Winter Picnic Spots Near Dhaka: 8 Places for Families, Offices and Study Tours
Winter means picnic season. Here are eight places a family, office or school group can reach and return from in a day, with distances, who each suits, bus hire and cost per person, plus a checklist for organising it.
- Season
- December–February; book Fridays and Saturdays early
- Distance
- 20–90 km from Dhaka, 1–3 hours
- Bus hire
- A 40-seat bus for the day, ৳12,000–30,000
- Cost
- ৳800–3,000 per person (food, bus and spot)
Trip ticket
December to February, with bright sun and a light chill, is the best time for a picnic. Families, offices, neighbourhood clubs and schools all head out of Dhaka for a day, so the good spots are booked well ahead for Fridays and Saturdays. All eight places below are a day trip from Dhaka and suit large groups.
If you just want places to visit near Dhaka, see our day trips near Dhaka.
1. Bhawal National Park, Gazipur
- Distance: About 40 km, at Rajendrapur on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway
- Best for: Large groups, offices, schools and colleges
- Why: Named picnic spots spread through the sal forest, open fields, lakes and cooking areas. It's the oldest and best-known picnic area near Dhaka.
- Booking: Spots must be booked with the forest department in advance; winter Fridays are gone weeks ahead.
2. Resorts in Gazipur
- Distance: 30–60 km
- Best for: Offices, corporate groups and families
- Why: Food, playing fields, a pool and event set-up all come in one package, so there's little to organise. Many resorts, including Chuti Resort and Nokkhottrobari, offer day-long packages.
- Cost: Day-long packages usually cost ৳2,000–5,000 per person, with room to bargain for large groups.
3. The Safari Park, Gazipur
- Distance: About 50 km, at Bagher Bazar in Sreepur
- Best for: Families with children, school study tours
- Why: Ride a bus through open enclosures to see tigers, lions and deer, plus an aviary and a butterfly park. A picnic and a lesson in one.
- Note: You can't cook inside the park, so arrange food from outside.
4. Sonargaon: the Folk Art Museum and Panam Nagar
- Distance: About 27 km, at Mograpara junction
- Best for: Study tours, families and small groups
- Why: The Folk Arts and Crafts Museum has large green grounds and a lake, and century-old Panam Nagar is next door. History and a picnic in one place.
5. Jinda Park, Rupganj
- Distance: About 35 km, via Purbachal
- Best for: Families and neighbourhood groups
- Why: A green park built by the villagers themselves, with a lake, trees and a library; a tidy, calm place close to Dhaka.
- Note: The rules are strict and loud music isn't allowed; call ahead to get permission for a group.
6. Mawa and the Padma riverside
- Distance: About 40 km, an hour on the expressway
- Best for: Families and groups of friends
- Why: Views of the Padma Bridge, riverside resorts and fried hilsa. You can take a boat out on the river.
7. Mohera Zamindar Bari, Tangail
- Distance: About 90 km, two to two and a half hours
- Best for: Study tours and large groups
- Why: Beautifully painted zamindar buildings, a large pond and open grounds. It is now inside a police training centre, so you pay a set entry fee and keep to fixed hours.
8. Nuhash Polli, Gazipur
- Distance: About 20 km from Gazipur Chowrasta, at Pirujali
- Best for: Families and literature lovers
- Why: Humayun Ahmed's garden house, with a herb garden, the Lilaboti pond and quiet tree-lined grounds. Check opening hours and the entry fee first.
Bus hire and costs
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 40-seat non-AC bus, full day | ৳12,000–18,000 |
| 40-seat AC bus, full day | ৳20,000–30,000 |
| Food (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack) with a hired cook | ৳400–800 per person |
| Food from a caterer or resort | ৳700–1,500 per person |
| Spot booking and entry fees | Varies by place |
| Raffle draw and game prizes | Up to the group's budget |
For a group of 40, the bus and a cook's food usually come to ৳800–1,500 per person; a resort package costs ৳2,000–3,000 or more.
Picnic checklist
- Spot and date: Book at least three or four weeks ahead; Saturdays are easier to get than Fridays.
- Bus: Check for a fitness certificate and an experienced driver; leave by 7 am to beat the traffic.
- Food: If you hire a cook, settle who brings the pots, gas or firewood; bring water and disposable plates.
- Activities: Pot-breaking, musical chairs, tug of war, pass-the-pillow and a raffle draw. Plan separate games for children.
- Noise: Loud speakers are banned or limited at most places; check the rules.
- First aid: A first-aid box and a list of emergency phone numbers.
- Cleaning up: Bring big rubbish bags and clean the place before you leave.
- Going home: Winter evenings come early with fog, so set off by 4 or 5 pm.
Extra tips for study tours
For school and college trips, get written permission from the institution, parents' consent forms and one teacher for every 10–15 students. Don't let anyone go near water (lakes, rivers, ponds) alone. For historic sites, Sonargaon, Mohera or, a little further, Mainamati in Cumilla work well. For more low-cost trips, see our budget tours for students.
Questions and answers
What is the best picnic spot near Dhaka?
Bhawal National Park for large groups, the Safari Park for families with children, and a Gazipur resort's day-long package if you want to avoid the organising.
How much should I budget per person?
For a group of 40, the bus and a cook's food come to ৳800–1,500 per person. At a resort, ৳2,000–3,000 or more.
How far ahead should I book a picnic spot?
A month ahead for Fridays in December and January. Midweek you can often book a few days before.
Where else can I go outside Dhaka in winter?
See our best places to travel in winter and the Gazipur district guide.
See it on the map, plan your trip
Look up the places, routes and costs, then put your own trip together.
