An Unforgettable Adventure Camping Experience at Marayong Tong

Nowadays, Marayong Tong in Bandarban is the most popular adventure destination for day tour planners looking to touch the clouds.

Home Travel Marayong Tong : An Unforgettable Camping Experience

An Unforgettable Adventure Camping Experience at Marayong Tong, Bandarban.

Marayong Tong, also called Marayong Dong, is a hill in the Mirinja Range located in Alikadam, Bandarban, with a height of about 1,640 feet.

It has become a new favorite destination for camping-loving travelers, where white clouds from the mountaintops beckon enthusiasts.

At the very top of the Marayong Tong hill there is a Buddhist temple with a huge statue of Gautam Buddha. This spot is an excellent tourist destination.

The upper part of the hill is flat, offering a view of endless hills and mountains.

Below Marayong Tong, the Matamuhuri River winds like a snake, with crop fields visible on both its banks.This time, we are traveling to Marayong Dong Hills from Dhaka. Here, we will share our complete travel guide based on our experiences. So, let’s begin our travel story today.

How To Go Marayong Tong

Our Marayong Dong trip started from Kamalapur. We first traveled to Chittagong by train and then took a bus to Alikadam. The train journey was a budget-friendly option. If you prefer, you can take a direct bus from Dhaka to Alikadam, which costs 1,050 taka per person.

Alternatively, you can choose the comfortable train journey on the Turna Express, which departs from Dhaka at 9:30 PM and reaches Chittagong at 5:00 AM.

Be sure to collect your ticket from the Rail-Sheba app or rail counter 4 or 5 days before your trip. Leaving all the hustle and bustle of the city behind, our train rushes towards Chittagong, filled with stories, songs, and chats.

We reached Chittagong at 8 am, had breakfast at a hotel near the station and left for the new bridge. From the new bridge, we boarded a bus to Chakoria for a ticket of 250 taka.

From Chakoria, a jeep is available to go to Ali Kadam.You will have to go to Alikadam Residential by jeep. The jeep fare is 85 taka. It will take 1 hour and 10 minutes.

If you want, you can go to Alikadam by bus. The winding roads, dense forests on both sides, and the view of high mountains will relieve your travel fatigue.

We reach Alikadam Awasik at 3 pm and have lunch at the local market.

Activity

Camping on the Amazing moonlight night.
Hill trekking.
Campfire and barbeque.
Experiencing the ocean of clouds.

Let’s go For Adventure Camping

We need to collect the necessary camping supplies from here. They also gave us a guide named ‘Manik’. Manik will help us show the way of hill trekking safely and he will carry our baggage, water, Tent, campfire and barbeque materials.

We completed shopping with Manik. We rented a tent. Every tent can accommodate 2 people. We start trekking at 4: 30 pm. Our target is Marayong Tong hill, we will stay there at night. The light is fading as time goes on.

We were finding it more and more difficult to climb the mountain, our breathing was getting heavy. We took some rest in between the trekking.

It would take us a total of 1.30 hours to reach the top of Marayang Tong.If you need more help, there are locals who can carry your luggage with some tips. The view from the top of the mountain is as beautiful and breathtaking as the climb up the mountain is difficult.

After about an hour of climbing the hill, you will come across the only tribal neighborhood here, Murong Para. The people here live in houses built on the slopes of the mountains, slightly elevated from the ground, with various livestock residing underneath.

Beauty Of Marayong Tong

We reached the top of the hill at 7 PM. After a light evening snack, we pitched our tents and enjoyed the bright moonlight of the night.

Next to us, our guide Manik began preparing for the night’s campfire. Camping on the above 1,500 meters from the plains on a winter night added a unique dimension to our experience.

About 50 tourists are with us today. Everyone is enjoying this wonderful night in their own way. Along with this, there is a chatter of songs in empty voices.

The melody of the song echoes between the two mountains and returns to us. Along with this, the entire mountain peak is filled with the smell of spicy barbecue. A truly strange feeling is working in our minds.

Good morning from Marayang Tong hills. 6:30 am The mountains around us, covered in a light mist, are now in their full glory. Our group will now set off to climb the highest peak of Marayang Tong. At the highest peak there is a Buddhist temple with a statue of Gautam Buddha. Below, the raft of clouds looks just like the sea.

The sea of clouds kept everyone spellbound. Photography is going on as usual. Around 8 am we decided to return. This was our camping experience; now it is time to return to the plains. After breakfast, we will leave for Dhaka.

Nearby Tourist Attraction

If you want, you can also visit Ali’s Cave in Ali Kadam. It is very close to Alikadam Residential Area. After visiting Ali’s Cave, you can come directly to Dhaka by car at 9 pm.

Local Cuisine

Mundi is a popular dish in the hill districts. It is the traditional food of the Marmas. However, not only the Marmas, but also the hill Bengalis of this area and tourists, are all familiar with this special type of noodle. Everyone tastes Mundi when they visit the hills, and some even buy it to take with them. However, the taste of hot Mundi made by the Marmas from the packet Jat Mundi is very popular.

Life of Marayong Tong

All the hill Bengalis depend on these mountains for their livelihood. Many Bengalis earn their living by selling bamboo roots grown in the mountains. The hill people earn their livelihood by cultivating jute, rearing animals, and serving tourists. Tobacco is cultivated in large quantities here. Among the hill tribes, the Tripura, Marma, and Murong tribes are among the most prominent.

Extra Tips

Keep your national ID or passport with you for security purposes.
Keep dry first aid, food and water with you when going to track the Marayong Tong.
If you have a physical issue to track a hill then bike rental service is available.
Before climbing the mountain, inform the local administration of your intentions if you encounter them on the plains.
Listen carefully if they have any advice.
Do not pick any fruits or flowers on the way while climbing mountains. Buy them if you need them. They are very cheap.
Bring plastic packets, bottles, etc. when descending from the mountain.
Avoid riding your bike while descending.