One hundred and twenty kilometers of unbroken natural sea beach — the longest in the world. That single fact pulled me to Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, and standing on that sand at sunrise, I understood why it matters. This is not a resort strip; it is a working coastline where fishing boats, beach markets, and crowds of local tourists share the shore. Here is my complete travel guide.
Getting there: the journey is part of it
Most international visitors reach Cox's Bazar via Dhaka. From Dhaka, you have three real options: a short domestic flight (fastest, under ninety minutes), an overnight bus (cheapest, and the sleeper coaches are decent), or the train-plus-road combination. I have done the overland route — it is long but you see the country change around you. If your time is short, fly; if your budget is tight, take the night bus and wake up at the beach. From Chittagong it is a much shorter hop by road. Book domestic transport a day or two ahead in peak season.
The beach: what 120km actually feels like
The main stretch near town — Laboni, Sugandha, and Kolatoli points — is where most visitors swim and where the beach is liveliest at sunset. Walk fifteen minutes in either direction and the crowds thin dramatically; walk an hour and you can have vast stretches nearly to yourself. The surf is real here — this is the Bay of Bengal, not a calm lagoon — so swim where others swim and respect the red flags. Sunrise over the water is spectacular, and the evening beach markets selling everything from fried snacks to pearls are a whole experience on their own.
Where to stay
Cox's Bazar has the widest hotel range in Bangladesh, from budget guesthouses to proper beachfront resorts. The Kolatoli and Sugandha areas put you closest to the main beach action; Laboni is slightly calmer. Prices swing hard with season — during Eid holidays and winter weekends, rates spike and rooms sell out, so book ahead. In the low season you can negotiate walk-in rates. My advice: pay for sea-facing if you can. Waking up to that horizon is worth the premium, and breakfast with a beach view resets your whole day.
Food: the seafood capital
This is Bangladesh's seafood town, and the beach shacks grilling the day's catch are the headline act. Rupchanda (pomfret), loitta (Bombay duck), prawns the size of your hand — grilled, fried, or cooked in local spices. Prices are very reasonable by any standard; a full seafood dinner costs less than a mediocre meal in Dhaka. Beyond seafood, the local restaurants serve excellent Bangladeshi staples — bhortas, dals, fresh rice. Everything is halal by default here, which makes eating out as a Pakistani traveler completely effortless.
Day trips: Himchari, Inani, and the islands
Do not spend your whole trip on the main beach. Himchari, a short drive south, pairs a waterfall with a quieter beach and a national park viewpoint. Inani Beach further south is famous for its coral stones and calmer, more photogenic shoreline — go at low tide. Moheshkhali Island, reached by boat, has mangroves, salt fields, and the old Adinath Temple on its hill. Each of these is an easy half-day trip by local transport or rented vehicle; combine Himchari and Inani in one day heading south along the marine drive, which is a beautiful road in itself.
Practical notes for Pakistani visitors
Bangladesh is welcoming to Pakistani tourists — expect curiosity and warmth, especially outside Dhaka. Carry cash in taka; ATMs exist in town but card acceptance is limited. The local SIM with data is cheap and worth getting for maps and ride-hailing. Dress norms are relaxed at the beach by Bangladeshi standards but still modest compared to Southeast Asia — swimwear is fine in the water, cover up on the street. Learn ten words of Bangla; the smiles it earns are disproportionate. And check the monsoon calendar — June to September brings heavy rain and rough seas.
Cox's Bazar is not polished, and that is exactly its charm. Come for the record-breaking beach; stay for the fishing boats at dawn and the grilled rupchanda at night.
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