Cox's Bazar

Billed as the world's longest natural beach, stretching 120 km, with a coastal highway to Inani and Teknaf, the Buddhist temples of Ramu and St. Martin's Island.

Cox's Bazar lies at the southeastern tip of Bangladesh in Chattogram Division, bordered by the Bay of Bengal to the west and Myanmar to the south. It claims the world's longest unbroken natural sand beach, running about 120 km south from the town to Teknaf, and is Bangladesh's leading seaside resort. The town is named after Captain Cox, the 18th-century British officer who resettled Arakanese refugees here.

There are four main areas to explore: ① the town beaches – Laboni, Sugandha and Kolatoli each have their own character; watch the sunset, ride horses and eat seafood, with the Burmese Market and an aquarium nearby; ② the coastal highway south – more than 80 km of road between hills and sea links Himchari National Park (waterfalls and a hilltop viewpoint) and the rocky beach at Inani, ideal for a half-day trip by hired car or "CNG" auto-rickshaw; ③ Ramu to the northeast – a centre of Rakhine and Barua Buddhist culture, with centuries-old temples and a 100-foot reclining Buddha; ④ the islands – take a speedboat about half an hour to Maheshkhali Island to see the hilltop Adinath Hindu temple, or a boat south to St. Martin's Island, Bangladesh's only coral island (in recent years open seasonally with visitor caps under government rules).

The best season is the November–March dry season, with clear skies and pleasant weather; during the May–October monsoon, heavy storms and cyclones bring big waves, and swimming is often banned. Getting there: flights from Dhaka take about 1 hour, and there are also direct trains from Dhaka (about 9–10 hours) and overnight buses. Allow 3–4 days. Note: Bangladesh is a Muslim-majority country and locals on the beach mostly dress conservatively, so visitors should dress modestly; swim only in lifeguarded areas and heed red-flag warnings; on weekends and holidays (especially in winter), hotel prices rise and crowds swell.

Top sights

• Cox's Bazar Beach – The urban stretch of what is said to be the world's longest natural sandy beach. The Laboni, Sugandha and Kolatoli entrances are liveliest…
• Saint Martin's Island – Bangladesh's only coral island, with coconut groves, white sand and clear seawater. At the southern tip, you can wade across to Chera Islan…
• Himchari National Park – A hill rainforest reserve beside the coastal road, where you can see a small waterfall and climb hundreds of steps for views over the beach…
• Inani Beach – A reef-strewn beach about 30 km south of town with clearer water; black reefs and shallows at low tide make a popular sunset photo spot.
• Ramu Central Sima Vihara – One of the oldest monasteries in the Ramu Buddhist area, burned in 2012 and rebuilt in Burmese style, housing ancient Buddha statues.
• Ramu 100-Foot Reclining Buddha – One of Bangladesh's largest reclining Buddha statues, about 100 feet long, lying in a peaceful hillside meditation centre at Ramu.
• Ramkot Buddhist Monastery – An ancient forest monastery and Hindu shrine in the hills of Ramu, linked to legends of relics from the time of Ashoka.
• Moheshkhali Island & Adinath Temple – Bangladesh's only hilly island, a half-hour speedboat ride away, where a hilltop Shiva temple overlooks mangroves and the bay.
• Dulahazra Safari Park – A large forest safari park on the northern outskirts of Cox's Bazar, where you can see lions, tigers and Asian elephants on foot or by vehi…
• Radiant Fish World – A large aquarium in the town of Cox's Bazar, with an underwater tunnel and Bay of Bengal fish displays, a good family outing on rainy days.
• Burmese Market – A traditional market run by Rakhine traders, selling Burmese handicrafts, pickled sour fruit, shell crafts and Burmese cigars.
• Aggmeda Khyang – The largest Rakhine Buddhist monastery in Cox's Bazar, with stilted wooden monks' quarters, shaded by old trees and home to bronze Buddhas…

Where to eat

• Poushee Restaurant – A long-established Bengali home-style restaurant on Sayeman Road, popular with tourists and locals for seafood curries…
• Jhaubon Restaurant – A long-running family restaurant next to Poushee, praised for its crab curry, fried prawns and naan at affordable price…
• Mermaid Café – A beachside café with a holiday feel, featuring hammock seating and sea views. Its specialties are grilled lobster, fis…

Itineraries

• Cox's Bazar & Saint Martin's Island – Long beaches, marine drives, and Ramu Buddhist temples, combined with a 2-night stay on Saint Martin's Island—only suit…