St. Martin's Island
The only coral island of Bangladesh, locally called Narikel Jinjira - coconut, coral and turquoise water.
📍 Location & access
🧭 Planning your trip
The best window for St. Martin's Island is Nov – Feb. November to February is the easiest season for travel across Bangladesh generally - cool and dry - while the monsoon between June and September is when the haors, waterfalls and hills are at their most dramatic.
How to reach: Travel to Teknaf (about 1 hour from Cox’s Bazar by road), then take a sea trawler or speedboat crossing of roughly 2.5–3 hours, which runs mainly between October and March in settled weather.
Cox's Bazar is known for world's longest natural sea beach (120 km).
History
Originally called Narikel Jinjira ("coconut island"), it was settled by fishermen from Arakan generations ago and later renamed after a colonial-era administrator. As the country’s only coral-bearing island it was declared an Ecologically Critical Area in 1999 to protect its reef from overtourism.
✅ Tips for visiting
- Check ferry schedules and sea conditions in advance - sailings are suspended in rough weather and through much of the monsoon.
- Avoid stepping on or removing coral; the reef is legally protected and badly degraded already.
- Walk to Chera Dwip at low tide for the best coral viewing, but watch the tide times back.
🧭 Nearby
- Chera Dwip (detached at low tide)
- Teknaf coast and Nafa Kum viewpoint
- Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach
- Himchari National Park
Sunrise and sunset at St. Martin's Island today
Useful for planning the golden hour - 11:39 of daylight.
More places like this
Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach
The longest uninterrupted natural sea beach in the world, running about 120 km from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf.
Beach Cox's BazarHimchari National Park
Low hills tumbling straight into the Bay of Bengal - seasonal waterfalls and a lookout over the world’s longest beach.
Nature Cox's BazarNijhum Dwip
A quiet island national park where herds of spotted deer roam the keora forest at dusk.
Island NoakhaliFrequently asked questions about St. Martin's Island
Where is St. Martin's Island?
St. Martin's Island is in Cox's Bazar district, Bangladesh, at 20.6270°N, 92.3230°E.
When is the best time to visit St. Martin's Island?
The best season to visit St. Martin's Island is Nov – Feb.
What is St. Martin's Island known for?
The only coral island of Bangladesh, locally called Narikel Jinjira - coconut, coral and turquoise water.
How do I get to St. Martin's Island?
Travel to Teknaf (about 1 hour from Cox’s Bazar by road), then take a sea trawler or speedboat crossing of roughly 2.5–3 hours, which runs mainly between October and March in settled weather.
How much does it cost to visit St. Martin's Island?
Return ship or speedboat ticket ৳800–2,000; environmental restrictions limit overnight tourist numbers, so check the current rules before travelling.