Cox's Bazar, Chattogram
About 80 km of road between the hills and the sea, best by CNG or car.
The Marine Drive is the coastal road from Kolatoli in Cox’s Bazar south to Teknaf, about 80 km long. For most of the way it runs between the beach on one side and forested hills on the other, so the drive itself is the attraction.
Built by the Bangladesh Army’s engineers to protect the coast and open up the villages along it, the road opened in full in 2017. Before it, much of this shore could only be reached by sand tracks or along the beach at low tide.
Along the way are Himchari’s hills and waterfall, the rocky beach at Inani, quiet fishing villages, betel-nut groves and long empty stretches of sand where you can stop and walk. At the southern end, Teknaf looks across the Naf river to Myanmar.
Leave in the morning with a CNG or jeep hired for the day.
Climb the steps to the hilltop view and see the waterfall.
Walk among the rocks at low tide and have lunch nearby.
Stop wherever the shore looks quiet, or carry on to Teknaf if you started early.
Time the return so you are on the road by the sea as the sun goes down.
November to March for clear skies; late afternoon for the light and the sunset over the sea
Starts at Kolatoli. Hire a CNG, jeep or easy-bike for a half or full day to stop along the way.
