Saint Martin's Island Travel Guide: Government Rules, Ships, Registration, Costs and Chhera Dwip
What you need to know before visiting Bangladesh's only coral island. Which months you can go and when you can stay overnight, online registration and the travel pass, ships from Cox's Bazar, what to do on the island and what's banned, costs, and the rules that protect the coral.
- Where
- In the Bay of Bengal, south of Teknaf; Cox's Bazar district
- Tourist season
- Usually November–January (by government rule)
- Getting there
- 6–8 hours by ship from Cox's Bazar
- Registration
- Online, with a daily cap on visitors
- Banned
- Lights and noise on the beach at night, barbecues, plastic, taking coral
Trip ticket
Blue water, rows of coconut palms, coral scattered on the beach and countless stars at night. Saint Martin's is the country's only coral island, and for many people the most beautiful place in Bangladesh. But mass tourism and pollution have put the island's coral and wildlife at risk, so the government now strictly controls visits. Saint Martin's is no longer a place you can go whenever you like. This guide sets out the rules, registration, transport and costs clearly.
About Saint Martin's
Saint Martin's lies in the north-eastern Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the Teknaf coast, in Cox's Bazar district. Locally it's called Narikel Jinjira, "coconut island", for its many palms. It's small, about eight square kilometres, and you can cover it all on foot or by bicycle.
The surrounding waters hold coral, colourful fish, sea turtles and seaweed, and sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs on its beaches. That's why the island is declared an Ecologically Critical Area and tourism is being controlled.
When you can go: the government rules
Under rules introduced from late 2024, tourist visits to Saint Martin's were limited like this:
| Month | Rule (as in recent seasons) |
|---|---|
| November | Visits allowed, but day trips only; no overnight stays |
| December–January | Visits and overnight stays allowed |
| February–October | Closed to tourists |
The number of visitors per day is capped too, at about two thousand in recent seasons. Check this year's months, numbers and conditions before you go.
Registration and the travel pass
You need to register online to visit Saint Martin's. Registering on the website or app designated by the Bangladesh Tourism Board gets you a travel pass with a QR code, and ship tickets are linked to the same system.
- Find the correct registration website from the government announcement; don't pay through Facebook pages or middlemen's links.
- Register with each traveller's name and national ID or birth registration details.
- Confirm your ship ticket and date, then download or print the travel pass.
- You show the pass and your ID when boarding the ship and landing on the island.
How to get there
First, Cox's Bazar
From Dhaka it's 8–10 hours by bus, the Cox's Bazar Express or Parjatak Express by train, or an hour by air. Details are in our Cox's Bazar district guide.
By ship from Cox's Bazar
In recent seasons ships didn't run from Teknaf for security reasons, and left instead from the Nuniyachhara (BIWTA) ghat in Cox's Bazar town. Ships usually leave in the morning, take 6–8 hours to reach Saint Martin's and, on day trips, return in the afternoon.
| Item | Approximate |
|---|---|
| Ship ticket (return, per person) | ৳2,000–5,000 depending on class |
| Journey time (one way) | 6–8 hours |
| Time on the island on a day trip | Only a few hours |
A day trip leaves very little time on the island, so if you can, go in the months when overnight stays are allowed (December–January).
Things to do on the island
Sunset on the west beach
The beach on the west side is full of coral and rock, and the sun sets straight into the sea. It's at its most beautiful at sunset.
Cycling round the island
Bicycles are for hire. Ride or walk from the jetty to the north beach and on via the west beach to the south, and you'll see the island's real life among coconut groves, fishing villages and paddy fields.
Chhera Dwip
South of Saint Martin's is a tiny coral island cut off from the main island: Chhera Dwip. At low tide many people walk or cycle across; at high tide you need a boat. Chhera Dwip is the most sensitive area, and access and rules can differ by season, so ask locally. Go without checking the tide and you risk getting stranded.
Night sky and seafood
Far from city lights, Saint Martin's night sky is full of stars. Restaurants serve fresh coral fish, pomfret, lobster, crab and coconut water. But barbecues and fires on the beach are banned.
What's banned
To protect the coral and marine life, you must follow these rules:
- No lights, loud music or fireworks on the beach at night (they harm turtles and birds)
- No barbecues, fires or campfires on the beach
- No catching, collecting or selling coral, shells, oysters, turtles or any marine life
- Single-use plastic is discouraged or banned; bring your own water bottle
- No motor vehicles on the beach
- No entry to turtle nesting areas
Breaking the rules can mean a fine. But more than the rules, this is our only coral island, and protecting it is every visitor's responsibility.
Where to stay (in the overnight months)
The island has many resorts and cottages, large and small. With visitor numbers capped, rooms go fast too, so book a room as soon as you have your ship ticket. Electricity on the island runs mostly on solar and generators, so ask when there will be power in your room. Basic cottages ৳2,000–4,000, good resorts ৳5,000–12,000.
Costs
2 days, 1 night from Cox's Bazar, per person (group of 4):
| Item | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Ship (return) | ৳2,000–5,000 |
| One night in a cottage or resort (shared) | ৳500–3,000 |
| Food (2 days) | ৳1,200–2,500 |
| Bicycle/van, boat to Chhera Dwip | ৳300–800 |
| Total (excluding Dhaka–Cox's Bazar travel) | ৳4,000–11,300 |
What to pack
- National ID or birth registration and a printout of the travel pass
- Cash; don't rely fully on ATMs or mobile banking on the island
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- A reusable water bottle and a rubbish bag
- Seasickness tablets (the ship rolls when the sea is rough)
- A power bank
Questions and answers
When can you visit Saint Martin's?
Under recent seasons' government rules, November allows day trips only, December–January allows overnight stays, and February to October is closed to tourists. The rules are announced afresh each season, so check before you go.
Do you need to register to visit Saint Martin's?
Yes, you register online through the Bangladesh Tourism Board's designated system and get a travel pass with a QR code. You can't board the ship without it.
Where do ships to Saint Martin's leave from?
In recent seasons ships left from Nuniyachhara ghat in Cox's Bazar town; the Teknaf route was closed for security reasons. Check this year's route before you go.
How much does a trip to Saint Martin's cost?
A 2-day, 1-night trip from Cox's Bazar, with ship, room and food, costs roughly ৳4,000 to ৳11,000 per person, plus travel between Dhaka and Cox's Bazar.
Can you have a barbecue on Saint Martin's?
No. To protect the coral and marine life, barbecues, fires and lights and noise at night are banned on the beach.
See it on the map, plan your trip
Look up the places, routes and costs, then put your own trip together.
