MUSLIM EID FESTIVAL PHOTO TOUR

01-12 March 2027 & 2028

Main Exposure

Approximately 10 to 15 million people leave Dhaka to celebrate Eid (both Al-Fitr and Al-Adha) in their rural hometowns, creating one of the world’s largest mass exoduses. This annual travel surge heavily strains transportation systems, resulting in overcrowded buses, trains, and ferries as people reunite with families in villages. Despite increased security and special transport arrangements, passengers overwhelm train stations, bus terminals, and launch terminals. Due to the massive demand, people often take significant risks, including climbing onto train roofs and overloading ferries to return home. This movement is a deeply embedded cultural tradition, allowing city residents to share the joy of Eid with families in rural areas. In this trip you have opportunity to shooting people are traveling on crowded train & ferry boats, Muslim Eid Festival, thousands of Muslims praying on the open ground, cultural events and much more.

EXPLORE

• Photograph the Bishwa Ijtema Muslim Congress more than 4 million Muslim gathered in the festival, pray on the road, Muslim devotees retraining home by crowded train congress activities.

• Explore the best fishing & dry fish season.

• Photograph Asia’s largest Shipyard, the biggest Stone Mine of Bangladesh

• Photograph the traditional brick factories, daily life and daily labors in the Old Dhaka City Heritage

DISCOVER

• Immerse in a tapestry of fishing activities and the innocent joy of children at play. The rhythmic dance of fishermen casting their nets against the backdrop of crashing waves becomes a visual symphony.

• Witness the transformative power of photography as we venture into the enchanting realm of a morning dump yard. Amidst the mist and swirling smoke of garbage fires, a captivating scene unfolds before our lenses. With each click of the shutter, we capture the resolute figures collecting junk in the sprawling garbage field, their tireless efforts juxtaposed against the surreal ambiance.

LEARN

• Learn about and photograph the Batik fabrics villages & Sun-dry process Rice Paddy

• Through your lens, see the rice drying on courtyard creating amazing lines by rices, hundreds of children playing on rice courtyard.

• Capture photographs that convey the essence of the people and their surroundings, and master the art of visual storytelling to convey the narratives and traditions of the Bangladeshi culture.

MUSLIM EID FESTIVAL TOUR ITINERARY

• Day 6:  Visit some gigantic sand and stone mines.
• Day 7: In the morning photography at a large garbage field where we will explore men, women & children collecting junk to recycle. Returning to Dhaka, if time allows we will make a second visit to the rice courtyards.
• Day 8: Driving to Chittagong, on the way photography at the brick makers then drive to Chattogram.
• Day 9: Explore the largest fish market in Chattogram before driving to the longest sea beach to photograph local fish drying factories and a trawler beach at Cox’s Bazaar.

• Day 10: A full day exploring the stunning Moon Boats and their associated industries of fishing, fish drying and salt mining, until sunset
• Day 11: Early morning visit to the fish drying area where over 5000 families work every day to dry fish. After breakfast check out hotel then drive back to Dhaka.
• Day 12: Early morning visit to Dhaka’s lively poultry chicken market before breakfast. Then check out the hotel and as per your flight, transfer to the international airport where our tour will end.

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN DHAKA PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE OLD DHAKA CITY
Upon arrival, one of our representatives will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check-in. This afternoon, we will gather in the hotel lobby to introduce you to group members and meet with your photoguide, who will share information about your tour to help you. Then begin with the first day of shooting in the old city of Dhaka. Old Dhaka offers a glimpse into the country’s rich history, culture, and cuisine. Filled with chaotic streets, markets, old-world atmosphere, history, spirituality, and energy, you can’t get bored in Dhaka. Old Dhaka is the historic part of the city, where you can see the influence of the Mughal, British, and French colonial eras. We will explore the narrow alleys, rickshaws (three-wheeler bicycles), rickshaw traffic,  and bazaars of Old Dhaka, where you can find a variety of handicrafts, textiles, jewelry, and antiques.  We will also continue to learn how to interact with local communities, respect their cultures, tell their stories through their photographs, and express our creativity and emotions through our artistic work.  Overnight in the hotel in Dhaka.

Today’s Shooting Highlights:

DAY 02: MUSLIM CONGRESS OPENING DAY
On the start day, thousands of Muslim devotees begin streaming toward the venue to set up tents, and the first Jummah prayer follows, attracting hundreds of thousands more. The area becomes crowded with worshipers filling the grounds, nearby streets, and rooftops. The event is one of the world’s largest peaceful gatherings, frequently drawing 4-5 million devotees, with many staying outside the main grounds due to limited space. The event involves three days of prayers, sermons, and discussions on Islamic values, culminating in the Akheri Munajat (final prayer). The gathering is non-political and gathers millions of Muslims from around 150 countries to focus on prayer and Islamic values, with the final prayer acting as the main event before the mass departure. 

