Cox's Bazar

Bangladesh Railway now operates modern direct intercity express trains from Dhaka Kamalapur to Cox's Bazar in approximately 8 to 8.5 hours, the Cox's Bazar Express and Parjatak Express.

• Shuvon (economy) — ৳455–600 one way
• Shuvon Chair (AC economy) — ৳770–850
• First Class AC — ৳1,000–1,350
• AC Berth (overnight) — ৳1,800–2,200

Book train tickets open 10 days before departure. Book immediately when they open — trains sell out fast on weekends and holidays.

Luxury AC sleeper buses depart nightly from Dhaka's Sayedabad or Arambagh terminal, arriving Cox's Bazar 6–8am.

• Non-AC (Hanif, Shohagh) — ৳700–1,000
• AC coach (Green Line, Ena, S Alam) — ৳1,200–1,800
• Luxury sleeper (Desh Travels, Greenline) — ৳2,000–2,800

Multiple daily 55-minute flights via Biman Bangladesh, US-Bangla Airlines, and Novoair, Air Astra.

• Return fares: ৳9,000–14,000 depending on advance booking
• Book 4–6 weeks ahead for peak season (November–February)

• 🛺 CNG auto-rickshaw — ৳50–200 for short trips within town
• 🚗 Chander Gari (open jeep) — ৳1,500–3,000/day for Marine Drive — the best way to do it
• 🚕 Private car with driver — ৳2,500–4,000/day for full-day excursions
• 🚌 Local bus toward Teknaf — ৳30–80 · stops at Himchari and Inani
• 🏍️ Auto or bike — ৳50–100 for short hops along the beach road

Late November to early March is the sweet spot — clear skies, calm sea, 18–28°C temperatures. The beach is at its most beautiful. Inani's coral rocks are visible at low tide. Water is clear enough for swimming. Book hotels 2–3 weeks in advance for December school holidays and New Year.

• Best for: First-time visitors, families, beach holidays, Saint Martin connection
• Avoid: Booking without a reservation in December — hotels fill completely

Still good weather. Fewer crowds. Prices drop 20–30%. Sea starts picking up by May. Good for budget travellers wanting a quieter experience with all the same attractions.

Heavy rainfall, rough seas, and flooding risk make beach activities impossible. Not recommended unless you want to see Himchari Waterfall at its most dramatic peak flow (June–August).

The monsoon eases in late October and good weather returns. A reasonable window for travellers wanting to avoid peak crowds while still getting decent beach conditions.

The world's longest natural sea beach — 120 kilometres of unbroken sand. Laboni Beach is the main town beach — the most energetic section with beach vendors, colourful umbrellas, horse rides, and the full domestic holiday atmosphere. Sugandha and Kolatoli beaches extend south with progressively more resort-focused development. Best for first-time visitors, families, and people-watching.

Often considered the most beautiful beach near Cox's Bazar — 32 km south of town along the Marine Drive. Unlike the crowded central beaches, Inani offers a peaceful atmosphere with unique coral boulders, dramatically clear blue water, and a quieter horizon.

• Famous for natural rock formations — black-green coral boulders against golden sand
• Best visited at low tide November–March when formations are most visible
• Distance from town: ~32 km · ~45 min by Chander Gari
• Activities: coral rock walking, swimming, horse riding (৳100–200/session), bicycle riding (৳100–200/session)

One of the most breathtaking coastal roads in South Asia — 80 km running between the Bay of Bengal on one side and green hill ranges on the other. Drive from Cox's Bazar town to Teknaf passing Himchari, Inani, Patuartek, and Sabrang Zero Point. Hire a Chander Gari (open jeep) for the full day — ৳1,800–3,000 or rental bike ৳200-৳350/hour and stop wherever the view compels you.

Located 18 km south of Cox's Bazar town. Famous for its "broken hills," lush tropical forest, and the Himchari Waterfall — most dramatic during monsoon season (June–October). The hilltop viewpoints give a 180° panorama of the ocean meeting the green hills.

• Entry: ৳20–50
• Waterfall: Best June–October · trickles November–May
• Viewpoint: Excellent year-round · best at 6:30am before haze
• Getting there: Local bus toward Teknaf (৳30–50) · or CNG (৳150–250)

Bangladesh's premier wildlife safari park — 45 km north of Cox's Bazar in Chakaria Upazila. Home to elephants, deer, lions, tigers, zebras, and hundreds of bird species in semi-natural enclosures.

