Cox's Bazar Beach

Cox's Bazar Beach is a continuous sandy stretch along Bangladesh's southeastern coast in Cox's Bazar District, running roughly 120 km in length. The golden-brown sand extends without breaks from Cox's Bazar town southward to Teknaf, forming the longest natural beachfront in the country.

The area was named in 1773 after Captain Hiram Cox, a British East India Company officer who established a refuge settlement for Arakanese people fleeing conflict. What began as a small fishing community grew gradually throughout the 20th century into a coastal town with a developing tourism industry.

Families gather here during holidays and weekends, walking along the shore while vendors sell coconut water and local snacks from makeshift stalls. Fishermen set out before dawn and return with their catch, which is sold fresh at the nearby markets throughout the day.

Several hotel zones sit directly behind the beachfront, with lodging options for different budgets lining the main road through town. Lifeguards and beach police monitor designated swimming areas, and conditions are safer during the dry season from November to March than during monsoon months.

Tidal shifts create changing zones along the waterline each day, where visitors can spot different shell species and small marine creatures when the water recedes. Temporary sandbars emerge in certain sections after the tide pulls back, attracting gulls and other coastal birds that gather to feed.