Sylhet Division, tucked into Bangladesh’s verdant northeast, has been a crossroads for Sufi saints, tea planters, and river traders for centuries. Today, its emerald hills and glassy rivers draw nature lovers while its shrines and bazaars hum with daily devotion and commerce. The region is also the homeland of much of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Britain, giving Sylhet’s cuisine and culture a global reach.

You’ll split your week between Sylhet City and Sreemangal (Srimangal). In Sylhet, discover Hazrat Shah Jalal’s shrine, sunset over the Surma River from Keane Bridge, and day trips to Jaflong’s stone beds and the turquoise currents of Lalakhal. In Sreemangal, Bangladesh’s tea capital, wander rolling estates, hike Lawachara National Park in search of hoolock gibbons, and sip the famed “seven-layer tea.”

Best time to visit is October–March for clear skies and cooler air; the June–September monsoon intensifies the landscape but can flood trails. Dress modestly at shrines, carry cash or bKash for small vendors, and taste Sylhet’s signature beef with shatkora (a local citrus), bhuna khichuri on rainy days, and pitha sweets hot off the griddle.

Sylhet

Set along the Surma River, Sylhet blends spiritual pilgrimages and river life with easy day access to borderland valleys. Visit the Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA) Dargah, a cornerstone of Bengal’s Sufi history, and trace colonial-era trade at the Keane Bridge. Evenings glow with tea stalls and the sizzle of kebabs in Zindabazar.

• Top sights: Hazrat Shah Jalal Dargah, Keane Bridge, Shah Paran Dargah (hilltop), Osmani Museum, Surma River promenade.
• Day trips: Jaflong’s stone fields and Dawki headwaters, Lalakhal boat rides, and (seasonally) Ratargul Swamp Forest for freshwater swamp scenery by canoe.
• Eat & drink: Panshi Restaurant (Zindabazar) for shatkora beef and bhorta platter; Pach Bhai Restaurant for biryani, khichuri, and halim; Woondaal King Kebab for tandoori and naan; riverside tea stalls near Keane Bridge for cha and jilapi.
• Stay: Look in Zindabazar/Chowhatta for easy food and transport. Browse VRBO in Sylhet or compare hotels on Hotels.com in Sylhet (search for properties like Noorjahan Grand, Grand Palace, or Rose View).
• Arrival transport: From Dhaka, fly to Sylhet (45–50 min, ~$35–70) or take an intercity train (6–7 hours, ~$5–15). Check flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com (use Omio if you’re comparing flights from Europe). For trains in Asia, see Trip.com Trains and purchase locally.

Sreemangal (Srimangal)

A patchwork of tea, pineapple, and lemon estates, Sreemangal is the heart of Bangladesh’s tea country. Dawn mists lift off manicured hills while the Lawachara National Park shelters rare primates and birds. Villages around the estates keep traditions alive, from betel leaf farming to bamboo crafts.

• Top sights: Lawachara NP (gibbons), Baikka Beel wetland (birdwatching), Madhabpur Lake, Tea Museum, scenic estate roads at dawn.
• Signature sip: The famed seven-layer tea, popularized by Romesh Ram Gour at Nilkantha Tea Cabin—aromatic layers of different teas stacked in one glass.
• Eat & drink: Nilkantha Tea Cabin for layered tea; Kutum Bari for paratha with dal and bhorta; resort restaurants (e.g., DuSai near Moulvibazar) for set dinners after long hikes.
• Stay: Search central Sreemangal for easy market access or choose a nature resort on the outskirts. Compare options on VRBO in Sreemangal and Hotels.com in Sreemangal (look for Tea Heaven Resort, Grand Selim Resort & Tour, Balishira Resort, or DuSai near Lawachara).
• Getting there from Sylhet: Train 2.5–3.5 hours (~$2–5) or car 2.5–3 hours (~$30–60). Plan via Trip.com Trains; buy Bangladesh tickets at the station.

Day 1: Arrive in Sylhet, Riverfront First Impressions

Afternoon: Land in Sylhet and settle into your hotel near Zindabazar or Chowhatta for easy walking access. Grab a restorative cha and a plate of hot jilapi from a street vendor to shake off travel fatigue.

Evening: Stroll across Keane Bridge for a dusk view over the Surma River—boats drift by as the city lights up. Dinner at Panshi Restaurant: order beef with shatkora (Sylhet’s bright, citrusy hallmark), mixed bhorta (smoked eggplant, mustardy mashed greens), and steamed rice; finish with firni.

