Monsoon Travel in Bangladesh: The 10 Best Places to Visit in the Rainy Season
Bangladesh is at its most beautiful in the monsoon. Houseboats on the haors, Ratargul under water, waterfalls in full flow, Sajek in the clouds, water-lily wetlands: which place to visit in which month, how to get there and the safety rules that matter in the rains.
- Monsoon
- Roughly June–September
- At their best
- Haors, swamp forest, waterfalls, clouds over the hills
- Places
- 10, in six divisions
- Bring
- Raincoat, sandals with grip, salt for leeches
- Watch out for
- Flash floods, landslides, rough rivers
Trip ticket
Many people stay home in the monsoon, yet it's when Bangladesh shows its most incredible side. Dry fields turn into sea-like haors, forest trees stand in water, white waterfalls pour down bare rock and clouds settle at your feet on the hilltops. This post covers the ten best places to visit in the monsoon, which month to go and how to stay safe.
Which place, when
| Place | District | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Tanguar Haor | Sunamganj | July–September |
| Ratargul swamp forest | Sylhet | July–October |
| Bisnakandi and Sada Pathor | Sylhet | June–October |
| Madhabkunda and Hum Hum | Moulvibazar | June–September |
| Khoiyachora and Mohamaya | Chattogram | June–October |
| Sajek Valley | Rangamati | June–October |
| Kaptai Lake and Shuvolong | Rangamati | July–November |
| Nikli Haor | Kishoreganj | July–September |
| Satla water-lily wetland | Barishal | August–October |
| Chalan Beel | Natore–Pabna–Sirajganj | July–September |
1. Tanguar Haor
In the monsoon, Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj fills with water to the horizon, with waterfalls running down the Meghalaya hills behind. A night on a houseboat, swimming among hijol and koroch trees standing in the water and the moon over the haor at night make the best monsoon experience. Read the full Tanguar Haor travel guide.
2. Ratargul swamp forest
The country's only freshwater swamp forest comes alive in the monsoon. You weave between the submerged trees in small dinghies. In the dry season no boats run here, so Ratargul really is a monsoon place.
3. Bisnakandi and Sada Pathor
At these two places in Sylhet, cold clear water pours from the Meghalaya hills over beds of stones. They're most beautiful in the monsoon, when there's plenty of water. But on days of flash floods the water rises suddenly, so stay out then. The full Sylhet plan is in our Sylhet travel guide.
4. Madhabkunda and Hum Hum waterfalls
Madhabkunda in Moulvibazar drops about 200 ft and runs at full force in the monsoon. Reaching Hum Hum, deep in Rajkandi forest, takes a muddy 3–4 hour trek, for experienced walkers only. Sreemangal's tea gardens nearby are greenest in the rains; read the Sreemangal travel guide.
5. Khoiyachora waterfall and Mohamaya Lake
The nine-tier Khoiyachora waterfall in Mirsharai, Chattogram, is at its biggest in the monsoon, and on nearby Mohamaya Lake you can kayak to the waterfall at the end. Both are possible in a day from Dhaka; details in the Mohamaya Lake travel guide.
6. Sajek Valley
In the monsoon and autumn a sea of cloud forms at dawn in Sajek, drowning the hills in white. This is when the name "kingdom of clouds" fits best. Read the Sajek Valley travel guide.
7. Kaptai Lake and Shuvolong waterfall
At the end of the monsoon Kaptai Lake is full, the hills are at their greenest and Shuvolong has water. Read the Kaptai Lake travel guide.
8. Nikli Haor
The closest haor experience to Dhaka. In the monsoon at Nikli in Kishoreganj, a road runs through the middle of the haor with water all around; take a boat and eat haor fish. The Itna–Mithamoin–Austagram haor road is worth seeing too. Details in the Kishoreganj district guide.
9. Satla water-lily wetland
In Wazirpur, Barishal, red water lilies cover the wetland from August to October. Go by boat at dawn to see them open; they close as the day goes on. On the same trip, see the floating guava market: Barishal: the launch and the floating guava market.
10. Chalan Beel
The country's biggest wetland, spanning Natore, Pabna and Sirajganj. In the monsoon it's a vast expanse of water, with boat rides and villages standing like islands. It's easy to reach from Singra in Natore. Details in the Natore district guide.
Staying safe in the monsoon
With the monsoon's beauty come more risks. Follow these rules:
- Check the forecast: look at Bangladesh Meteorological Department warnings and river port signals before you go and on the way.
- Flash floods: when it rains upstream, Sylhet's hill rivers and waterfalls can rise within minutes. If the current picks up, get to the bank at once.
- Landslides: landslides hit hill roads in the Chittagong Hill Tracts after heavy rain. Obey road closures by the local administration.
- Boats and life jackets: always wear a life jacket on haors and rivers. Don't stay on open water in a boat during a storm.
- Lightning: lightning is deadly on haors and open fields. When thunder starts, leave open ground for safe shelter.
- Leeches and slippery paths: carry salt or leech repellent in forests and wear sandals with grip.
What to bring
- A raincoat or good umbrella, and a waterproof bag for your phone and camera
- Quick-drying clothes and a spare set
- Sandals with grip (avoid foam or leather shoes)
- Mosquito and leech repellent, a first-aid kit
- A power bank; power cuts are common in many places
Why travel in the monsoon
- Fewer visitors, so hotels and resorts often offer discounts
- Nature at its greenest and most alive
- Haors, swamp forests and waterfalls are only at their full glory now
For where to go in winter, read the best places to visit in winter. To plan the whole trip, use the Trip Planner.
Questions and answers
Where should I travel in Bangladesh in the monsoon?
Tanguar Haor, Ratargul, Bisnakandi, Madhabkunda, Khoiyachora, Sajek, Kaptai Lake, Nikli Haor, the Satla water-lily wetland and Chalan Beel are at their best in the monsoon.
Is it safe to go to the hills in the monsoon?
Tourists do visit popular places like Sajek and Kaptai in the monsoon, but there's a risk of landslides after heavy rain. Check the forecast and the administration's instructions, and avoid hard treks.
When is the best time to visit Tanguar Haor?
July to September, when the haor is full of water.
Where can I go near Dhaka in the monsoon?
Nikli Haor in Kishoreganj, Arial Beel in Munshiganj and Khoiyachora–Mohamaya in Mirsharai are possible in a day or with one night.
What should I bring for monsoon travel?
A raincoat, a waterproof bag, sandals with grip, quick-drying clothes, salt for leeches and a power bank.
See it on the map, plan your trip
Look up the places, routes and costs, then put your own trip together.
