Chittagong Shipbreaking Yard Tour: Industrial & Cultural Sites

Watch massive cargo ships dismantled piece by piece along the Chittagong coast.

A 2-day tour from Dhaka to Chittagong that centers on the Sitakunda Ship Breaking Area, one of the world's largest shipbreaking yards, where you watch vessels being dismantled along the coastline. The itinerary also includes Patenga Beach, Foy's Lake, the Bayazid Bostami shrine, the Commonwealth War Cemetery, and local cultural sites. An English-speaking guide leads the tour. All meals, entry fees, transport and hotel pickup are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Chittagong City Attractions

• Visit Patenga Sea Beach
• See Bhatiary Lake
• Visit Foy's Lake
• Visit Bāyejīd Bostāmī Māzār shrine
• Visit Chittagong Commonwealth War Cemetery
• Explore Tiger Pass Road area
• View Karnaphuli River

Day 2: Tour Chittagong Shipbreaking Yard

• Visit Chittagong Shipbreaking Yard

The experience

Chittagong's shipbreaking yards operate on a scale most travelers never encounter elsewhere. The Sitakunda Ship Breaking Area, about 20 kilometers northwest of the city center, is where massive cargo vessels reach the end of their working lives and are systematically taken apart. You'll see the industrial process unfold along the coastline (the scale of the ships, the equipment, the systematic dismantling), which is why this site draws industrial photographers and researchers from around the world. The tour pairs this with Patenga Beach, a busy stretch of coast where locals and visitors gather, and Foy's Lake, a man-made recreational area created in 1924 that sits in sharp contrast to the port city's commercial energy.

Day one moves through Chittagong's cultural and historical layers. You'll visit the Bayazid Bostami shrine, a sacred site honoring a revered Sufi saint, and the Commonwealth War Cemetery, a carefully maintained memorial to soldiers who died in World War II. The Karnaphuli River, which feeds the city's port and economy, runs through much of what you see. Meals are at local restaurants serving traditional Bangladeshi food. The guide handles all entry fees and transport, including boat rides where the itinerary calls for them. You stay at a three-star hotel in Chittagong overnight.

The second day focuses on the shipbreaking yards themselves. The Sitakunda coastal strip is an active industrial zone, so physical fitness matters. The terrain is uneven and the environment is working industrial space, not a manicured site. The tour includes an AC reserved car for transport between stops, bottled water throughout, and tea or coffee at designated points. Hotel pickup from Dhaka means you don't arrange your own transport to the coast. The guide manages the day's logistics and explains what you're seeing as the tour moves through each site.

What’s included

• All entry fees to the shipbreaking yards, Commonwealth War Cemetery, Bayazid Bostami shrine and other sites.
• breakfast, lunch and dinner each day at local restaurants with traditional food.
• bottled water, coffee and tea.
• an English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup from Dhaka.
• AC reserved car transport between all stops.
• local boat riding where the itinerary includes it.
• one night accommodation at a three-star hotel in Chittagong.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 11:30

Book up toStart time

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by bangladeshexplore

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Dhaka means you don't arrange your own transport to the coast, and the guide handles all logistics across the two days: useful if you're staying in the city without a rental car. The fixed itinerary covers both the shipbreaking yards and Chittagong's cultural sites in a single overnight trip, so you see the industrial scale and the heritage context without splitting the journey across separate bookings.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly happens at the Chittagong shipbreaking yards?

The Sitakunda Ship Breaking Area dismantles massive cargo vessels systematically, breaking them down into parts and materials for reuse or recycling. You watch this industrial process unfold along the coastline as an active working site, not a museum or demonstration.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Dhaka to Chittagong?

No. Hotel pickup from Dhaka is included, and an AC reserved car handles all transport between sites throughout the two days, so you don't need to arrange a rental or navigate on your own.

What meals are provided on the tour?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day at local restaurants serving traditional Bangladeshi food. Bottled water, coffee and tea are also provided throughout the tour.

Is the shipbreaking yard physically demanding to visit?

Yes. The site has uneven terrain and is an active industrial zone, so you need at least moderate physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy.

What is the Commonwealth War Cemetery?

The Chittagong Commonwealth War Cemetery is a solemn memorial site that honors soldiers who died in World War II in the region. It is one of 23 Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in the area and is beautifully maintained.