Day 2: Sylhet City Walking Tour — Sufi Heritage & Street Eats (Full Day)

Join a guided urban ramble to understand Sylhet’s soul—its shrines, markets, and food. Expect shrine etiquette tips (head covering, shoes off), bites of chotpoti and fuchka, and stories of the city’s diasporic links to Britain.

Featured activity: Sylhet City Walking Tour – Culture, Heritage & Traditional Food

Post-tour dinner at Woondaal King Kebab for smoky seekh kebabs, butter naan, and a cooling lassi. If you still have energy, wander Zindabazar’s sari shops and spice sellers.

Day 3: Jaflong Stones & Lalakhal River — Scenic Day Trip (Full Day)

Drive north to Jaflong, where the Piain/Dawki River slips past Meghalaya’s foothills and pebble beds clatter underfoot. Continue to Lalakhal for a boat ride on startling blue-green water framed by tea-clad ridges.

Featured activity: Private Tour: Sylhet Full-Day Tour of Jaflong and Lalakhal

Pack sun protection; lunch is usually a rustic affair of fresh fish, dal, and rice at a local riverside joint. Return to Sylhet for a comforting bowl of halim or a biryani at Pach Bhai.

Day 4: Sylhet to Sreemangal, Tea Town Orientation

Morning: Depart Sylhet for Sreemangal by train (2.5–3.5 hours, budget-friendly) or hire a car (about 3 hours). Browse routes/timings via Trip.com Trains, then purchase tickets at the station.

Afternoon: Check into your Sreemangal stay. Visit the Tea Museum to trace the region’s plantation history and sample estate brews. Late afternoon, take a gentle estate walk—sunlight slants across trimmed bushes and red-earth paths.

Evening: At Nilkantha Tea Cabin, try the seven-layer tea (layered by sugar and tea density). Dinner at Kutum Bari: paratha with egg curry, mixed vegetable bhaji, and a bhorta sampler; end with mishti doi.

Day 5: Lawachara National Park & Tea Estates (Full Day)

Spend a full day hiking through Lawachara National Park with a local guide—listen for the whoop of hoolock gibbons, spot drongos and minivets, and learn about native flora. Trails range from gentle loops to longer forest circuits, often threading past villages and bamboo groves.

Featured activity: Full Day Sreemangal Tea Garden & National Park Hiking Tour

Refuel with a late lunch in town—try fish curry with steamed rice—and unwind at your resort. If you fancy a sunset, head to Baikka Beel for birdwatching from the tower.

Day 6: Ham Ham Waterfall Trek (Full Day)

Rise early for a rugged trek to Ham Ham (Hum Hum) Waterfall in the Rajkandi Reserve Forest—expect muddy paths, stream crossings, and lush canopy. It’s an adventurous, rewarding day; pack snacks, water, and sturdy footwear.

Featured activity: Private Tour: Full-Day Trekking Adventure Tour to Ham Ham Waterfall from Sylhet

Return dusty and happy. Celebrate with a hearty dinner—kacchi biryani or chicken roast—with a tall glass of lemon cha.

Day 7: Sreemangal Slow Morning, Departure

Morning: Ease into your final day with a sunrise walk through tea lanes or a calm visit to Baikka Beel if you skipped it yesterday. Alternatively, drive to Madhabpur Lake for lotus-dotted views and a last photo op.

Afternoon: Check out and transfer to Sylhet Airport or back to Dhaka. For flights, compare on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com (travelers from Europe can also check Omio for long-haul comparisons). If you’re returning by train, see Trip.com Trains for planning and purchase tickets on-site.

Optional Add-Ons & Local Gems

• Ratargul Swamp Forest: In monsoon months, hire a small boat to glide among freshwater swamp trees—aim for mid-morning light.
• Sreemangal Nature Immersion: If you want a lighter alternative to the Ham Ham trek, consider a gentle tea-and-forest day. Srimangal nature tour in forest and tea garden

Where to book stays: VRBO Sylhet | Hotels.com Sylhet • VRBO Sreemangal | Hotels.com Sreemangal

Across seven days you’ll weave between river valleys and tea hills, shrine courtyards and forest trails. Expect big skies, bigger hospitality, and a repertoire of Sylheti flavors you’ll crave long after you leave.