the trip.
What I Wore:
Bangladesh is a Muslim country so I kept it modest, except at beach locations. I shopped at The Little Bazaar for inexpensive flowy skirts with a Bengali vibe and loaded up on bangle bracelets and beads (inexpensive Amazon purchases).
I always carried a sarong-size scarf to cover my head and shoulders. It also worked well as a bathing suit cover-up. Voda Swim is my go-to site for swimsuits. They’re a flattering cut, provide some extra cleavage and come in basic colors for mixing and matching with skirts and sarongs!
Also, showers were often hard to come by so I kept my hairstyle simple and bohemian: lots of braids and messy buns.
What I did:
Bangladesh is all about the outdoors so leave the heels at home.
There aren’t many rules in Bangladesh so just go with the flow. The wild tom-tom rides are more thrilling than a roller coaster! I also enjoyed parasailing and jet skiing in Cox’s Bazaar, trekking for Royal Bengal tigers and other wildlife in the Sundarbans and Otter Fishing near Khulna.
What’s Otter Fishing? It’s a rare tradition dating back to the 6th century facing extinction. Trained otters herd the river fish into nets, and it’s a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!
And find ways to give back to the community. I was fortunate to visit a Rohingya refugee camp while I was there and produced a film upon my return to highlight the struggles of the camp’s children.
Click this link to watch my short video about the children in the Rohingya Refugee Camp in Cox's Bazar: The Rohingya Crisis - Camp 23
What I ate/drank:
Bangladesh is a Muslim country so alcohol is generally banned, but it’s available at major hotels. We ordered beer and margaritas from room service at the Intercontinental in Dhaka.
And although Christmas is not generally celebrated, our boat crew surprised us on December 25th with a tree and a delicious cake!
Social media tips:
According to World Bank data, Bangladesh is the world’s least “touristy” destination (160 million residents and only 125,000 annual visitors). I attracted a lot of attention while I was there and was asked to pose for loads of photos. It was so much fun being greeted with such enthusiasm by the locals. Since the country is not set up for traditional tourism, look for unique and out-of-the-box photo ops!
A Few Songs From My Travel Playlist in Bangladesh:
Back In Black - Amy Winehouse
Circus - Britney Spears
Adore You - Harry Styles
Seven Wonders - Fleetwood Mac
Last Friday Night - Katy Perry
Goodbye Stranger - Supertramp
Prince - 1999
Duran Duran - Notorious
Higher Love - Steve Winwood
Jesus Walks - Kanye West
Hold My Hand - Hootie & The Blowfish
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