Are you looking for a getaway that is exclusive yet pocket-friendly, easily accessible but not time-consuming, world-renowned yet closer to home, and leisurely yet nature-intensive? Look only as far as the  SOTC Sundarban Tour Packages to cater to your needs. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is the only mangrove forest that is the home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and is looked at as a highly diversified zone for mangrove flora and fauna. A well-tailored, tour of Sundarban is a perfect way for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts to explore the glorious and endangered species like Royal Bengal Tigers, Ganges and Irawadi Dolphins, endemic River Terrapin, and even crocodiles and Indian Pythons. Sundarban tour booking will give you access to the biggest delta region, backwater, and tidal phenomena due to the confluence of the three longest Indian rivers meeting the Bay of Bengal; Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna. If you reside in a different state or city, other than West Bengal, a comprehensive Sundarban travel package will offer suitable flight options or train options.  The variety of experiences Sundarban Travel has to offer are countless. It is a paradise for bird watchers as it harbours over 200 species of birds including the migratory ones which come down during winter months. You can watch out for some rare species including brown-winged kingfishers,white-bellied sea eagles, grey-headed fish eagles, and, masked finfoots (Heliopsis personata). These can be experienced even in safari rides incorporated into your Sundarban tour plan. A boat cruise to the confluence of rivers and the ocean is also a unique experience that your customised Sundarban travel package can offer. To soak in the vibe of Sunderban culture, you can dig into local cuisine and be entertained by local theatre performed by locals in Adibasi village. Hence, go for a Sundarban tour plan that satisfies all your vacation goals.

Table of Content

• Popular Sundarban Tour Packages
• Quick Facts about Sundarban
• Best time to visit Sundarban
• How to reach Sundarban
• Best Places to Visit in Sundarban
• Things to do in Sundarban
• Must visit Resorts/Restaurants in Sundarban
• What to Shop in Sunderban
• Shopping in Sunderban
• Interesting facts about Sunderban
• Sundarban Souvenir
• People also ask about Sundarban Tour Packages

Popular Sunderban Tour Packages

Quick facts about Sundarbans

Let us check out some quick facts about Sunderbans which will make your choice of this place as a destination worthwhile. 

Sundarbans National Park is India’s largest national park and tiger reserve and covers a total area of 4262 square kilometres out of which half is covered by mangrove forests and the rest are water bodies. There are 102 islands of which only 54 are inhabited. All the islands are interlinked by waterways. Though much of it is mostly devoid of permanent human settlements, Sundarbans has a total human population of over 4 million. The tiger population as per the last census was 101 in the Indian Sundarbans. Hence the the time and cost of Sundarban tour package can be expected according to the huge area covered. Your Sundarbans tours are incomplete without a trip to watchtowers like Sajnekhali or Sudhanyakhali. 

The interloping connection of waterways makes it an ideal location for boat safaris, one of the unique experiences you can enjoy in Sundarban travel.  Hence the best time to tour Sundarban on a boat is post-monsoon and in winter. Winter months like January and February allow watching migratory birds like eastern knots, marsh harriers, wood sandpipers, etc. 

Kanak in Sundarbans is a haven for Pacific ridley turtles that move from coastal to river waters to breed. 

You will be spoilt for choices while choosing a place of stay in Sunderbans. Ac or Non-ac rooms, with all the amenities and comfortable stays at Tiger Resorts, are common here. The cost of the Sundarban tour package will depend on the type of stay you choose. Options closer to nature or with rustic charm are also available in case you are feeling adventurous. 

Due to its proximity to fresh water, in the Sundarban trip, you need to try out fish like Hilsa, and Prawn, and if you like to go strictly local, try some Kan, Dantni, or Molopia curries. Crab mola or mashed crab is simply brilliant if you are a hardcore non-vegetarian. You can include your meals in the Sundarban tour package price as well. Enjoying a serene lunch on a boat cruise while exploring the vast forest could become the highlight of your Sundarban travel.

The best time to visit Sundarban

While Sundarban tour booking, you need to decide which part of this place you would like to enjoy. Although the best time to visit Sundarban Delta is from September to March, the forest has its charm even during the rainy season and hot humid summers. 

