Our Sundarbans cruise is the trip guests write to us about most. It is slow, peaceful and surprisingly comfortable — but it helps to know what you are signing up for.
Life on board
You will sleep in a twin cabin on a licensed tourist vessel with shared bathrooms, a sun deck and a dining hall. Meals are freshly cooked Bengali food — river fish, chicken curry, dal, bhorta — served four times a day. There is no phone signal for most of the trip, which is exactly the point.
The daily rhythm
Mornings start before sunrise with a silent creek safari by small boat, when deer come to the water and kingfishers are most active. Days are spent on guided forest walks at Kotka and Kochikhali with armed forest guards, and evenings end with tea on deck under more stars than you have seen in years.
What to pack
- Light, full-sleeve clothes in earth colours (bright colours scare wildlife)
- Comfortable walking shoes that can get muddy
- Mosquito repellent, sunscreen and a cap
- Binoculars and a zoom lens if you have one
- A power bank — charging on board is limited
- Any personal medication
Will you see a tiger?
Honestly, probably not — sightings are rare and never guaranteed. But you will almost certainly see spotted deer, wild boar, monkeys, crocodiles and dozens of bird species, and you will leave understanding why this forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the full itinerary of our 3-day Sundarbans Mangrove Cruise.