Sylhet 2-Day Tour Plan and Cost: Jaflong, Lalakhal, Ratargul and Sada Pathor
What you can see in Sylhet in two days, which sights share a road, which train to take, what CNGs and legunas cost and which places look best in winter: one plan for families, friends or couples.
- From Dhaka
- About 240 km; 6.5–7.5 hours by train, 5–6 by bus
- Train fare
- Shovon chair ৳410, Snigdha ৳788
- How long
- 2 days, 1–2 nights
- Cost
- ৳3,500–6,000 per person for 2 days
- In winter
- Jaflong and Lalakhal are at their clearest green
Trip ticket
Sylhet's sights are spread around the city, each two or three hours apart. So instead of trying to see everything in two days, put the places on the same road on the same day. In this plan, day one covers Jaflong and Lalakhal on the Tamabil road, and day two Sada Pathor or Ratargul towards Companiganj and Gowainghat, with the city in the afternoon.
For an introduction to every place in Sylhet, see our Sylhet travel guide.
Dhaka to Sylhet
| Train | Leaves Kamalapur | Reaches Sylhet |
|---|---|---|
| Parabat Express | 6:30 am | 1:00 pm |
| Joyantika Express | 11:15 am | 7:00 pm |
| Kalni Express | 2:55 pm | 9:30 pm |
| Upaban Express | 10:00 pm | 5:00 am |
Fares are ৳410 for a Shovon chair, ৳788 for Snigdha and ৳943 for an AC seat; an AC berth on the Upaban is ৳1,465. For a two-day trip the overnight Upaban is the most useful: you arrive at dawn with the whole day ahead. See every train on our train schedule. Buses (Ena, Shyamoli, Hanif, Green Line) take 5–6 hours: ৳700–900 non-AC, ৳1,200–1,800 AC.
Day 1: Jaflong and Lalakhal (the Tamabil road)
7 am: Hire a CNG or leguna
CNGs and legunas for Jaflong wait near Ambarkhana and Shishu Park in the city. Hire one for the whole day covering both Jaflong and Lalakhal.
| Vehicle | Seats | Approximate full-day fare |
|---|---|---|
| CNG | 3–4 | ৳2,000–2,800 |
| Leguna | 8–10 | ৳3,000–4,000 |
| Microbus | 8–10 | ৳4,000–5,500 |
| Local bus (to Jaflong) | Per person | ৳80–120 one way |
9–10 am: Tea gardens and Tamabil on the way
Jaflong is about 60 km from Sylhet. On the way you pass the Jaintiapur tea gardens, Sripur and, near the Tamabil land port, views of the Meghalaya hills.
11 am–2 pm: Jaflong
The clear water of the Dawki River over a bed of stones, with India's suspension bridge across the border. Hire a boat across the river towards the Khasi village of Sangrampunji and Mayabi Falls; boats cost ৳500–1,000 by the hour. Don't cross the border markers.
3–5 pm: Lalakhal
On the way back, head to Lalakhal from Sarighat in Jaintiapur. In winter the Sari River turns blue-green between tea gardens and hills. The boat trip from Sarighat to Lalakhal and back takes 1.5–2 hours, and a boat (seating 8–10) costs ৳1,200–2,000.
Evening: Back to the city for Panshi or Pach Bhai
Back in the city, eat bhorta and rice and meat cooked with satkora at Panshi or Pach Bhai in Zindabazar.
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Day 2: Sada Pathor or Ratargul, then the city
There are two options for the morning of day two; choose by season.
Option A: Sada Pathor, Bholaganj (best in winter)
About 35 km from the city, 1–1.5 hours by CNG. From Bholaganj ghat it's a 15–20 minute boat ride (৳800–1,200 return). White stones lie in the Dhalai River where it comes down from the Meghalaya hills. In winter the water is low and clear and you can walk about on the stones.
Option B: Ratargul Swamp Forest (monsoon to November)
In Gowainghat, about 26 km from the city. It's the country's only freshwater swamp forest, and a dinghy takes you between flooded hijal and koroch trees (boats ৳750–1,000). After December the water drops and fewer boats run, so in midwinter Sada Pathor is the better choice.
2 pm: Malnicherra tea garden
On the airport road, just 5 km from the city, this is one of the subcontinent's first commercial tea gardens. Walk the path over the hillocks to watch tea being picked.
Afternoon: The shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Keane Bridge
At Dargah Gate are the shrine, the gajar fish in the pond and the Jalali pigeons. In the evening see Keane Bridge over the Surma and Ali Amjad's clock tower, then take the night train or bus to Dhaka.
Where to fit in Bisnakandi
Bisnakandi (by boat via Hadarpar) is at its best in the monsoon and early autumn, when water rushes over the stones. In winter the water drops a lot. With three days you can do Ratargul and Bisnakandi together on day three, since both are towards Gowainghat.
Two-day cost (per person)
For a group of four with one night in a hotel:
| Item | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Train, return | ৳820 (Shovon chair) | ৳1,576–1,886 (Snigdha/AC) |
| Hotel, one night (shared) | ৳500–800 | ৳1,500–3,000 |
| CNG for two days (shared) | ৳1,000–1,400 | ৳1,000–1,400 |
| Boats (Lalakhal, Sada Pathor) | ৳500–800 | ৳500–800 |
| Food | ৳800–1,200 | ৳1,500–2,000 |
| Total | ৳3,600–5,000 | ৳6,000–9,000 |
Sylhet in winter
- From November to February the water at Jaflong, Lalakhal and Sada Pathor is at its clearest
- Waterfalls and Bisnakandi run low
- Mornings are misty, so a slightly later start is fine for views
- Book hotels early for the January holidays
Tips for families and couples
With children or older people, hire a microbus rather than a CNG and keep day one to Jaflong only. Couples might spend a night at one of the resorts beside Lalakhal. To add Sreemangal, see our 2-day Sreemangal tour plan; together they make a four-day trip.
Questions and answers
Can I see Jaflong, Bisnakandi, Ratargul and Sada Pathor in two days?
Only in a great rush. Jaflong is on one road and the rest are in another direction. Three fit well in two days; allow three days for all four.
How much does a Sylhet trip cost per person?
By Shovon chair train and sharing a CNG between four, ৳3,600–5,000 for two days. With a good hotel and an AC train, ৳6,000–9,000.
Is it safe to bathe at Jaflong?
The Dawki has currents and sudden deep holes, and there are accidents every year. Don't go in if you can't swim, and stay out of deep water.
What should I eat in Sylhet?
Meat with satkora, many kinds of bhorta, dried fish and Sylhet tea. See our list of famous food from 64 districts too.
See it on the map, plan your trip
Look up the places, routes and costs, then put your own trip together.
