Covering roughly nine square kilometres off the north-western coast of Cox's Bazar, Sonadia is a low barrier island divided into sandy dunes on the west and mangrove canals on the east. The beaches are home to colonies of bright red ghost crabs and serve as crucial breeding grounds for olive ridley sea turtles. Winter brings migratory waterfowl, curlews and sandpipers to the tidal flats, making it one of the quietest coastal habitats in Bangladesh.
- 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
How to get to Sonadia Island
Take a speedboat from Cox's Bazar to Maheshkhali (20 minutes), then hire a four-wheel auto-rickshaw to Ghotibhanga ghat, followed by an engine boat crossing to Sonadia.
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.
There are no commercial hotels or restaurants on the island; carry sufficient water and food, and plan to return before late afternoon.
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: Rocky Masum This work was made by Masum-al-Hasan Rocky and released under the, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Himchhari National Park হিমছড়ি জাতীয় উদ্যান
A protected coastal reserve on the Marine Drive featuring a seasonal hill waterfall and a hilltop gazebo overlooking the sea.
- 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
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