Organised Tours

The best trip, which includes visiting all three haors, is a four-day affair. Except for true bird enthusiasts, this is probably more than most travellers want. Nevertheless, an overnight trip would get you out into some of the most fascinating rural areas in Bangladesh.

To arrange a trip into the haor area, the best person to see is Mr Shokat, master of two boats, the Rubaia and Al-Amin. He has considerable experience with bird-watchers and the haors, and has worked for ornithology survey teams. Ask for Mr Shokat, or mention either of his two boats by name, at Sachna Ghat, the boat dock area, (the entrance into Sunamganj). Smack in the middle of a line of food/tea/dry goods stalls is an 'office' with a desk and a few chairs, and, more than likely, several men sitting around. This is the Sunamganj Boat Owner's Association. If he's not there, someone will fetch him.

You can contact him during the day or evening before you want to go to set up a departure time (6 to 7 am is recommended) and decide on the length of the trip. His rate is Tk 1200 per day, but if there is a group (four sleep comfortably on the boat; if there are more than six, someone may have to curl up on the outside deck) it's not a bad deal. The boatmen cook the meals, you provide the food, or the money for food, and Mr Shokat will buy all supplies that evening. He'll need a cash advance to buy fuel and a few other necessities.

For the trip you'll need water, a mat, a sleeping bag of some sort and a torch (flashlight). A mosquito net would also be a good idea. Bird-watchers will want a scope; binoculars will suffice for the less serious.