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Cox's Bazar, Chattogram

Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

One of the longest natural beaches in the world. Laboni and Sugandha points are the busiest.

Local food to try

  • Rupchanda fry

    Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

    Whole pomfret fried until crisp, the dish most visitors come for.

  • Fried crab and prawns

    Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

    Sold fresh at the beach stalls in the evening; ask the price by weight first.

  • Shutki bhorta

    Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

    Mashed dried fish with chilli and onion, served with rice at local restaurants.

Where to eat

  • Seafood restaurants at Kolatoli and Sugandha Point

    Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

    Pick your fish from the display and have it fried or grilled.

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  • Beach stalls at Laboni Point

    Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

    Fried fish, crab and snacks by the sea after sunset.

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Where to stay

  • Kolatoli and Sugandha hotels

    Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

    Most of the town’s hotels, at every price, within walking distance of the beach. Book ahead for winter weekends.

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  • Laboni and the town centre

    Cox's Bazar Sea Beach

    Older, cheaper hotels close to the markets.

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Culture

The beach is a working coast as well as a playground. Early in the morning, fishing boats come in near the town and the catch is sorted on the sand, and drying racks of shutki line parts of the shore.

In the evening the points fill with families, vendors and photographers, and the Rakhine shops of the Burmese Market in town are a short ride away.

History

Cox’s Bazar’s beach is an unbroken stretch of sand that runs from the town south towards Teknaf for well over 100 km, with the Bay of Bengal on one side and green hills not far inland. It is the country’s best-known holiday coast, and the busiest part is right in front of the town, at Laboni, Sugandha and Kolatoli points.

The town takes its name from Captain Hiram Cox, an East India Company officer who was sent here in the late 1790s to resettle Arakanese refugees and died in 1799 before his work was done. The market that grew up in his memory became known as Cox’s Bazar; the older name of the area was Palongki.

Come for the long walks on firm sand at low tide, the sunset over the sea, fresh seafood in the evening and the fishing boats landing their catch at dawn. It is also the base for everything else in the district — the Marine Drive, Himchari, Inani, Maheshkhali and Saint Martin’s Island.

Tour plans

A day on the town beach

1 day

  1. Step 1: Dawn with the fishing boats

    Walk the beach at sunrise, when the boats come in and the sand is almost empty.

  2. Step 2: Morning swim at a guarded point

    Bathe at Sugandha or Laboni between the flags while the lifeguards are on duty.

  3. Step 3: Seafood lunch

    Rupchanda fry or prawns at one of the Kolatoli restaurants, then rest through the hottest hours.

  4. Step 4: Burmese Market

    Browse Rakhine cloth, pickles and crafts in town in the afternoon.

  5. Step 5: Sunset and evening on the sand

    Watch the sun go down over the bay, then eat fried crab at the beach stalls.

Plan your visit

Best time to visit

November to March, when the sea is calm and the sky clear; weekdays are much quieter than weekends and holidays

How to get there

The beach runs along the town. Walk, or take a rickshaw or easy-bike to Laboni, Sugandha or Kolatoli point.

Travel tips

  • Swim only at the guarded points, between the flags, and only when lifeguards are on duty. The beach has strong currents and rip tides.
  • A red flag means no swimming. In the monsoon (roughly June to September) the sea is rough and often closed to bathing.
  • Keep to waist-deep water, do not swim after dark, and watch children closely.
  • The sun is strong even in winter: bring a hat, sunscreen and water.
  • Agree the price before taking a beach chair, horse ride, photographer or bike ride.
  • Keep valuables in your hotel; leave nothing unattended on the sand.

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