Moheshkhali Island, Cox's Bazar
Photo: Syed Sajidul Islam · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cox's Bazar District · Chattogram Division · মহেশখালী দ্বীপ

Moheshkhali Island travel guide

A hilly island; the Adinath Temple on its hilltop, and betel-leaf and salt farming.

🗓️ Best time to visitNovember–March
⏱ How long it takesHalf to a full day
💰 Estimated costSpeedboat ৳80–150 one way; reserved rickshaw/auto on the island ৳500–800

History and background

The country's only hilly island. On top of Mainak Hill is the Adinath Temple, sacred to Shiva, where a big fair is held in Falgun. The island is famous for sweet betel leaf, salt farming and dried fish. There are also Buddhist monasteries in the Rakhine quarter.

How to get to Moheshkhali Island

15–20 minutes by speedboat from Jetty No. 6 in Cox's Bazar.

Cox's Bazar is about 400 km from Dhaka; the journey takes 8–10 hours (bus) / 1 hour (air).

  • 🚌 By bus: Green Line, Hanif, Shyamoli, Saudia from Sayedabad/Arambagh/Kalabagan; non-AC ৳1,000–1,200, AC ৳2,000–3,000.
  • 🚆 By train: Cox's Bazar Express and Parjatak Express from Kamalapur; fare about ৳700–2,000 (book tickets ahead).
  • ✈️ By air: Biman, US-Bangla, Novoair, Air Astra; one way ৳5,000–9,000, 1 hour.

Where to stay

  • Sayeman Beach Resort
  • Long Beach Hotel
  • Ocean Paradise Hotel
  • Sea Pearl Beach Resort (Inani)
  • Budget hotels at Kolatoli and Sugandha Point (৳1,500–3,000)

What to eat

Fried pomfret, lobster, prawns, coral fish, dried fish

Good to know

  • Wear a life jacket on the speedboat
  • Try Moheshkhali's sweet betel leaf

More places to visit in Cox's Bazar district

  • Cox's Bazar Sea Beach — Sunsets, swimming and beach bikes at Laboni, Sugandha and Kolatoli points; the world's longest beach.
  • Marine Drive — A road of about 80 km from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf, with hills on one side and the sea on the other.
  • Himchari — Sea views from a hilltop and small waterfalls in the monsoon.
  • Inani Beach — A clean, quiet beach covered in coral stones; more stones show at low tide.
  • Saint Martin's Island — The country's only coral island; blue water, coconut palms and Chhera Dwip. Visitor seasons and numbers are limited by government rules — check them before you go.
  • Ramu Buddhist Monasteries — Century-old Buddhist monasteries and a huge reclining Buddha (Bimukti Bidarshan Bhavana Centre).
  • Sonadia Island — A deserted island; mangroves, red crabs and migratory birds.

Location on the map