Today’s Shooting Highlights:

DAY 03: COAL PORT AND PLASTIC RECYCLING 

Prepare to be amazed by the riverside unloading area of Dhaka, where you will see the hard work and the skill of the workers who unload tons of coal, cement, and sand every day for a handful of dollars. You will witness the incredible strength and endurance of the workers, who carry heavy loads of coal, cement, and sand on their shoulders, heads, or backs. You will also see how they use simple tools and techniques, such as ropes, pulleys, and buckets, to unload the materials. You will learn about the challenges and risks workers face, such as low wages, poor working conditions, and health hazards. You will have the opportunity to capture stunning images of the unloading area, working with your camera settings to get different styles such as backlight or motion blur, contrasting the black coal, the gray cement, and the yellow sand against the blue sky, the water, and the brown boats. You will also capture the expressions and the emotions of the workers, who show their determination, pride, and camaraderie and interact with them to learn their stories and experiences with you. Today after lunch, we visit a plastic recycling area where waste is collected, sorted, processed, and transformed into reusable materials. Plastic recycling is a vital activity for reducing plastic pollution and promoting green growth in Bangladesh. However, plastic recycling faces many challenges, including the cost of collection and sorting, the diversity of plastic types, limited awareness and incentives, and, especially, health and environmental risks. You can see how local workers manage and recycle plastic waste. Overnight in the hotel in Dhaka.

Today’s Shooting Highlights:

DAY 04: FINAL PRAY OF THE MUSLIM CONGRESS
On the final prayer day, we will start shooting in the morning. Final pray conclude its final prayer (Akheri Munajat) with millions of devotees seeking peace and prosperity. Following the prayer, tens of thousands of participants returned home on heavily crowded trains and other transport, with many risking their lives by riding on train roofs and locomotives. After the final prayer concluded, a massive surge of commuters flooded the areas, overwhelming the transport infrastructure. Thousands of people also packed into train compartments, buses, and pick-up vans. Many are walking along the roads towards Dhaka to secure transport. It’s an exciting moment for us; every moment is exciting, and you cannot stop shooting for a moment.

Today’s Shooting Highlights:

DAY 02: DHAKA SHIPYARD

Start the day with a visit to the shipyard area of Dhaka, where you can see the bustling activity of one of the most extensive cargo ship maintenance facilities in the city. Take a short boat ride across the river to the area where the towering ships are propped up along the riverbank. Observe skilled workers performing tasks such as molding new propellers from recycled metal, grinding the ship’s carcass, and replacing damaged sections of the hull with large metal plates. You will also learn about the harsh working conditions and low wages these workers endure while capturing their faces and expressions.
We will return to the hotel for a relaxing dinner and a comfortable overnight stay in Dhaka.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

DAY 06: BRICK MAKING

An unforgettable journey to one of Dhaka’s largest brick factories, where you will witness the incredible efforts and resilience of the brickmakers, unfortunately, many of whom are underage. You will be amazed by the sight of thousands of bricks stacked up in neat rows, waiting to be baked in the massive ovens. You will also see how the workers use traditional methods and tools to shape, cut, and carry the bricks, often on their heads or shoulders. You will have the opportunity to interact with workers and learn about the environmental and social challenges the brick industry faces, including air pollution, deforestation, child labor, and low wages. This is a unique opportunity to capture the beauty and hardship of the brick makers’ world, with striking contrasts in color, texture, and emotion. This will be an all-day activity. We will return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Dhaka.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

DAY 07: COLORFUL VILLAGE LIFE, BATIK VILLAGE AND RICE DRYING IN COURTYARD

You will have the opportunity to capture unforgettable images of village life, with its rich colors, textures, and emotions. You will see the contrast between the simplicity and vibrancy of the rural scenes and the harmony and resilience of the people. This is a unique, immersive experience that will give you deeper insight into Bangladesh’s culture and history, as well as the challenges and opportunities of rural development. We also have opportunities to photograph in the tie-dye (Batik) village of Bangladesh, people applying colors to fabrics by traditional methods, and fabrics drying in the sun. It’s another name, the town of colors. After lunch, a photoshoot in courtyards, people working in rice drying, the lines of rice paddy, while the sun-dry process takes place in the courtyard. This ancient tradition is being rapidly displaced by mechanized rice drying, which makes me wonder how long the beauty of these courtyards might endure, like so many industries in Bangladesh. We will return to the Dhaka hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

DAY 08: DHAKA TO CHATTOGRAM, ALUMINUM FACTORIES

After breakfast, prepare for check out, then start driving to the southern part of Bangladesh. In the afternoon, we will arrive in Chittagong, Bangladesh’s second-largest city. We will have lunch at the best local restaurant in this city.  After lunch, visit the aluminum factories, where aluminum products are manufactured, including kitchen utensils and other metal products. The processes are highly manual; you will witness workers in very hazardous, grungy environments, which creates powerful images.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

