Where water reigns supreme
Please note: the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against “all but essential travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts”, which does not include the city of Chittagong city or other parts of Chittagong Division.
Bangladesh and water have an intimate relationship. The low-lying country is based around 700 rivers that shape the land and life of Bangladesh. They all flow into the Bay of Bengal, creating the biggest mangrove swamp in the world, the Sundarbans. This is a wilderness among a densely populated land, a place where intrepid travellers can explore in the hope (or perhaps not) of seeing a Royal Bengal tiger.
Slow down and relax
With little tourist infrastructure, this is a travel experience for those willing to slow down and move at a country’s natural pace. A treasure trove of fascinating sites awaits patient visitors. Those hungry to uncover the country’s rich cultural heritage should head to the Hindu temple of Dhaka, the 15th-century mosques at Bagerhat and the enormous Buddhist ruins at Paharpur, which was once a renowned, intellectual centre of the ancient world.
Fifty shades of green
With so much water, it’s no surprise that Bangladesh is one of the lushest countries in the world and a true nature-lover’s paradise. Huge bird populations reside in Ratargul, the country’s ‘Amazonian swamp’. For those keen to see apes in the wild, a tour through the exotic forests of Lowacherra National Park is a must. For a stroll along one of the longest beaches in the world, heard to Cox’s Bazar. Does any of that sound like the makings of a great holiday? If so, start looking for cheap flights to Bangladesh today.
When to go
Bangladesh has a sub-tropical, monsoon climate. As a result, the best time to visit, weather-wise, is between October and March. Temperatures are at their lowest (mid-twenties down to around 18 degrees Celsius), and the rains have finished for the year, though there can sometimes be late downpours in October. At that time, prices rise, so it’s advisable to book your Bangladesh flights at least two months in advance for travel during this season.
The shoulder season spans April and May, when the temperatures rise to border-line bearable for most western travellers. Mangoes ripen and honey is collected in the Sundarbans during this time. Because of the heat, it can be a great time to pick up bargain last-minute flights with Netflights.
In June, monsoon season starts, breaking the heat and heralding the peak of mango season. In July, the tea-harvest is at its height in Sylhet. These higher regions tend to be highly accessible and pleasant then. August and September can be difficult months to travel in Bangladesh as flooding and disruption to daily life are likely; don’t expect to be able to do much sightseeing during these months.
Airports and airlines
Netflights allows you to compare up-to-date deals from airlines worldwide. If your travel dates are flexible, you can search for Bangladesh flights without specifying travel dates or destination airports to find the flights that best fit your budget.
Shahjalal International Airport, the main airport in Bangladesh for international flights, is just outside of the capital, Dhaka. The airports in Chittagong and Sylhet also see a few international flights. Biman Bangladesh Airlines is the only carrier that flies direct from the United Kingdom (UK); their flights depart from London Heathrow.
Other major airlines that offer flights to Bangladesh include Qatar Airways, Emirates and Kuwait Airways. These airlines require a stopover in their home country - Qatar, Dubai and Kuwait - but this can significantly reduce the airfare. Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific also service flights to Bangladesh.