From October to March Sunderban has the most pleasant weather with forests and rivers in full bloom. Choose a Sundarban package that promises long boat cruises for some aqua life sightings. The playful Gangetic dolphins, the migratory and local birds, and other animals are usually more active during this period. Any Sundarban holiday package at this time should include safari and boat rides to take advantage of the weather and wildlife completely. The crocodiles are seen mostly on the river banks soaking up the warm Sun. The boat safari is also safer as rivers are not flooded which gives plenty of opportunity to spot tigers, dolphins, crocodiles, and even deer. Choose the Sunderban travel package which gives you ample cruise time to enjoy the endangered species this forest has to offer. If you are lucky you can even spot colorful white-collared kingfishers, sea eagles, etc. It can make your Sundarban tour quite memorable and worthwhile. 

The summers between March and May bring in scorching heat and a water shortage in these areas. The temperature ranges from 30 to 40 degrees Celsius which often gives rise to heat waves. If you are someone who prefers less crowds and loves the Sun, summer is the perfect time to plan a Sundarban tour. The elusive Royal Bengal Tigers are forced to come out to quench their thirst and are found sitting under large shady trees. Beware of the poisonous snakes as they come out of their winter hibernation. They pose major threats to the tourists and the locals as well. Sundarbans day trip in the summertime is not for the weak-hearted as it tests your perseverance as a nature lover.

From June to September, heavy rain and thunderstorms bring back the much-needed life in the delta after a scorching summer. But the high tidal waves and flooded rivers make it almost impossible to navigate while boat safari. Though temperatures fall to 25 to 35 degrees Celsius and you can expect heavy discounts in resorts in Sunderban, you need to be an adventure lover to explore the forest during monsoon months. You might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Royal Beast swimming in the river canals. Moreover, during this time you can expect to enjoy the local cuisine with Hilsa and other freshwater fish Festivals.

How to reach Sundarban?

Any good Sundarban Tourism Package will give you multiple options on how to reach Sunderban depending on your departure place. It is better to book the Sundarban tour package from Kolkata as direct flights or trains from other states of India to Sundarban are not available. The various preferred modes are : 

By Air

The nearest international airport is the Netaji Subhash International Airport, Kolkata located 112 kilometers away from Sundarban. From there you can hire a taxi or a cab to reach Godkhali Port, which is a 3 hours ride. This is the starting point of the safari where you can take a ferry ride to your forest resort.

By Train

After reaching Kolkata, you need to take a train ride from Sealdah station to Canning station. Canning is the nearest station and is 48 Km away from Sundarban and the nearest town Gosaba is 50km away. From Canning, you can choose bus rides to Namkhana, Raidighi, Sonakhali, and Najat which are all entry points to the waterways of Sundarban. With Sundarban tour packages you can also get a private commute to reach Godkhali to access the final trip on waterways. 

By Road

There are multiple public transport available from the Esplanade and Howrah area of Kolkata. The buses take you to Canning, Namkhana, Sonakhali, and Raidighi of the Sundarban region. Canning is the nearest at a distance of 64 km and Namkhana at a distance of 105 km. From all this, you can have easy access to waterways. If you are uncomfortable with crowded public transport a well-tailored Sundarban tourism package can provide you with an exclusive ride. 

Best places to visit in Sundarban

Here are some suggestions about the best places to visit while in Sundarban. Most of these places will be included in your Sundarban travel package, yet you can check out and include any if you want: 

Sundarban National Park: 

The name “Sundarban” is derived from a tree named “Sundari” (Heretiera Minor). The park has a buffer zone of 885 square kilometers around it which is also majorly mangrove forest. The core area is surrounded by River Matla in the West, river Haribhanga in the east, and Netidhopani and Gosaba in the North. Apart from the obvious Big Cat or the famous Royal Bengal Tiger, it also is home to estuarine crocodiles, monitor lizards, and Olive Ridley turtles. This will be on top of the list in your Sundarban Package.

Wildlife Sanctuary: 

There are 3 wildlife sanctuaries in Sundarban national park. Sajnekhali Wildlife sanctuary, Halliday Island Wildlife sanctuary, and Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary. All these are located in the southern part of Tiger Reserve. One of the most renowned places of Sundarban tourism “ Sajnekhali Abhayaranya” is a heaven for passionate bird watchers. Its diverse bird populations include kingfishers, herons, sea eagles egrets and so many more. With its 20 feet watchtower, it becomes the perfect place for spotting birds on tall trees. Halliday Island is located on the banks of river Matla. Due to the presence of fresh water, flora and fauna is quite diverse in this part. Many mangrove species like Karanja and Casuarina thrive in this area. Land animals like Barking deer, Chitals, Rhesus monkeys, and even wild pigs are often sighted here. These are must-haves in any Sundarban tourism package. 