• Best time: Early morning or late afternoon in winter (October–March)
• Entry fee: ৳50–100 for Bangladeshis · separate fees for tiger/lion zones
• Rules: No plastic, polythene, or smoking inside the park
• Getting there: Private car from Cox's Bazar (~1 hour) recommended

Accessible by speedboat from Nuhiya Chhara Ghat (20–30 min, ৳80–120/person). Famous for the ancient Adinath Temple on the island's central hilltop — one of the most sacred Hindu temples in Bangladesh. Salt fields, mangrove channels, and a Buddhist community with ancient pagodas make this a culturally rich half-day excursion. Best added as a 4th day to a Cox's Bazar trip.

At the southern tip of mainland Bangladesh in Teknaf — the scenic convergence of the Bay of Bengal, the Naaf River, and the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. The Marine Drive passes through here. The Sabrang Tourism Park is under active development as an eco-tourism hub.

One of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Bangladesh — near the town entrance. A beautifully maintained complex with 100-year-old Buddha statues and murals. Free to visit. Respectful dress required.

An international-standard indoor aquarium featuring live marine life from the Bay of Bengal — a rare experience for Bangladeshi visitors. Located in Cox's Bazar town centre. Good for families with children.

The single best activity in Cox's Bazar beyond the main beach. Hire a Chander Gari (open jeep, ৳1,500–3,000) and drive the Marine Drive — Himchari hilltop, Inani coral beach, Patuartek viewpoints, as far as Teknaf if time allows. Leave by 7am for the best light and to avoid midday heat. Some sections may feel bumpy — a full-day driver handles all the stops and local knowledge.

The coral rock formations at Inani are most visible and dramatic during low tide in the cooler months. Arrive at low tide, walk the coral boulders, and swim in the exceptionally clear water away from town crowds. The contrast of black-green stone against golden sand and blue water is unlike any other beach in Bangladesh — and it is completely free.

Wake before dawn and walk to the main beach. The Cox's Bazar sunrise — the sky shifting from dark to orange to gold across 120 kilometres of unbroken ocean — is one of the most powerful natural experiences in Bangladesh. Best October–March when skies are consistently clear.

Open-vehicle safari through forested sections with elephants, lions, tigers, and deer. Early morning is when animals are most active. The elephant zone is the highlight — one of the few places in Bangladesh to see elephants in a semi-natural habitat.

Evening boat rides along the Cox's Bazar coast are available from the main beach area. Fishing trawlers go out at dusk — some operators offer tourist sunset rides (৳200–500/person shared boat). The silhouette of traditional fishing boats against the Cox's Bazar sunset is iconic.

• Horse riding along the main beach: ৳100–200 per session
• Bicycle riding at Inani Beach: ৳100–200 per session
• Beach football and volleyball: informal and free
• Bamboo shade and sitting spots at Inani: ৳30–50/hour

A permanent market run by the Rakhain (Burmese) community — one of the oldest ethnic communities in Cox's Bazar. Famous for handicrafts, textiles, dried fish, and traditional Rakhain cloth (thami) woven on looms right at the street. A genuine cultural experience, not a tourist trap. Best visited in the morning.

Cox's Bazar has some of the finest seafood in Bangladesh — fish, crab, prawn, and lobster caught daily from the Bay of Bengal. All local restaurants serve halal food by default.

• 🦐 Fresh prawn curry — the most popular seafood dish
• 🦀 Crab bhuna (কাঁকড়া ভুনা) — blue swimming crabs in mustard oil and spices
• 🐟 Grilled hilsa (ইলিশ) — in season during and after monsoon
• 🦞 Lobster — upscale restaurants · ৳800–2,500 per piece
• 🐟 Shutki bhorta — dried fish mashed with onion, chilli, mustard oil · the coastal staple
• 🥥 Fresh coconut — ৳100–150 throughout the beach road
• ☕ Tea and snacks at chai stalls — ৳10–30

• Algoni & Shalik restaurants — are best choice for trying Bengali cuisine at affordable price
• Beachside restaurants near Kolatoli — fresh seafood, competitive prices, open-air setting
• Palonki — popular for its relaxed atmosphere near the marine drive area
• Local fish market near the jetty — buy fresh from the market and have it cooked at adjacent restaurants
• Street food at Kolatoli — Sea foods, crab, jhal muri, piyaju, fresh coconut

Cox's Bazar has the widest range of accommodation of any domestic destination in Bangladesh.

