Best places to visit in Cox’s Bazar

 Are you looking for the best things to do in Cox’s Bazar? Look no further! This post features Cox’s Bazar’s most famous tourist spots.

Cox’s Bazar, in the South of Bangladesh, is home to the longest beach in the world, which is a whopping 120 km (75 mi) long. This was one of my favorite places to visit while backpacking in Bangladesh.

There are endless stretches of deserted, sandy beaches around Cox’s Bazar, and this city is surrounded by beautiful rice paddies and lush greenery.

But without further ado, here are the best tourist spots in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

1. Cruise along Marine Drive

The Marine Drive is 80 kilometers (50 miles) long and follows the shoreline. This 

ad will take you through stunning scenery on one side and along a sandy beach on the other. The most well-known beach along Marine Drive is Inani Beach, but there are other more.

Cox's Bazar has a plethora of scooter and motorcycle rental shops. Although hiring a scooter in this city is well worth it, it is not cheap. I paid 1500 Tk for 8 hours (non-negotiable price). However, the business where I hired it did warn me that there are shops that rent scooters for 1300 Tk as well.

You can lease a CNG for the day if you don't want to rent a scooter or a bike. This is particularly useful if you are traveling with more than two people.

Cruise down Marine Drive was one of my favorite things to do in Cox's Bazar!

2. Admire the sampan boats

Bangladesh's ancient moon-shaped boats appear to be straight out of a pirate film, and they are my favorite boats in the entire world!

Sampan boats are traditional small wooden boats commonly used in Cox's Bazar for fishing, transportation, and leisure. Here are a few places where you can find them:

• Sampan Beach: Named after the famed sampan boats, the beach here is renowned for swimming, sunbathing, and, of course, sampan rides. Numerous sampan operators offer rides along the coast or to adjacent islands. 

• Exotica Sampan Hotel & Resort: This hotel is right on Marine Drive and has wonderful views of the beach. They also have their own fleet of sampan boats that you may book for private tours or fishing outings.

• Sampan Resort | Private Beach View Hotel & Cafe: Located on Kakra Beach, this resort provides a more isolated and peaceful location. They also have their own sampan boats for rent, which may be used for a variety of activities.

Sampan boats can also be found at several other spots in Cox's Bazar, including Kolatoli Beach, Himchhari, and Inani Beach.

Here are some pointers to make the most of your sampan boat journey in Cox's Bazar:

• Negotiate the price: Before you board the boat, make sure to discuss the cost with the operator. Prices vary according to the length of the ride and the number of people in your party.

• Bring a hat and sunscreen: The sun can be very harsh in Cox's Bazar, so make sure to use sunscreen.

• Relax and enjoy the ride: Sampan rides are a terrific way to unwind and take in the sights of Cox's Bazar. Relax, take in the sights and sounds, and let the gentle swaying of the boat lull you to sleep.

I hope this helps you plan your Cox's Bazar sampan boat experience! 

3. Take the motorboat to Maheshkhali Island

New jetty road of  Maheskhali Island

Maheshkhali Island is a 15-minute boating journey from Cox's Bazar and makes for a pleasant half-day adventure from the city.  

The Adinath Temple, positioned on top of Mainak Hil, is the principal tourist attraction on Maheshkhali Island. This is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Shiva. A Buddhist pagoda may be found not far from here (simply follow the stairs farther up the hill).

It's worth noting that the ghat where the boat drops you off at Maheshkhali Island was the only spot in Bangladesh where CNG and rickshaw drivers aggressively tried to convince me to take a CNG/rickshaw despite my repeated requests to walk. Some even tried to persuade me that the temple was 20 kilometers (12 miles) away, while in fact, it was only 3 kilometers (1.8 miles).

4. Go to Sonadia Island (Sonadia Dwip)

Sonadia Island appears to be a lovely location! It is a small 9-square-kilometer island off the coast of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. It is well-known for its beautiful beaches, diverse biodiversity, and rich cultural legacy.

Sonadia Island is home to rare bird, dolphin, tree, and vine species. There are additional pockets of mangrove and salt marsh here.

The island, however, is impossible to get unless you can afford to rent a private boat. To get here via public transportation, you'll need to take two CNGs (one for more than 20 km/2 km) and two motorboats. This is why I've opted to bypass Sonadia Island for the time being.

