Flights between Dhaka and Chittagong leave three to four times a day, as do the trains, which can take up to seven hours to reach Chittagong. The Dhaka-Chittagong highway is one of the better roads in the country, and there are several bus lines that use it, but the trip can be hairy at times and takes almost as long as the train trip, which is more comfortable and less nerve wracking. Chittagong is 264km (164mi) southeast of Dhaka.

Chittagong Hill Tracts:
Decidedly untypical of Bangladesh in topography and culture, the Chittagong Hill Tracts have steep jungle hills, Buddhist tribal peoples and relatively low density population. The tracts are about 60km (37mi) east of Chittagong, and if it weren\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'t for the troubles in the region they would be an idyllic place to visit. The region comprises a mass of hills, ravines and cliffs covered with dense jungle, bamboo, creepers and shrubs, and has four main valleys formed by the Karnapuli, Feni, Shangu and Matamuhur rivers. Unfortunately, the region is not entirely safe because of military operations to subdue the tribes\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\' Shanti Bahini (Peace Army). The troubles stem from the cultural clash between the tribal peoples, who are the original inhabitants of the area, and the plains people, who have begun to develop it. Sick of being displaced, and having their land stolen and encroached upon, the tribal people took to guerrilla warfare in the 1980s to preserve their culture. Getting a government permit to visit the area takes 10 to 14 days in Dhaka.

Rangamati, a lush and verdant rural area belonging to the Chakma tribe, is open to visitors, as is Kaptai Lake. The lake, ringed by thick tropical and semi-evergreen forests, looks like nothing else in Bangladesh. While the lake itself is beautiful, the thatched fishing villages located on the lakeshore are what make a visit really special. Boats that visit the villages leave from Rangamati. Bring your swimming gear because you can take a plunge anywhere.
To get to Rangamati, in the middle of the Hill Tracts, take a train, bus, or plane from Dhaka to Chittagong, and then a bus from Chittagong to Rangmati. It\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'\\\'s about 314km (195mi) from Dhaka to Rangmati.