15/01/2014
Bangladesh made it to list of Holiday Hotspots of 2014 in "The Guardian"!!!
"Visit before the tourists come": it's telling that the Bangladesh tourist board's slogan, introduced in 2006, still applies. While Burma and India, which it borders, are high on many travel wishlists, Bangladesh remains largely overlooked, despite having assets that include the world's longest beach (Cox's Bazar's 77 miles of sand, pictured) and the tiger's share of the world's largest mangrove forest (the Sundarbans, home to Bengal tigers). Travelling here isn't necessarily easy (and protests ahead of January elections mean visitors should check before booking), but they will be warmly welcomed. British-Bangladeshi Yasmin Choudhury has started Lovedesh.com, a website that focuses on the positives of otherwise stigmatised "third world" destinations, and to ensure her parents' homeland is not written off as a pitiful place, known only for floods. The website has a travel element and she will lead its first trip to Bangladesh at Easter (10 nights from £1,400, excluding flights), utilising her local contacts to showcase the country's little-known highlights, including boat trips through rural Sylhet and plenty of wood-fired curries. Exodus has also just launched a 15-day tour (from £2,099, including flights).
Start planning your 2014 travels with the help of our top 40 destination round-up