Netidhopani Watch Tower: 

This area has a medley of local history, culture, and wildlife. The ruins here are linked to the 400-year-old Shiva temple is a sight to behold. It is one of the Sundarban tourist places which will give you a taste of the old heritage. The watch tower can hold 20 people at a time and if lucky you can have a glimpse of the big cat amongst the forest trees.

Bhagabatpur Crocodile Project: 

This is the only crocodile project in West Bengal. You can include this in the Sundarban day tour to check out the hatchery of estuarine crocodiles and Batagur Baska species of tortoise. The crocodile eggs are incubated, nurtured,  grown, and then released into the wild.

Kalash Island: 

This is one of the off-beat places to see in Sundarban if you want your Sundarbans tours to be exclusive. The island, just next to the Bay of Bengal has a Kalash Beach and a camp for tourists. The 4-acre area is protected from the tigers by a fence almost 10 feet high and 20 feet deep as they often come in search of fresh water. 

Things to do in Sunderban 

Although you might find a Sundarban travel package for a few days, you will be surprised by the variety of things to do in Sundarban. Speak to your Sundarban tour guide to plan how to best cover the activities at the right time as some may be excluded from your Sundarban tour cost. Some are listed below for your reference:

Spotting the obvious, the big and beautiful furry yellow cat, The Royal Bengal Tigers from a short distance while on a boat cruise via creeks and channels. The boat also takes you to the open river to watch the Irawadi Dolphins playing in the water. 

You can do some birdwatching in the Sajnekhali Bird Sanctuary. Especially in winter, this watchtower seems like a bird paradise as you can spot rare species like Paradise Flycatcher, Spotted Billed Pelican, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Open Billed Stork, and the rare Asian Dowitchers. Do not forget to include this in your Sundarban tour itinerary.

Witness the conservation efforts of estuarine crocodiles at the Bhagbatpur Crocodile Project.

Located near Lothian Island it is considered a breeding hub of saltwater crocodiles. The entire place is protected and the eggs are nurtured, and small crocodiles are released into the river after some time.

Find out the local culture and unique traditions by visiting nearby villages. You will have the opportunity to witness “ Bonobibi Pala” an annual festival celebrating the goddess of the forest, learn about local fish and crab dishes, and hear about stories of tiger attacks when you reach the “widow village”.

If you are a spiritual soul, make Netidhopani a must-visit, in the list of Sundarban places to visit. 

Seek blessings in the 400-year-old Shiva temple and calm your senses in the serene lake nearby. 

Mangrove Interpretation Centre and the Museum in Sajnekhali will bring out the child in you for an immersive and thorough educational experience. This is apt amongst the best places to visit in Sundarban to gain knowledge about the past, present, and future of Sundarbans. In-depth information about the culture and bio conservation along with several relics and artefacts are on display here.

As a token of remembrance, you can carry back a part of Sundarbans as a souvenir. One of the best places to procure raw forest honey, organic brown rice, local sweets, and handicrafts to take back for your friends and family. A shopping trip needs to be on your Sundarban itinerary.

Must visit resorts and restaurants

In your Sundarban tour, some resorts are guaranteed to make your stay unforgettable, and few restaurants will satiate your culinary desires in the best possible way. Let us find out the favourites: 

It's a thrilling experience to stay in Sunderbans Tiger Camp surrounded by mangrove forests with a serene sight of the lagoon. A decent Sundarban travel package will give you options to choose from the topmost resorts offering all the modern amenities. This one scores a top spot. If you are booking a Sundarban luxury tour package, you must stay in the Royal Sundaram Wild Resort, in Jharkhali. It is just 96 Km away from the airport and provides airport transfers and much-required space for tourists with children. Sunderban Tiger Roar Retreat offers a thrilling as well as relaxing stay amidst the lush green forest area. The resort has a private lake that migratory birds visit. The staff is well equipped to give you a tour of Sundarban with boat rides or crab catching.

