Saint Martin Island

By overnight bus (most popular) from Dhaka's Sayedabad bus terminal:

• Non-AC (Hanif Enterprise, Shohagh) — ৳900–1,100 · 10–12 hrs
• AC (Green Line, Ena) — ৳1,500–2,200 · 10–12 hrs
• Depart Dhaka 9–10pm · Arrive Cox's Bazar 6–8am

By flight — Biman Bangladesh, US-Bangla Airlines, Novoair, Air Astra fly daily. Journey around 60 minutes. Return fare ৳8,000–14,000.

Take a CNG or auto-rickshaw from your hotel to the ghat — approximately ৳100–200. This is the only legal departure point for the 2025–26 season. Teknaf and Ukhiya Inani routes are legally prohibited.

Ships depart Nuniya Chhara BIWTA Ghat between 7:00am and 10:00am only. Return ships depart Saint Martin 3:00pm–6:00pm. Schedules follow tidal conditions — no fixed time guaranteed.

• Economy class — ৳700–900 one way
• Business/cabin class — ৳1,200–1,500 one way

Buy tickets online at [travelpass.gov.bd](https://travelpass.gov.bd) — each ticket includes your mandatory travel clearance pass with QR code. Tickets without a QR code are invalid at the ghat. Ship journey: 2–3 hours.

No motor vehicles exist on the island — all motorised transport is banned by government order.

• 🚶 Walking — full island circumnavigation takes 3–4 hours at a relaxed pace
• 🚲 Bicycle hire — ৳150–300/day from jetty area shops
• 🛺 Cycle-rickshaw — ৳50–100 for short trips across the island

The island reopens November 1. Visitors may travel but overnight stays are not permitted — you must board the return ship by 3:00pm the same day. November is suitable only for a quick day excursion, not a proper island experience.

• ✅ Good for: lighter crowds, fresh post-monsoon air, a first look
• ❌ Not good for: anyone wanting sunset, stargazing, or a proper stay

This is when Saint Martin's is at its finest. The Bay of Bengal is calm, weather is clear and cool (22–28°C), underwater visibility is best for snorkelling, and overnight stays are fully permitted.

• December — Peak season. Bonfires, seafood restaurants open late, vibrant atmosphere.
• January — Slightly quieter. Still excellent. Sea can be rougher in late January.
• The night sky alone is worth an overnight stay. With no grid electricity and no light pollution, the Milky Way is visible on clear December–January nights — impossible to see near any Bangladeshi city.

The island closes entirely from February 1 through October 31. This is a government conservation order to protect coral reefs, sea turtles, and bird species from overdevelopment. No vessels are authorised and no accommodation operates during this period.

The western shore faces the open Bay of Bengal with a full 180° sunset view — nothing on the horizon. Hammocks line this beach. Arrive by 5:00pm. This is the most photographed image associated with Saint Martin's Island.

Calmer water faces east. Wake before dawn and walk to the eastern shore — the sky turning pink over the Bay of Bengal with fishing boats silhouetted in the foreground is one of Bangladesh's most photographed travel images. Best at 5:30–6:30am.

A small island extension at Saint Martin's southern tip — the southernmost point of Bangladesh. Accessible on foot along a sandbar at low tide, or by short shared boat at high tide.

• Shared boat from main jetty: ৳200–400 per person
• Low tide walk: sandals essential — sharp coral rocks
• Duration: 3–4 hours return including exploring
• Check the tide table at your hotel before leaving — the sandbar disappears at high tide

A Saint Martin visit is considered incomplete without Chera Dwip.

Best reef access is along the western shore — snorkel from the beach, no boat needed for shallow sections.

• Equipment hire: ৳200–400/set on the main beach
• Best time: 9:00am–11:00am before afternoon wind creates chop
• Guided diving: [Oceanic Scuba Dive Center](https://oceanicscuba.com.bd) offers certified experiences

As you walk south from the main jetty, development thins and the beach becomes progressively wilder. Coconut palms lean over the sand. Most tourists never reach here — walk 45 minutes south of the jetty and you have essentially left the crowds behind.

The northern area has the highest concentration of restaurants, souvenir shops, and accommodation. The most lively part of the island during peak season. All ships arrive and depart from here.

The clearest water in Bangladesh — actual coral visibility and marine life not found anywhere else in the country. Hire equipment on the main beach (৳200–400). Best in the morning before afternoon chop. The [Oceanic Scuba Dive Center](https://oceanicscuba.com.bd) offers guided dives for those wanting to go deeper.

Set your alarm for 5:30am. Walk to the eastern shore before the rest of the island wakes up. The sunrise over the Bay of Bengal from here is extraordinary — completely different from anything available at Cox's Bazar.

No grid electricity and no light pollution — the best night sky available to any Bangladeshi traveller without leaving the country. The Milky Way is visible on clear nights in December and January. Bring a torch for beach walking after generators cut off around 10pm.

