Christmas with tribal villages, New Year fireworks in Dhaka, the Biswa Ijtema human-train spectacle, plus Sundarbans and heritage sites.
Arrive at Dhaka airport, transfer to hotel, breakfast and rest, then a brief city tour of the Dhaka University area, Language Martyrs' Monument, Curzon Hall, Three Leaders' Mausoleum and the National Parliament building from outside. Return to the hotel in the early evening.
After breakfast drive to Tangail, visiting a Grameen Bank micro-credit project on the way. At Tangail see the Atia Mosque and the Tangail weaving village, then continue to Bogra and check in for the night.
Visit the Mahasthan citadel and drive to Paharpur to explore the Paharpur Buddhist Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including its museum. Continue to Rajshahi via the Kusumba Mosque, arriving in the early evening.
Join locals at the largest church in Rajshahi for the Christmas program, then visit Santal tribal villages to see how they celebrate and enjoy local music. Later explore the painting village in Nachol and the 15th-century mosques of Gaur city near the Indian border, including Choto Sona, Darasbari and Toha Khana mosques.
Drive to Kushtia, stopping at the Putia temple city to see the Govinda, Shiva and Gopala temples. Continue to visit Tagore's bungalow and the mystic poet Lalon's shrine at Kushtia, then move on to Jessore for the night.
Drive to Mongla and board the vessel for cruising into the Sundarbans National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cruise continues until the vessel anchors at the Kotka Wildlife Sanctuary.
A full day of forest activities including jungle walks along the trails, exploring small canals by hand-rowing boat and climbing a watchtower. In the late afternoon the vessel begins its return towards Mongla and anchors near a forest office by dark.
The vessel resumes cruising towards Mongla, stopping at a fisherman village and passing the dolphin area. Leave the vessel at Mongla and visit the mosque city of Bagerhat, including the 60-domes mosque (UNESCO), then drive to Barisal crossing a ferry.
Early morning with a packed breakfast, head to Banaripara boat station and board a motorized local boat to explore the floating market selling seasonal vegetables, rice and fruit. After the visit and a stop at a local riverside village, begin the drive back towards Dhaka.
Sightseeing across Dhaka including Sadarghat river port and shipyard, Pink Palace, Shakhari Bazar (Hindu Street), Armenian Church, Star Mosque, Lalbagh Fort and Dhakeshwari Temple. In the evening drive around the city for New Year parties and watch the fireworks from a rooftop before midnight.
Fly to Chittagong and transfer to the Bandarban hill tracts. Spend the afternoon exploring Bandarban, visiting local communities and enjoying a boat ride, followed by an evening cultural program performed by local tribal communities.
Visit a Tripura village in the early morning, then drive to the largest tribal market on a market day where remote groups, including Mru and Bawm, come to buy and sell twice a week. Drive on to Chittagong and check in for the night.
Visit the largest fish market and view the ship breaking yard from outside, then explore the Comilla ruins of Mainamati, including Salban Bihara and the Second World War cemetery. Continue back towards Dhaka for the night.
Drive to the Biswa Ijtema gathering, the second-largest Islamic congregation in the world, and witness the famous human-train at Tongi station as thousands of people pack the trains. Later visit the old capital Sonargaon, including Panam City and Sardar Bari palace, for a final night in Dhaka.
Early breakfast and transfer to the airport to fly home.
