A Cox's Bazar honeymoon: quiet stays, sunsets and day trips

Cox's Bazar is where many Bangladeshi couples begin married life, and for good reason. The beach is long, the sea is warm for much of the year and it's an easy journey from Dhaka. The secret to a honeymoon that feels special rather than crowded is choosing where you stay, when you go out and how much you try to fit in. Less, it turns out, is usually more.

Choose a quieter hotel

The busiest stretch of beach is around the main points near town, such as Laboni and Sugandha, where crowds, vendors and traffic peak in the evenings and on holidays. It's fun for an hour, less so for a whole stay.

For a calmer stay, look at:

• Hotels further south, beyond Kolatoli and towards Marine Drive, where the beach thins out.
• Resorts around Inani, a good distance from town, with a quieter beach and more privacy.
• Rooms with a sea-facing balcony, which become your own private sunset spot.

Our Cox's Bazar honeymoon package is a good starting point, and we can suggest quieter hotels that suit your dates and style.

Sunsets, and when to be on the beach

Cox's Bazar faces west over the Bay of Bengal, so sunsets are the main event. Walk down an hour before, find a quiet patch away from the main points and watch the light drop into the sea.

Early morning is the other quiet window. The beach is almost empty, the air is cool and you'll share the sand with fishermen and a few joggers.

Go out early, come back late and rest in the middle of the day. You'll miss the crowds and the strongest sun.

Marine Drive to Himchari and Inani

Marine Drive runs south along the coast, with the sea on one side and green hills on the other. It's one of the most beautiful roads in the country, and it's best enjoyed slowly, by hired car or open-sided jeep.

1. Himchari: hills meeting the sea, with a viewpoint you climb by steps and a small waterfall that flows best after the rains.
2. Inani: a beach scattered with rocks and coral stones, most visible at low tide. Quieter than town and lovely in the late afternoon.
3. Further along: stop wherever you like for tea, a fresh coconut or simply an empty stretch of sand.

Pick a clear day and leave after a slow breakfast, so you reach Inani before the light turns golden.

Keep the evening after this drive free. You'll be pleasantly tired, and a quiet dinner back at the hotel is the perfect way to end the day.

A day on Moheshkhali

Moheshkhali is an island just across the channel from Cox's Bazar, reached by a short boat ride. It feels a world away from the hotels: salt fields, betel leaf gardens and fishing villages. The Adinath Temple sits on a hilltop with views over the island, and there are Buddhist temples to visit too.

Go with a local guide, dress modestly, wear life jackets on the boat and ask before photographing people or places of worship.

Small things that make it feel special

• Avoid Eid, the winter holidays and long weekends if you can. The beach and hotels are far calmer midweek.
• The dry months, roughly November to March, are the most comfortable. The monsoon is dramatic and quieter, but swimming is often unsafe.
• Swim only where lifeguards and flags show it's safe, as the currents can be strong.
• Plan one unhurried dinner of fresh seafood, and one evening with no plans at all.
• Take your rubbish with you and skip the plastic. The beach belongs to everyone.

If you'd like a few more days by the sea, you can add Saint Martin's Island in the dry season. Our Cox's Bazar and Saint Martin's trip covers both, subject to the visitor rules that apply each year, which we check when you book.

Softway Travels can plan the whole honeymoon, from hotels and transfers to flights from Dhaka, so all you have to do is enjoy it together.