You cannot drive into the Sundarbans. The forest is a maze of tidal rivers and creeks, and almost every trip into it starts on a boat. So the real question is how to travel Dhaka to Khulna via Padma Bridge, then on to the ship. Most ships leave from Khulna and day trips to Karamjal and Harbaria start from Mongla.
The Padma Bridge made the Sundarbans a weekend trip
Before the Padma Bridge opened in 2022, getting from Dhaka to Khulna meant a long road journey with a ferry crossing, or a train that went the long way round. A Sundarbans trip took real planning and several days off work.
Now buses and trains cross the river on the bridge. By road, Dhaka to Khulna takes around 4 to 5 hours, and the Sundarban Express saved at least two hours when it moved to the bridge route. In practice that means you can leave Dhaka after work, wake up in Khulna, and be on the ship by breakfast. A full 3-day Sundarbans trip now needs as little as one day off work.
Dhaka to Sundarban distance
On the new Padma Bridge rail route via Narail, Dhaka to Khulna is about 208 km, against about 376 km on the old route. From Khulna it is about an hour by road to Mongla at the edge of the forest, and the ship reaches Harbaria, the first forest stop, the same afternoon.
Sundarban tour package from Dhaka by ship?
Most tourist ships start in Khulna, not Dhaka. So a Sundarban tour package from Dhaka by ship usually means a bus or train to Khulna via the Padma Bridge, then three days on the ship.
Here are your options for a trip to Sundarban from Dhaka.
Dhaka to Khulna bus via Padma Bridge: the most popular choice
Buses from Dhaka to Khulna now cross the Padma Bridge, and the journey usually takes around 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and where you board. AC and non-AC coaches leave throughout the day and night from Sayedabad and other Dhaka terminals.
- Best for: most travellers, and anyone who wants to travel overnight.
- Tip: an overnight coach that reaches Khulna early in the morning lets you board a 7:30 AM sailing without paying for a hotel.
Dhaka to Khulna train via Padma Bridge: Sundarban Express and others
Bangladesh Railway runs intercity trains between Dhaka and Khulna, including the Sundarban Express, which now runs via the Padma Bridge. Newer services on the Padma Bridge route are faster again. Train timetables and off days change, so check the latest schedule with Bangladesh Railway before you book, and buy tickets early for weekends and holidays.
- Best for: families who want to stretch their legs and avoid road traffic.
- Tip: match the train's arrival time to your ship's reporting time, and leave a buffer in case the train runs late.
By air: fly to Jashore
There is no airport in Khulna. The nearest is Jashore, a short flight from Dhaka, and from there it is roughly a 1.5-hour drive to Khulna.
- Best for: travellers short on time, or anyone who wants to avoid a long road journey.
- Tip: take a morning flight the day before sailing, or very early on the day if your ship leaves later. We can book the flight for you along with the tour.
Khulna to Sundarbans by ship, or Mongla by trawler?
- Khulna is the main departure point for 3-day, 2-night ship tours. Ships usually leave from the launch ghats in Khulna city early in the morning. On our Sundarban Tour Package, some ships ask you to report at 7:00 AM for a 7:30 AM departure.
- Mongla is about an hour by road south of Khulna, on the Pasur river. It is the place to hire a trawler for a day trip to Karamjal or Harbaria.
A Sundarban trip from Dhaka in one weekend (one day off work)
- Thursday night: overnight bus from Dhaka across the Padma Bridge to Khulna.
- Friday, early morning: arrive in Khulna, have tea near the ghat, and board the ship.
- Friday to Sunday: Harbaria, Kochikhali, Dimer Char, Katka and Karamjal, with all meals on board.
- Sunday evening: back in Khulna, then a bus home to Dhaka, arriving the same night.
Only Sunday is a working day, so the whole trip costs you one day of leave.
Before you leave Dhaka
- Carry your National ID card or passport. It is needed for the Forest Department permission. See the full Sundarbans rules and packing list.
- Book a few days ahead. The operator has to arrange the permission before you sail, so last-minute bookings are not always possible.
- Check the season. The Sundarbans is closed to tourists every year from 1 June to 31 August. Read our guide to the best time to visit the Sundarbans.
- Know your budget. See what a Sundarbans tour costs, ship by ship.
Let us plan it for you
Tell us your dates on the Sundarban Tour Package page. We confirm the ship, the cabin and the reporting time on WhatsApp, so you know exactly when you need to be in Khulna.