Here are some things you might be interested in knowing about Sonadia Island:

Natural beauty: Sonadia Island has beautiful beaches with clear water and lovely sand. It is surrounded by sea on three sides and sand dunes and mangroves on the fourth. The island is also home to a variety of bird species, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers.

Activities: On the island, you can go swimming, sunbathing, and play beach volleyball. There are also boat cruises, fishing, and kayaking options. Some resorts provide adventurous sports such as jet skiing and paragliding.

Culture and history: Sonadia Island is known for its own culture and history. The island was first populated around 100-125 years ago, and many traditional practices have been kept by the local community. You can tour fishing communities, learn about the drying process, and enjoy the hospitality of the Bangladeshis.

I hope you have a chance to visit Sonadia Island one day! It sounds like a truly magical place.

5. See the Buddha statue in Ramu

Ramu is the place to go if you want to learn more about

Buddhism. This town is 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Cox's Bazar and is home to a 30-meter-long golden-lying Buddha monument. temples, Burmese handicrafts, and a rubber garden here.

Aside from the Buddha statues, there are monasteries, temples, Burmese handicrafts, and a rubber garden here.

6. Dine, have lunch or spend the night at a resort

Treating myself to lunch at a beachside resort along Saint-Martin

 

There are numerous magnificent resorts along the Saint-Matrin. Though I was traveling on a budget and did not stay in one of these, I did have lunch at one of the beachfront resorts.

7. Visit Saint Martin’s Island

Cox's Bazar is the gateway to Saint Martin's Island, which is said to have the finest beautiful beaches in Bangladesh.

Although I believe Saint Martin's Island is accessible by day from Cox's Bazar, I believe it is preferable to spend a night or two there. The journey to the island takes around 5 hours, and there aren't many boats that travel there. If my study is true, this means that if you visit the island in one day, you will only have 2 to 3 hours.

I did not visit Saint Martin's Island this trip, but it is gorgeous, according to some fellow travelers I met in Bangladesh (who were the only international visitors I encountered there)

8. Watch the sunset at the beach

Last but not least, a trip to Cox's Bazar would be incomplete until you saw the sunset over the sea. Along Marine Drive, I discovered a peaceful, deserted stretch of beach with sampan boats where I enjoyed watching the sunset.

With 120 kilometers (75 mi) of beach to pick from, it's not difficult to find a spot to yourself (if that's what you want - there are other crowded beaches).

The best time to visit Cox’s Bazar

The winter months of November to February are ideal for visiting Cox's Bazar. This is the ideal time of year for weather (about 30°C throughout the day).

 

The weather begins to warm up around March. Then, in April, the rainy season begins, and it will be very rainy, hot, and humid at this time of year. As a result, this is not the ideal time of year to visit Bangladesh.

How to get to Cox’s Bazar

Cox’s Bazar is located in the South of Bangladesh, 385 km (240 mi) from Dhaka, the capital, or 150 km (93 mi) from Chittagong. You can reach it from both of these cities by:

 

Bus: There are many buses (AC as well as non-AC) from Dhaka and Chittagong. Cox’s Bazar is a 5-hour ride from Chittagong or a 10 to 12-hour ride from Dhaka. There’s an overnight bus for the latter.

Train: The train from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar takes about 9 hours. Do make sure to book your tickets in advance if you want a good seat.

Private car: You can also reach Cox’s Bazar by private car, but this will be more expensive.

This being said, in my experience trains were always fully booked days (maybe even weeks) in advance in Bangladesh, so I’m not sure if taking the train would be the best option.

 Where to stay in Cox’s Bazar

 

The Kolatoli district is the finest place to stay in Cox's Bazar if you want to be close to all of the stores and eateries. There are numerous restaurants and hotels in this area.

If you want to be more calm (and have the money), there are dozens of beach resorts along Marine Drive. Mermaid Beach Resort is one of the most well-known, but it is also one of the most expensive.

I stayed at the Primacy Opelia Beach Resort in Kolatoli, which has excellent and clean rooms and fantastic friendliness!

Things to do in Cox’s Bazar – Final thoughts

 

One of my favorite sites in Bangladesh was Cox's Bazar! Even though I'm not usually a beach person, I fell in love with this beach due of its fantastic pirate boats and limitless stretches of deserted sandy beaches.

Furthermore, the lush green surrounds are lovely, and Bangladesh is home to some of the world's friendliest people.