DAY 09: FISH LANDING PORT AND THE WORLD’S LONGEST SEA BEACH

It’s early morning, and we’re going to capture the fish landing – a daily spectacle with a hive of activity where everyone has their role to play, from kids to elders, women and men. As the sun’s rays pierce the horizon, you see the fishing boats returning after days at sea. The boats, each with its unique design, are a testament to the area’s rich maritime heritage. We will make a conscious effort to isolate stories and frames from the buzzing activity: each frame telling a story of the fishermen’s struggle, their camaraderie, the vendors’ anticipation, the locals’ excitement, the ecosystem, and the rivalries. After arrival in Cox’s Bazar, we will have lunch at the best local restaurant. You will enjoy a delicious lunch (fresh and safe) in this restaurant. Check into the hotel and have a short rest, then visit the fishermen’s activities in the world’s longest seaside beach. Cox’s Bazar is a tourist destination in southeastern Bangladesh, famous for the world’s longest uninterrupted natural beach, which stretches for approximately 120 km along the Bay of Bengal. Explore the fish-drying fields under the open sky. This traditional method of preservation involves drying the fish in the sun and air to remove the water content, allowing for long-term preservation that can make the fish last for months or even years. Enjoy sea fish BBQ. Overnight in the hotel in Cox’s Bazaar.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

DAY 09: MOON BOATS AND FISHING ACTIVITIES IN THE WORLD’S LONGEST SEA BEACH

In the morning, we will drive south to observe how boats loaded with motivated fishermen depart for overnight fishing trips or return with a boatload of fish, including exotic species such as sharks. Continue exploring the world’s longest sea beach, you will see hundreds of colorful moon boats lined up on the beach and Fishermen are pulling their nets from the sea to the shore. The crescent moon shape of the fishing boats in Cox’s Bazar, also known as “Moon Boats,” is a result of practical design and traditional craftsmanship. This unique design not only serves a functional purpose but also adds to the aesthetic appeal of these boats, making them a symbol of the region’s rich naval heritage.  We will meet boat builders, bakers, fishermen, salt farmers, blacksmiths, and much more. These craftsmen have been shaping vessels for generations, and we’ll get a chance to see them at work, their hands expertly handling the tools as they breathe life into the wood. In the vast, flat expanses of the salt farms, we’ll see how the farmers harness the power of the sun and sea to produce salt. Salt farming is a significant industry in Bangladesh’s coastal regions, particularly in the south. The salt fields, also known as salt flats, account for 25% of the country’s total cultivated area.  After sunset, a short drive back and overnight in the hotel in Cox’s Bazaar.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

DAY 08: COX BAZAR TO DHAKA

Today, we’re embarking on an adventure that’s as much about the people we’ll meet as it is about the places we’ll see. We’ll start our day hopping onto speedboats for a 20-minute zip toward a nearby island (life jackets provided). The island is like a small country; ecosystems have emerged over the centuries, and we will meet boat builders, bakers, fishermen, salt farmers, blacksmiths, and much more. These craftsmen have been shaping vessels for generations, and we’ll get a chance to see them at work, their hands expertly handling the tools as they breathe life into the wood. In the vast, flat expanses of the salt farms, we’ll see how the farmers harness the power of the sun and sea to produce salt. Salt farming is a significant industry in the coastal regions of Bangladesh, particularly here in the south. The salt fields, also known as salt flats, account for 25% of the country’s total cultivated. After lunch take the local flight for return in the Dhaka City.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

DAY 12: VEGETABLE MARKET AND DEPARTURE 

In the morning, we will explore the largest vegetable market in Dhaka, where you can find a wide variety of fresh and colorful produce. You will be amazed by the sheer volume of vegetables sold here every day, estimated at around 700,000 kg. You will also witness lively interactions between vendors and customers, as well as the challenges of transporting and storing vegetables in this crowded, chaotic environment. This is a great place to immerse yourself in Bangladesh’s vibrant culture. After breakfast, preparing for check out of the hotel. The last check-out time is 12:00 PM, and based on your departure flight, we will drop you off at the airport.

Today’s Shooting Highlights :

TOUR DATE AND DURATION:

01-12 March 2027 | 12 Days & 11 Nights

18-29 February 2028 | 12 Days & 11 Nights

PRICE INFORMATION

COST PER PERSON:

$3350 Based on Double Occupancy.

For Single Occupancy, Add $500.

If you are traveling alone, the single supplement will not apply if you are willing to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

Limited to 10 participants in the group.

Explorebd Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations (4-star and 3-star hotels), and meals B.L.D. (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner), all village donations and photography fees, model fees and entrance fees.

Our tour prices also include all tips for our accommodation/restaurant staff.

Not including Gratuities for Photo Guides and tips for drivers.

Deposit: 50% of the total tour price to confirm your booking by Bank transfer, and the rest of the amount is to be paid in cash on arrival.

To confirm your booking, please fill out our online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here 

Skill Level: Suitable for ALL Skill Levels, Novice to Advanced or Beginner to Professional Photographer.

Physical Fitness: Easy to Moderate, Suitable For Any Mature Age Level. The walking effort during our Bangladesh photography tour is mostly easy.

RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR THE TOUR