Sonadia Island travel guide

History and background

A deserted island of about 9 sq km south of Moheshkhali. It is environmentally important for its mangroves, red crabs, sea-turtle nesting beaches and rare migratory birds, including the spoon-billed sandpiper.

How to get to Sonadia Island

By boat/trawler from Moheshkhali.

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

• There's almost no visitor accommodation — best as a day trip; some people camp

What to eat

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

Good to know

• Take food and water with you
• Fix the time of the trawler back in advance

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).
• Moheshkhali Island — A hilly island; the Adinath Temple on its hilltop, and betel-leaf and salt farming.

Location on the map