Travelling solo in Bangladesh
Many people feel intimidated at the thought of travelling alone, and it’s certainly not for everyone. Regardless of your gender, the country can be difficult to navigate. The language barrier is large, conservatism widespread and fellow foreign travellers are few and far between.
Bangladesh, like many locations in Southeast Asia, appeals to travellers with a sense of adventure, yet they may still find the thought of being in a predominantly non-English speaking country daunting. In the absence of a Bangla speaking guide, communication can be difficult, as English is not commonly spoken in many areas. Reading signs, accessing public transport, booking accommodation and other services can prove to be problematic at times. Travelling solo in Bangladesh is however possible, and for some, just travelling from city to city in whatever manner that suits might ‘satisfy’ the solo travel need. A compromise, rather than going 100% solo, could be to join a tour at certain locations, thereby meeting up with other people and having the benefit of a local tour guide from time to time.
As with most of Southeast Asia, Bangladesh is generally considered a safe place for solo travellers. Whilst incidents will occur from time to time, the likelihood can be reduced by taking simple steps, including exercising caution in public places and showing respect for local culture. The most common problems to be aware of are pickpocketing, being scammed and the usual attempts to overcharge tourists. Petty theft happens on occasion but violent crime is quite rare. It’s always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings and to keep valuables hidden and safe. A slash-proof handbag or backpack with lockable zippers might be useful.
Travel light if possible – you’ll have no one to help carry your bags! Laundry services are cheap in Bangladesh, so you might not need as many clothes as you think.
Health is another factor to be considered. In the absence of a local guide, travellers may be unaware of what is safe or unsafe to eat or drink. Only sealed bottled water should be consumed. Do not drink tap water, or consume ice made from tap water. Likewise, only use bottled water for cleaning teeth. Whilst some travellers enjoy eating from roadside food vendors, and this can indeed be an enjoyable experience, local knowledge as to what is safe and what is not safe is key to this. As such, in general, if travelling without a guide, and with little or no experience of food safety in this region, the advice is not to eat food from roadside vendors.
Travel & Health Insurance
It’s advisable to purchase a reasonably comprehensive travel/health insurance package before leaving your home country. There’s probably little worse than losing all your possessions or falling ill in a foreign country and having no-one familiar to turn to for help.
Telephone/Internet contact
For the same reasons as stated above, in addition to the usual day-to-day connectivity with family and friends, purchasing a local SIM card is cheap and strongly recommended. SIM cards and recharge can be purchased on arrival at Dhaka airport at the Grameenphone counter in the luggage hall. Grameen and Banglalink have a wide network in Bangladesh, and extend worldwide.
And, for females travelling solo in Bangladesh
Long gone are the days when only male travellers dared venture alone! Albeit travelling solo as a female in certain areas of the world may require additional consideration.
If you’re not an experienced traveller, Bangladesh is perhaps not the best place to test the waters!
As an Islamic country, its people – both male and female, are more conservative than those of the western world. That said, in the main, the Bangladeshi people are very friendly and welcoming of foreign tourists, especially the Bangladeshi women.
It’s best not to go out far in the dark/at night unless in the company of others.
Sometimes budget hotel owners won’t let lone women stay in their hotels, citing security as a risk. For this reason, keep a list of several hotels of different standards at the ready.
A few tips on dress etiquette:
- Dress modestly.
- The Salwar kameez – a pant and shirt combo, is a comfortable and attractive form of local dress commonly found in markets and shops all over Bangladesh.
- Loose long shirts, tunics and dresses are good. In general, the less curves you show, the better. Drape a scarf around the body to avoid stares and potential groping. Also useful if intending to enter any mosques. Short to longer length sleeves are mostly okay, but avoid sleeveless and strappy clothing.
- Long pants or a skirt that comes to the ankles, tight or loose, it doesn’t matter, so long as they cover the legs.
Basically, if you’re a female, well prepared, ready for a good challenge and a rewarding adventure, Bangladesh is waiting for you!
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