Tourism Bangladesh
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Saint Martin's Island

Saint Martin's Island is Bangladesh's only coral-bearing island, a small strip of land in the Bay of Bengal near the southern tip of the country, close to the Myanmar border. It's the single most photographed destination in Bangladesh, and the trip to get there is as much a part of the experience as the island itself.

Getting there

The island is reached by boat from Teknaf, the southernmost point of the mainland, itself about a 4–5 hour drive or bus ride south of Cox's Bazar. The sea crossing takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours each way, and boats generally run only during the dry season (November through March), when the sea is calm enough for the crossing.

Most visitors do this as a long day trip from Cox's Bazar, though staying overnight on the island is the better way to actually see it without rushing.

What to do

The main draw is the coral-fringed shoreline itself — clear, shallow water over coral patches makes for the closest thing to reef snorkelling Bangladesh offers, best done in the calmer waters around Chera Dwip, a smaller islet connected to the main island at low tide.

  • Chera Dwip — a smaller islet connected to the main island at low tide, with the calmest water and the best of the coral snorkelling.
  • The coral shoreline — clear, shallow water over coral patches — the closest thing to reef snorkelling Bangladesh offers.
  • The island loop road — a few hours to cycle or walk, passing fishing villages, coconut groves, and small guesthouses along the way.

Cycling or walking the island's single loop road takes only a few hours and passes through fishing villages, coconut groves, and small guesthouses along the way. Fresh seafood, caught and grilled the same day, is the other reason people stay overnight rather than day-tripping.

Best time to visit

November through February is the reliable window — calm seas, dry weather, and full boat service from Teknaf. Boat services typically stop entirely during the monsoon (roughly June through September), when the crossing becomes too rough, so this isn't a year-round destination the way some of Bangladesh's other beaches are.

Practical notes

Accommodation on the island is limited and basic compared to Cox's Bazar — simple guesthouses rather than resort-style hotels — so booking ahead during the November–February season matters, especially around winter holidays when capacity fills fast. There's no ATM on the island, so bring cash from Teknaf or Cox's Bazar. Boat departure times shift with tides and weather, so treat any schedule as approximate until you're actually at the Teknaf jetty.

For the visa requirements to enter Bangladesh in the first place, see our visa guide. Saint Martin's pairs naturally with a Cox's Bazar stop on the same trip south — see our best places to visit guide for how the two fit together.