Hire a bicycle from the jetty (৳150–300/day) and explore the interior paths through coconut groves connecting the island's seven neighbourhoods. Best done 6:30am–10:00am before the midday heat.

Most beachside restaurants along the west shore have hammocks — free with a purchase or ৳50–100/hour to rent. Fresh coconut + hammock + open ocean sunset = the definitive Saint Martin experience.

Note: open fires and barbecues on the beach are now banned by government regulation. But beachside restaurants serve grilled seafood and lit small dining areas through the evening — the social atmosphere along the beach at night in December is one of the warmest experiences in Bangladeshi travel.

Saint Martin Island is a fully Muslim-majority community — every local restaurant and food stall serves halal food by default. No pork. No alcohol at local establishments.

• 🦞 Grilled lobster — in season December–January. The island's finest dish.
• 🦀 Fresh crab curry — caught same morning, served same afternoon
• 🍤 Prawn bharta — grilled prawn mashed with spices and mustard oil
• 🐟 Fish curry with coconut rice — the daily local staple
• 🐟 Shutki (dried fish) — Saint Martin is particularly famous for its dried fish. Small shops near the jetty sell it as a souvenir.
• 🥥 Fresh green coconut — available throughout the island · ৳30–50 each

Budget per person per day (3 meals): ৳600–1,200 depending on what seafood you order.

Accommodation on Saint Martin is basic to mid-range. There are no international hotel chains. Generator-powered electricity runs approximately 7:00pm–10:00pm.

• Budget guesthouse / hostel — ৳500–1,200/night
• Mid-range hotel / cottage — ৳1,500–4,000/night
• Quality resort with generator + evening AC — ৳5,000–12,000/night

> 📅 Book at least 15–20 days ahead for December. 3–4 weeks ahead for New Year period. The island's 2,000/day cap means accommodation fills as fast as ship tickets — often together.

• Overnight bus (non-AC, return): ৳1,800–2,200
• Overnight bus (AC, return): ৳3,000–4,400
• Flight Dhaka–Cox's Bazar (return): ৳8,000–14,000
• CNG Cox's Bazar to Nuniya Chhara Ghat: ৳100–200
• Ship economy (one way): ৳1000–1800
• Ship cabin class (one way): ৳1,400–2,400

• Budget guesthouse (1 night): ৳500–1,200
• Mid-range hotel (1 night): ৳1,500–4,000
• 3 meals/day: ৳600–1,200
• Snorkelling equipment: ৳200–400
• Chera Dwip shared boat: ৳200–400
• Bicycle hire (full day): ৳150–300

Bus return ৳1,800 + Ship return ৳1,600 + Hotel 1 night ৳2,500 + Meals ৳1,000 + Activities ৳500 = approximately ৳7,400–9,000 per person

🎒 Tripzic group trips from ৳4,500/person (land + sea from Cox's Bazar) · From ৳7,500 including Dhaka overnight bus · Transport, hotel, and island orientation all included.

• Charge all devices fully before boarding the ship
• Bring a power bank — minimum 10,000mAh
• Bring a torch or headlamp for night beach walking
• Generator hours are approximately 7:00pm–10:00pm only

No ATMs exist anywhere on Saint Martin Island. Bring sufficient BDT before boarding at Nuniya Chhara. Recommended: ৳3,000–5,000 per person for 2 days including an emergency buffer for a weather-delayed extra night.

Signal is weak and intermittent. Grameenphone performs best. WhatsApp calling works in most beach areas. Download offline maps at [Maps.me](https://maps.me) before boarding — it covers Saint Martin Island in detail.

All tickets must be bought through travelpass.gov.bd. Each ticket generates a travel clearance pass with a unique QR code. Tickets without QR codes are invalid at the ghat. Do not buy from touts or third-party sellers at the bus station or ghat.

Ships can be cancelled on short notice due to rough seas — especially late January. Book accommodation with flexible cancellation. Always have a backup plan for an extra night in Cox's Bazar.

Saint Martin Island is safe for Bangladeshi tourists. The local fishing community is welcoming and accustomed to visitors.

• Only board officially ticketed, authorised passenger ships — small boats, trawlers, and speedboats are strictly prohibited by government regulation
• Ships operate only with weather approval from BIWTA and the Ministry — cancellations are a safety measure, not an inconvenience
• If your ship is cancelled, do not attempt to find an alternative boat — wait for the next authorised sailing

• Do not touch or stand on coral — even dead coral. It is ecologically destructive and prohibited.
• Do not use beach lighting at night — banned by government regulation
• No loud noise, barbecue parties, or motorised vehicles — all banned
• Take all plastic waste back to the mainland — bin collection is minimal on the island

• ❌ Single-use plastics
• ❌ Beach lighting at night
• ❌ Loud noise and barbecue parties on beaches
• ❌ Motorcycles, sea bikes, and motorised vehicles
• ❌ Seashell and coral collection or purchase