Clammer Paul - Lonely Planet Bangladesh

Getting off the beaten track is something of a travel clich these days, but Bangladesh is somewhere that tourism remains in its infancy. It's easy to get the sensation that you're breaking ground here, even if your pioneering spirit is frequently attended to by being the centre of attention. Bangla culture is famously welcoming rarely will you have cause to suspect the ulterior motives that can sometimes bedevil travel in other parts of south Asia. If you enjoy making friends, mixing with locals and travelling without bumping into too many other tourists, then this is probably just the country to explore.

Slow Down

Be prepared to embrace Bangladesh in all its possibilities and quirks. This isn't a destination to be rushed. Poor infrastructure and an undeveloped tourist industry means that youll be left frustrated if youre trying to travel in too much of a hurry. So slow down; dont try to pack too much into your itinerary. Bangladesh isnt a tick-the-sights-off-the-list type of country. Its a place to relax, meet people and discover new ideas and ways of life. Taking your time will allow the country to reveal the best of itself at its own pace, as sure and steady as the rivers that flow through its veins.

Decorations on a cycle-rickshaw | TIM GERARD BARKER/GETTY IMAGES

By Paul Clammer, Author

It's the cycle rickshaws that do it for me in Bangladesh. They're works of art, from their brightly decorated handlebars and the struts of their canopies to their painted backs, displaying anything from mosques to Bangla film stars. To a soundtrack of bicycle bells, they weave their way through roads as if the words 'traffic jam' were unknown. It doesn't matter if you're in the smallest village trying to find some ancient mosque or in an upscale neighbourhood of Dhaka looking for a swanky restaurant if you want to get anywhere, then a cycle-rickshaw is the quintessential Bangladeshi way to arrive.

Rivers are the lifeblood of Bangladesh. More than 700 of them crisscross the country, and travelling along them is an experience not to be missed. From cross-river car ferries or creaking old paddle-wheel steamers to the humble rowboat or traditional wooden yachts, it is said that there are more types of in Bangladesh than in any other country. So whether you fancy a multi-day adventure deep into the countryside or just a quick jaunt around a city dock, get yourself down to a river ghat, and climb aboard.