The hook
Often called the world's longest natural sea beach, an unbroken sweep of sand running well over a hundred kilometres down the Bay of Bengal, and the seaside heart of Bangladeshi holiday life.
01Why it's worth it
Cox's Bazar is where Bangladesh goes to the sea. Its claim to fame is the beach itself, a continuous strip of brown sand frequently described as the longest natural sea beach in the world, stretching more than a hundred kilometres along the Bay of Bengal. It is not a manicured tropical resort in the Southeast Asian mould; it is a busy, sometimes chaotic domestic-tourism town, packed with local holidaymakers, food stalls, and hotels, and the appeal is as much the vibrant, unfiltered scene of a nation at the beach as the sand and surf. Quieter, prettier stretches and fishing villages lie to the south toward Inani and Teknaf, and boats run to the coral island of St Martin's. The region is also close to the enormous Rohingya refugee camps, a sobering reality of the wider area. It is a curiosity and a slice of local life more than a world-class beach destination.
02How to experience it
Come for the sheer scale of the beach and the lively local holiday atmosphere rather than resort polish, and head south toward Inani for quieter, cleaner sand. Weekdays and the cooler dry months are calmer. A boat to St Martin's Island adds coral and clearer water if you have time.