From the Dhaka community on Couchsurfing: Guide in Bandarban

Morten M.

@MORBERTRostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Guide in Bandarban

Hey there, we are planing to go to Bandarban. As time is running short we will only visit the city itself and head for a day trip to Ruma Bazar. There is no hiking/trecking scheduled. We have to apply for a permit anyway, but: Do you guys know if we still need a guide when we only stay in the above mentioned places?

There is no guide required for Rangamati so I wonder if the same is possible in Bandarban.

Thanks for any helpfull information!

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Fazle R.

@fazlerobinDhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh

Hello Morten and Rochssana, i am working as a guide and I know those place very well. The fact is I am living in Dhaka. If you wish I can go with you. If not then my suggestion is... you don't need guide for day trip in Bandarban city and as far as I know you might not get a English speaking guide there. If you choose nilgiri, nilachol, golden temple, meghla and chimbuk then you have to start from very early morning. But you cannot cover ruma. If you want go ruma then you have to delete chimbuk and nilgiri. My suggestion is delete ruma and go to nilgiri. You will get good view there. Now rest of the thing is yours. For more information inbox me anytime. Regards Robin

Morten M.

@MORBERTRostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Thanks for your replies. I spoke to the DC of Bandarban and he said that there is no way of getting a permit for Bandarban without having a guide. Still I cant really confirm this information as there was a bit of a language problem as well. Anyway it is to late for us to go. But for future travelers it might be useful to know whether one can visit Bandarban city without guide or not.

Arman K.

@arman-khanDhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh

Hi Morten, You cannot visit Bandarban without a guide. You can do the day trip to Ruma bazar and see the temples in the city. A guide would make the logistical arrangements very easy for you (hiring a jeep, boat etc).

In my trips I have always used James Bawm from Guide Tours and he is amazing! His English is about the best you can find out there. His number is (+88)01557219812. His FB id is https://www.facebook.com/james.bawm.92.