Other than the in-house restaurants of these resorts, there are a few modest restaurants where you can enjoy the day's fresh catch like crabs, Hilsa, Chingri, etc. Sundarban Tiger Resort restaurant, located in Pakhiralay near the national park, Hotel Apanjan near Tiger Resort, and Sagar Kanya Hotel in Bakkhali are also favourite spots for local cuisine. You can stop for lunch during your Sundarban day tour. It might increase your Sundarban trip cost but will be worth a try. You may also like a food tour of Sundarban in local villages to taste authentic cuisines while enjoying their cultural festivities.

What to shop in Sundarban? 

The shopping options are limited to some souvenir shops located near Tiger Camp Resort. But if you want something local and exclusive to this forest, Raw organic forest honey is something you should look out for, during your Sundarban tour. Due to the diverse flora in this region, the honey produced is of different varieties and is fresh.

Brown rice is also something that is extensively produced by the locals. It is a healthy substitute for white rice and is found in abundance here.

Along with these natural products, eco-friendly handicrafts made by localities are available in all tourist spots in rustic roadside shops. Their products are simple and inspired by nature and the forest around them. Sundarbans Tours can give you insights into these local handmade eco-friendly products which is a great way to take home a part of Sundarban culture and heritage.

Interesting facts about Sundarban 

These interesting facts will make your Sundarban tour plan even more memorable.

• It is 200 years old, the largest mangrove forest in the world covering about an area of 10000 square kilometers. Out of this 4000 square Km lies in India and the rest is shared with the neighboring country Bangladesh.
• There are 54 inhabited islands out of which Gosaba is the largest, about 13 feet above the sea level. Sundarban sightseeing starts from here as forest reserves start getting denser. 
• There is a village in Sundarban called the “Widow Village”. Most of the families living here have lost their loved ones to man-eating tigers. This can be a part of your Sundarban one day tour if you want to explore local lives.
• You can plan your tour to Sundarban any time of the year as it is open all year round. However, the ideal time is the winter season to enjoy the weather and flora and fauna all around.
• If you are planning a one day trip to Sundarban, it is wise to check out the high tide time for the boat safari. Sundarban has a unique tidal phenomenon happening twice a day. During high tide, the water level rises to 6-10 feet and allows the houseboats to easily manoeuvre via canals and waterways.
• Endowed with diverse and distinctive natural resources, Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve is India's Largest Fishery Board with brackish water fish and marine fish production. Try to enjoy some local fish delicacies on your tour of Sundarban.
• Remember to include a night safari in your Sundarban package to watch the amazing Phytoplanktons, which are microorganisms in the sea that reflect lights and glow at night.  
• Although this has strong mangrove forests with large trees and dense forests, it is highly prone to being affected by weather changes caused by cyclones, thunderstorms, increased salinity in water, etc. You should book the Sundarban trip as soon as possible.
• Sundarban tourism package should include the annual Mangrove festival in which both tourists and locals participate, displaying history and culture through traditional music, dance, and crafts.
• The Panchamukhi Hanuman temple, hidden amongst the dense forest is only accessible at low tide. This historical place gives a unique touch to your Sundarban trip.
• The Sundarban tourism package encourages sustainable tourism. Sundarban tour guide along with the locals collaborate to inculcate responsible tourism so that environmental impact is minimal.

Sundarban souvenir

As the delta is surrounded by water bodies and forests, the influence of urban life has been minimal. You will hardly find souvenir shops except near the Tiger Camp resort. However, if you like organic and healthy food products you can be in for a surprise. During your Sundarban day trip, you can pick up some forest honey which has a very different taste due to the diverse flora and fauna, some organic brown rice which is extensively cultivated in the region, some organic ghee or clarified butter, and local wooden handicrafts.

While booking your tour Sundarban package, ensure you are guided to Patchitra artists. It is an art that involves colourful paintings on cloth, paper, or clay pots. Through these paintings, they display the flora and fauna of the forest, religious and mythological stories of the Big cat, and “Bono bibi”, the goddess of the forest. It is a renowned form of art and is recognised worldwide for the natural colours used and its rustic charm. Do carry back something beautiful if you get the opportunity to visit the local “mela” or souvenir shop selling these. Sundarban tours become memorable through these local arts. Even if your Sundarban tour plan is for a day try to end the trip with a visit to a local handicraft market to collect some wooden carved boats or statues to take back for your friends.