An 18-kilometre-long sea beach, a national park with hills and a small waterfall, and an island designated as a sanctuary for migratory birds make Cox's Bazar a varied destination for nature and beach lovers. Each place has a different focus: Inani Beach is known for its coastal features and sunrise, Himchari for its hilly landscape and views, and Sonadia Island for migratory birds and fish drying. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether beaches, landscapes or wildlife should be the main focus of your stay.

Inani Beach: Coastline, Coral Stones and Sunrise

Inani Beach is an 18-kilometre-long sea beach in Ukhia Upazila, in Cox's Bazar District. Black and green coral stones can be found there in summer or during the rainy season. There are also many very sharp-edged coral stones. Along with its length, these features give the beach a distinctive and changing connection to nature. The water at Inani Beach is considered suitable for bathing and swimming, and the sunrise can be watched from the beach. This brings together different interests: seasonal stones, bathing and swimming, or watching the day begin over the sea.

Pathorkhani is located in Jaliapalong at Inani Beach. Visitors gather there to sit on the rock and take photos. As a distinct, named rock, Pathorkhani stands apart from the long stretch of beach and offers a different perspective on a visit to Inani Beach. If you are interested in photography or striking rock formations, you can include this spot when choosing which beach features to explore.

Himchari: Hills, Sea Views and a Waterfall

Himchari National Park lies mostly on hills and borders the Bay of Bengal to the west. Steps lead up a hill, where you can look out over green hills and blue water. There is also a small waterfall in the park. Its hilly setting, views and waterfall offer a different landscape focus from the long beach at Inani Beach. If you would like to focus on different natural features when planning your trip, these places offer two distinct options: coastline and coral stones on one hand, hills and views on the other.

Protected Areas and Wildlife

The Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary lists 55 mammal species, 286 bird species, 56 reptile species, 13 amphibian species and 290 plant species. The figures may be based on an earlier survey. They cover several animal groups as well as plants, giving a broad overview of the sanctuary's biodiversity. This is a different way to experience nature than focusing on particular animal groups or specific landscape features.

Sonadia Island covers nine square kilometres and is a sanctuary for migratory birds. The groups mentioned there include shearwaters, snipes, sandpipers, lapwings, geese and ducks. Green sea turtles and red crabs can also be observed on the island. Interested tourists can also learn about the fish-drying process there. This means nature watching and a specific activity go hand in hand on Sonadia Island. The island is an option for travellers interested in both migratory birds and other marine animals, as well as fish drying.

Activities and Finding Accommodation

Cox's Bazar Beach offers opportunities for surfing, jogging and other beach activities. Inani Beach is associated with bathing and swimming, sunrise and its seasonal coral stones. Together, these details reflect different beach-related interests: being active on Cox's Bazar Beach and exploring the natural features of Inani Beach. Himchari adds hills, views and a small waterfall to the options; Sonadia Island adds migratory birds and fish drying.

When looking for a holiday rental in Cox's Bazar, you can start with your personal priorities. Consider whether beaches and swimming, hills and views, or wildlife and fish drying matter most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Dakhinpara, Chittagong.

Go to the main travel overview: Chittagong.