Bangladesh holiday, fair trade tour
| country: | Bangladesh |
| departures: | 2009: 9 Mar |
| price: | From £1125 (12 days) excluding flights. We can help arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Bangladesh is nestled in the crook of the Bay of Bengal. The country is largely flat, dominated by the braiding strands of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Jamuna and Karnaphuli rivers. The country has a multifaceted folk heritage enriched by a blend of Animist, Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim roots. Bangladesh has been a priority of ours since we started, and this tour takes us to producer groups who featured in the first ever catalogue. It is a beautiful country of fertile farmland, winding waterways and a fascinating architectural heritage. On this tour you will have an opportunity to meet the producers behind fair trade in Bangladesh and visit development projects that address the problems caused by war and flooding, as well as sampling the tastes, sights and sounds.
The tour guide will be Shahid Hussain Shamim. Since the birth of the fair trade organisation Prabartana in 1986, he and his colleagues have been assisting fabric producers and organic farmers to get a fair deal. Their sister organisation Ajiyer was set up in 2002 to give visitors an opportunity to learn about Bangladeshi culturem crafts and biodiversity from the people. Himself a fabric designer, Shamim is Vice President of the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh and has a deep knowledge of and passion for his country.
Highlights of the tour include: Time with producers and other projects of broad development interest, tours to sites of historic and cultural interest, the chance to visit people in their homes, opportunities to discuss and learn about a wide variety of issues, and the chance to be part of a small group of like-minded individuals.
The tour guide will be Shahid Hussain Shamim. Since the birth of the fair trade organisation Prabartana in 1986, he and his colleagues have been assisting fabric producers and organic farmers to get a fair deal. Their sister organisation Ajiyer was set up in 2002 to give visitors an opportunity to learn about Bangladeshi culturem crafts and biodiversity from the people. Himself a fabric designer, Shamim is Vice President of the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh and has a deep knowledge of and passion for his country.
Highlights of the tour include: Time with producers and other projects of broad development interest, tours to sites of historic and cultural interest, the chance to visit people in their homes, opportunities to discuss and learn about a wide variety of issues, and the chance to be part of a small group of like-minded individuals.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Flight London-Dhaka |
| Day 2: | Dhaka. On arrival at Dhaka we will be met by our tour guide and host, Shamim Hussain, and taken to our guesthouse. In the evening we’ll have a welcome dinner in a local restaurant where Shamim will give a short briefing on the itinerary and what we need to know about Bangladesh. |
| Day 3: | Visit the head offices of two Traidcraft producers - Swajan Crafts and Jute Works. After lunch in Gulshan, Shamim will lead a city tour. The evening’s meal will be in Adda organic restaurant. This evening we’ll also be able to visit Prabartana ethical shop. |
| Day 4: | Visit embroidery producers - Swajan Crafts and Jute Works’ production centre. |
| Day 5: | Meet director of Arong supplier, the marketing arm of BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), to provide a stable source of employment for rural artisans. Visit the design studio and export department and meet the people behind the products. Visit to Manikganj in the afternoon. |
| Day 6: | By boat we visit the Jamdani weaving area. We will take a picnic lunch and enjoy a relaxing day taking in the sights and sounds of Dhaka. |
| Day 7: | Drive to the Tangail UBINIG project. In this farming community we can learn about local initiatives to improve livelihoods and environmental conditions through ecologically sensitive agriculture. A performance of local folk music over dinner, and overnight with our village hosts. |
| Day 8: | We stay in Tangail again today to watch the skilled weavers of the village and learn more about the community. After lunch we set off for Rangpur Parjatan Hotel where we check in and have a free evening. |
| Day 9: | Visit to producer in Rangpur - MCC Saidpur enterprise, Action Bag and Eastern Screen Printers. Their main objectives are to provide job opportunities to women and training in social development activities. |
| Day 10: | Sightseeing in Dinajpur - the Kantajee Temple, Ramasgar and old King’s Palace. |
| Day 11: | Today is a long drive back to Dhaka, but we’ll make stops along the way, including a visit to Bogra Mahastangar to see some 3rd century archaeology. We’ll be back in Dhaka for dinner and a relaxing evening. |
| Day 12: | Flight Dhaka-London. |
this tourism business was Highly Commended
In our 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards, the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine. The idea behind the Awards is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people. how this holiday makes a difference
|
If you’re interested in fair-trade and are looking for an opportunity to meet the people behind the products then these are the holidays for you. These adventures start with a local perspective – that's our philosophy. Whether abroad, or just as importantly at home, the start point is the same; how to get the most enjoyable holiday for our customers while benefiting the local people, economy and respecting the environment.
This is the UK's leading fair trade organisation which is engaged in innovative and effective trade and has been fighting poverty through trade since 1979. We work at the national and international level advocating changes in trade rules to make them work in the interests of the poor and mobilise public opinion to support fairer trade practices. Working with a local partner on fair trade terms, this itinerary offers an opportunity to see first hand how fair trade works and how effective sustainable development projects address the problems caused by war and flooding, while also providing a general insight into Bangladesh, its culture and its people. Being able to participate and connect with the local culture provides a richer holiday experience. Accompanied by a local knowledgeable guide who truly knows the area, our guests are able to get more of a feel for the place and the environment. In selecting accommodation in small hotels, private homes and guest houses we make sure that the local communities benefit. By collaborating with locally based people when visiting historical areas we are able to contribute to the regional economy. We provide guests with Travellers’ Codes that encourage the reduction of water usage, systems for collecting, recycling or safe disposal of litter and relevant suggestions to minimize damage to the environment, wildlife and marine ecosystems. All our holidays have a maximum group size of 12 to 14 people minimizing both the social and environmental impact. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |