Dhaka to Sylhet by car with a driver

The N2 is a national highway, but for much of its length it behaves like a series of connected high streets. It runs directly through towns and bazaars — Bhairab, Sarail, Shaistaganj, Sherpur — and there is no bypass around most of them.

That is why journey time varies so much more than distance suggests. Five hours is a good run. Seven is common. When there is an incident on the road, considerably longer is possible, because there is often no alternative route to divert onto.

We plan departures with that in mind rather than optimism. If you have a fixed commitment at the far end, tell us and we will build in margin.

Early. An 06:00 to 07:00 departure clears the Dhaka exit roads before they seize up and puts you in Sylhet comfortably in the afternoon.

A mid-morning departure means fighting Dhaka traffic on the way out and arriving in the dark. If you are travelling with children or older relatives, the early start is worth the alarm clock.

Five to seven hours changes the calculation. A saloon that is perfectly comfortable across Dhaka becomes tiring over this distance, particularly on the rougher stretches.

We usually recommend a Executive 4x4 for two to four passengers, or a microbus for a family group with luggage. A 7-seat MPV sits comfortably between the two.

We quote this route as a fixed price covering the vehicle, the professional driver, fuel, tolls and the driver's own costs on the journey.

One-way and return are priced differently, but not as differently as people expect: a one-way drop still means the vehicle and driver must return. Ask for both figures and choose on the real numbers.