Photo: Md. Saiful Aziz Shamseer (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
The ship arrives after sunrise and leaves before sunset, so a day trip misses both. Here are the times for the season, where to watch, and how to get the photo.
Some of the best hours on Saint Martin's Island are the first and the last of the day: soft light on the rocks in the morning, and the tide pools turning gold as the sun goes down. Both happen outside the day-trip hours. Here's when and where to watch, from the team at El Marena Eco Resort near Chera Dip.
To see either, you need to stay the night. Last season (2025–26) overnight stays were allowed in December and January, but not in November. When we wrote this (October 2026), the 2026–27 rules hadn't been published.
Sunrise and sunset times
- Around 22 November: sunrise about 6:04 am, sunset about 5:09 pm.
- Around 22 December: sunrise about 6:23 am, sunset about 5:15 pm.
- Around 22 January: sunrise about 6:30 am, sunset about 5:33 pm.
These are the times for Teknaf, the nearest mainland town, from gaisma.com; on the island they're within a minute or two. In winter the days are short, so plan to be in place 20 to 30 minutes early.
Why a day trip misses both
Last season the ship left Cox's Bazar at about 7 am, reached the island around midday and left again at about 3 to 3:30 pm. That's after sunrise and well before sunset. Stay one night and you get the sunset, the stars and the next sunrise. Our Saint Martin tour plan shows how it fits.
Where to watch the sunset
The west side of the island looks out over the open Bay of Bengal, so that's where the sun goes down over the water. In the south, near Chera Dip, it sets behind the rocks and lights up the tide pools. Pick a spot on firm sand or bare rock, and bring a torch for the walk back: it gets dark fast after the sun goes down.
Where to watch the sunrise
The sun comes up on the east side, over the water towards the mainland coast. Early morning is the quietest time on the island, with the beach almost empty. It's also the best time to start for Chera Dip at low tide, before the ships arrive. Our article on the island's beaches describes each side.
Tips for the photos
- Low tide uncovers the rocks and leaves pools that reflect the sky. Check the tide times the day before.
- Stay on firm sand and bare rock. Don't stand on coral to get the shot.
- Keep shooting after the sun has gone. The sky often has its best colours in the 10 to 20 minutes after sunset.
- Bring a cloth for salt spray on the lens, and keep your phone or camera in a bag on the walk.
Sunrise and sunset at El Marena
We're near Chera Dip beach in the south, so both are a short walk away. The duplex cottages have a balcony and a lookout tower on top, a good place for the sunset without leaving your cottage, and the stay comes with a complimentary breakfast for after the sunrise. See the duplex cottage.
A sunset-to-sunrise plan
- Day 1: the ship, the ride south and check-in from 1:00 pm. Be at the shore by about 4:45 pm in December.
- Evening: the sunset, dinner and the stars. Our quiet hours run from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.
- Day 2: up before 6 am for the sunrise, then Chera Dip at low tide if the tide suits. Check-out by 12:00 pm and the ship back at about 3 to 3:30 pm.
