Unseen Bangladesh
Cox's Bazar District · Chattogram Division · মেরিন ড্রাইভ
Marine Drive travel guide
A road of about 80 km from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf, with hills on one side and the sea on the other.
At a glance
- Length
- About 80 km (Cox's Bazar–Teknaf)
- Built
- Bangladesh Army; begun in 1993, completed in 2017
- Features
- Hills on one side, the sea on the other
- Transport
- Chander gari, open jeep, CNG, motorbike
History and details
The Bangladesh Army Corps of Engineers began building this road along the sea from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf in the 1990s. After it was damaged several times by cyclones and coastal erosion, the whole road was finally completed and opened in 2017.
It is known as one of the world's longest seaside roads. Along the way are Himchari, Inani, Patuartek's rocky beach, Shamlapur, the Shaplapur fishing village and, at the end, Sabrang and Shahporir Dwip in Teknaf.
Riding in an open jeep or chander gari past shady casuarinas, hill streams and the blue sea — the Marine Drive is itself one of Cox's Bazar's big attractions.
Things to do
- Set off in the morning in an open jeep and ride to Teknaf
- Stop at Patuartek's rocky beach
- Drink fresh coconuts and eat jhalmuri along the way
- Watch the sunset at Inani on the way back
How to get to Marine Drive
Hire a chander gari (jeep), CNG or open jeep from Kolatoli.
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
- Plan to see Himchari, Inani and Patuartek together
- On your own bike, wear a helmet and keep to the speed limit
More to see nearby
- Himchari
- Inani Beach
- Patuartek Beach
- Teknaf and Shahporir Dwip (80 km)
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.
- 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).
- Moheshkhali Island — A hilly island; the Adinath Temple on its hilltop, and betel-leaf and salt farming.
- Sonadia Island — A deserted island; mangroves, red crabs and migratory birds.