Established in 1980 across roughly 1,729 hectares of coastal hills, Himchhari protects moist evergreen forests that slope directly into the Bay of Bengal. A concrete staircase leads up to a lookout pavilion atop the cliff, presenting views of breakers rolling onto the beach below. At the foot of the hill, a natural stream forms a seasonal waterfall that flows strongest right after the monsoon rains.
- Best time
- October to February
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Entry roughly ৳30 for Bangladeshis; round trip auto-rickshaw from Kolatoli about ৳300–400
How to get to Himchhari National Park
About 12 km south of Kolatoli circle on the Marine Drive. Local battery auto-rickshaws (Tomtom) reach the park entrance in roughly 25–30 minutes.
Cox's Bazar town is about 395 km from Dhaka, around 8 hours by road. Every way to get there is in the Cox's Bazar guide.
The waterfall dries to a thin trickle between January and April; the lookout trail involves several hundred stairs.
More to see in Cox's Bazar
Photo: Tanvir Rahat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Inani Beach ইনানী সমুদ্র সৈকত
A 18-kilometre coral stone beach along the Marine Drive, where black volcanic and coral rocks emerge during low tide.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free entry; open auto-rickshaw round trip from Kolatoli about ৳600–800
Photo: Niaz morshed Shovon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Saint Martin's Island সেন্ট মার্টিন দ্বীপ
Bangladesh's sole coral island, surrounded by turquoise waters, coconut palms and coral reefs in the north-eastern Bay of Bengal.
- Best time
- November to January
- Give it
- A full day
- Cost
- Ship round trip roughly ৳1,500–2,500 depending on class; travel pass fee included with online ticket
Photo: Tanweer Morshed, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Adinath Temple আদিনাথ মন্দির
An ancient hilltop Shiva temple situated on Mainak Hill on Maheshkhali Island, overlooking the mangrove coastline.
- Best time
- November to March
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Speedboat crossing about ৳100–120 each way; local auto-rickshaw to hill about ৳50; entry free
Photo: Zislam1968, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Sonadia Island সোনাদিয়া দ্বীপ
A barrier island off Maheshkhali with wide sandy beaches, mangrove creeks, thousands of red crabs, and winter migratory shorebirds.
- Best time
- November to February
- Give it
- Half a day
- Cost
- Speedboat and local boat hires roughly ৳500–800 round trip per person in a shared group