Saint Martin's is just off the tip of the Teknaf peninsula, but tourist ships no longer sail from Teknaf. Here's the distance, what changed and the route that works now.
For years Teknaf was the usual way to Saint Martin's Island, and many people still search for a Teknaf ship ticket. Here's how far it is, what changed, and how to get to the island now.
How far is it from Teknaf?
Saint Martin's Island is about 9 km south of the tip of the Teknaf peninsula, the nearest point of the mainland. The island is part of Teknaf upazila, and for many years the ships left from there.
Since the 2025–26 season, tourist ships sail only from Nuniarchhara jetty in Cox's Bazar. Ships from Teknaf don't carry tourists. If someone offers you a tourist seat from Teknaf, ask how that's allowed before you pay, and check the ticket has the government QR code.
What changed in 2025–26
The government has declared Saint Martin's an Ecologically Critical Area and sets the tourist season each year. Under the 2025–26 rules the season ran from 1 November to 31 January, every ticket came with a QR-code travel pass, no more than 2,000 people could visit a day, and tourist ships sailed only from Cox's Bazar. The 2026–27 rules weren't out when we wrote this (October 2026). If Teknaf reopens for tourists, we'll update this article.
The Teknaf ship ticket price
With no tourist ships from Teknaf last season, there was no tourist fare from Teknaf either. From Cox's Bazar, last season's return fares started from ৳3,500 per person for deck and economy seats. Every ship and seat is in our article on Saint Martin ship tickets.
The route that works now
- Get to Cox's Bazar by bus, train or flight, ideally the evening before.
- Take the tourist ship from Nuniarchhara jetty at about 7 am, with your ticket and travel pass.
- Cross in about 5 to 6 hours to the jetty at the north end of the island.
- Go south by local van, rickshaw or bike towards Chera Dip and the quiet end of the island.
Our article on how far Saint Martin is from Cox's Bazar covers the crossing, and how to go to Saint Martin has the whole route from Dhaka and Chattogram.
Where to stay when you arrive
El Marena Eco Resort is near Chera Dip beach, at the quiet southern end of the island, away from the busy jetty. Check-in is from 1:00 pm and check-out by 12:00 pm (noon). Send us your dates on WhatsApp; we'll confirm your cottage or tent and can book your ship seats in the same chat.