• Guesthouses and small hotels near Kolatoli beach
• Basic but clean — good for solo travelers and budget groups
• Book in advance for December–January peak

• 3-star hotels near Sugandha and Kolatoli — pool access common at this tier
• Seagull Hotels Ltd., Hotel Mermaid area properties

• Sayeman Beach Resort, Mermaid Eco Resort, Royal Tulip Sea Pearl
• Direct beach access, pools, spa, seafood restaurants
• Book 3–4 weeks ahead for November–January peak

• Marine Bay Glamping Beach Resort (Pechardwip area · 10 min from Inani · 16 km from main beach)
• Comfort tents, deluxe tents, family tents with beach view
• Rates: approximately ৳5,000–10,000/night
• Best for couples and families wanting an Inani-area base

• Direct train economy (one way): ৳455–600
• Direct train AC berth overnight (one way): ৳1,800–2,200
• Overnight bus non-AC (one way): ৳700–1,000
• Overnight bus AC coach (one way): ৳1,200–1,800
• Flight return: ৳5,000–14,000

• Budget guesthouse (1 night): ৳500–2,000
• Mid-range hotel (1 night): ৳2,000–6,000
• Luxury resort (1 night): ৳6,000–20,000+
• 3 meals per day: ৳500–1,500
• Chander Gari Marine Drive (shared, full day): ৳400–600/person
• Private car full day: ৳2,500–4,000 (whole vehicle)

• Budget backpacker: ৳5,000–8,500 — economy train, budget guesthouse, street food
• Mid-range family: ৳14,000–26,000 — AC train, 3-star hotel, Chander Gari, seafood dining
• Luxury resort: ৳42,000–78,000+ — direct flights, 5-star beachfront, private car

🎒 Tripzic group trips from ৳5,500/person — transport, accommodation, Marine Drive excursion, and beach orientation included.

Cox's Bazar Express and Parjatak Express sell out fast — especially for Friday departures and school holidays. Tickets open 10 days before departure at [Bangladesh Railway]https://eticket.railway.gov.bd/). Set a reminder.

The 80 km Marine Drive needs a full-day vehicle. A Chander Gari (open jeep) gives you the wind-in-your-face coastal road experience — ocean on one side, green hills on the other. Negotiate the full-day rate before departure: ৳1,500–3,000 depending on route length.

Arrive before the crowds and at low tide for the best coral rock visibility. Inani is 45 minutes from town. Morning light is also the best for photography — the contrast of coral boulders and blue water in early morning sun is the shot.

ATMs exist in Cox's Bazar town (BRAC Bank, Dutch-Bangla, City Bank near Kolatoli). During peak season, machines run low. Carry enough BDT from Dhaka or Chittagong for your first day before locating a working ATM.

The Bay of Bengal sun is intense. White sand reflects UV. Bring SPF 50+ sunscreen, a wide-brim hat, and sunglasses for any full-day beach activity.

• Himchari hilltop at 6:30am — ocean and hill panorama before haze.
• Inani coral rocks at low tide — black stone, gold sand, blue water contrast.
• Laboni beach at sunrise — fishing boats in golden light.
• Marine Drive pull-off viewpoints between Himchari and Inani.

Cox's Bazar is safe for Bangladeshi tourists. Tourist Police patrol units cover major beaches, Marine Drive checkpoints, and hotel zones 24/7.

• Do not swim beyond the flagged zones — currents become powerful beyond the safe area
• Red flag = dangerous, do not enter water · Yellow = caution · Green = safe
• Supervise children at all times — waves on the main beach can be strong even in calm weather
• Do not swim at night — no lighting and no lifeguard after dark

• Agree photography prices explicitly before any photo shoot at Inani
• Do not leave valuables unattended on the beach
• You are not obligated to hire unofficial guides who approach you

Only board officially ticketed ships from Nuniya Chhara BIWTA Ghat. Small boats and trawlers are strictly prohibited. Book via Ship Tickets