Cox's Bazar: a practical guide to the world's longest beach
Destinations · · 2 min read
Cox's Bazar draws crowds for one reason - an unbroken run of sand that goes on further than you can walk in a day. The town itself is busy, but the beach rewards anyone willing to move a few kilometres from the main strip.
When to go
November to February is the season: dry days, comfortable evenings and calm sea. March and April get hot and hazy. The monsoon, June to September, brings dramatic skies and near-empty hotels at a fraction of the price, but swimming is often unsafe.
Getting there from Dhaka
Three sensible ways, and the right one depends on what your time is worth:
- Train. The line to Cox's Bazar opened in 2023 and is the most comfortable way to arrive. Book early in season.
- Bus. Overnight coaches run all evening. Cheapest, and you lose a night rather than a day.
- Flight. Under an hour in the air, though once you add the airport time it is around two to three hours door to door.
Where to stay
Kolatoli and Laboni are close to everything and loud. Inani, about half an hour south, is where the water is clearest and the beach is quiet. Himchari sits between the two with the hills at your back.
What to do beyond the beach
Himchari National Park for the waterfall and the view. Inani for the coral rocks at low tide. Maheshkhali island by boat for the temple and the salt flats. Teknaf if you are continuing to Saint Martin's Island.
What it costs
A modest hotel out of season is cheap; the same room in late December can triple. Food is inexpensive everywhere - the fish is the reason to be there. Budget more than you expect for local transport: distances along the beach road are longer than they look.
A day or two is enough for the main beach. Four lets you reach Inani and Maheshkhali without rushing, which is when the place stops feeling like a resort town and starts feeling like a coastline.