Getting to Saint Martin's Island: a practical guide

Saint Martin's Island is small, flat and ringed with clear blue water, coconut palms and rocky coral shores. It is Bangladesh's only coral island, and that is exactly why getting there now takes more planning than it once did. The island is fragile, the season is short and the rules are set each year. If you know how it works before you go, the trip is simple and very rewarding.

When you can go

Saint Martin's is a dry-season destination. Ships run only in the calmer months, roughly from late autumn to early spring, because the sea in the Bay of Bengal becomes too rough during the monsoon. Outside the season, there is no regular tourist route to the island.

Within the season, the government has in recent years limited how many visitors can travel each day, and in some months allowed day trips only, with no overnight stays. These rules, the dates and the way you register are decided afresh each year and can change at short notice. Softway Travels checks the current rules for you when you book.

Don't book a hotel on the island until you know your ship and travel date are confirmed under that season's rules.

Ships from the Cox's Bazar side

Tourist ships leave from the Cox's Bazar side, and the departure point has varied between seasons, so confirm where yours sails from. The crossing takes several hours and goes past the coast and out into open water, often with seabirds following the ship. A few tips make it easier:

• Reach the jetty early, with your ID and ticket ready. Boarding is slow when the ships are full.
• Take seasickness tablets beforehand if you're prone to it, and sit near the middle of the ship.
• Carry water, a light snack, sunscreen and a hat for the open deck.
• Avoid small fishing boats as a shortcut. They are not a safe or permitted way for tourists to cross.

What to do on the island

There is no grand list of sights, and that is the charm. Walk or cycle the shoreline, watch the colours of the water change through the day, and eat fresh fish grilled by the beach in the evening. At the southern tip lies Chhera Dwip, a smaller piece of land that you can reach on foot at low tide or by local boat, depending on conditions. Go with someone who knows the tides, and don't get caught out when the water comes back in.

Most of the island's accommodation is simple. Electricity may come partly from generators or solar, and mobile signal can be patchy, so carry a power bank and some cash.

Protecting the coral island

The coral, the sea grasses and the beaches where sea turtles come ashore to nest are what make Saint Martin's special, and they are easily damaged. The visitor limits exist for that reason. Please:

1. Bring no single-use plastic if you can avoid it, and take every wrapper and bottle back to the mainland.
2. Never stand on, break or collect coral, shells or rocks.
3. Keep away from turtles and nesting areas, and don't use bright torches or lights on the beach at night.
4. Keep music off. The island's quiet is part of what people come for, and loud noise disturbs wildlife.
5. Respect island families, dress modestly in the village, and ask before photographing anyone.

Pairing it with Cox's Bazar

Since you travel through Cox's Bazar anyway, it makes sense to spend a couple of nights there either side of the island. Drive Marine Drive towards Inani and Himchari, enjoy the long beach at sunset, and use Cox's Bazar as your buffer in case weather or rules shift your ship date. A day or two of flexibility can save the whole trip.

Softway Travels can put the whole journey together, from your Cox's Bazar hotel to the ship and your island stay, within that season's rules. See our Cox's Bazar and Saint Martin's package, or the Saint Martin's package if you're already in Cox's Bazar.