Here's how to visit Saint Martin's Island this season
Let’s unravel all the necessary details of how tourists can visit Saint Martin in the tourist season (2025–26)
Saint Martin's Island is a marvellous blessing of nature on the Bay of Bengal. This heavenly island bestows a cherished retreat for both domestic and foreign visitors drawn to its calm, coral-fringed shores.
Despite recent travel restrictions and environmental limitations, tourists still find their way to the country's only coral island. The transport system, however, remains limited; only a few authorised ships operate on fixed schedules. Ticketing and travel pass regulations are now more stringent, with tied permits for visits and overnight stays.
Let's unravel all the necessary details of how tourists can visit Saint Martin in the tourist season (2025–26).
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When to visit Saint Martin
Considering the weather conditions and safety protocols, passenger ships to Saint Martin's Island are permitted to operate only upon approval from the concerned administration. For the ongoing open season, travel is allowed from 1 November 2025, to January 2026.
During November, visitors must complete their trips within the same day, as overnight stays are restricted. However, from December through January, night halts are authorised, enabling short-term accommodation under regulated supervision.
BIWTA Jetty, Cox's Bazar: The only departure point for Saint Martin
For security and administrative reasons, all authorised tourist vessels to the coral island will operate solely from Cox's Bazar. The Teknaf and Ukhia Inani routes remain legally prohibited.
Only authorised passenger ships are allowed to operate; small boats, trawlers, and speedboats remain strictly prohibited under current regulations. Ships will depart from the Nuniya Chhara BIWTA Ghat between 7am and 10am, their schedules aligned with the low tide. Return journeys from the island are set between 3pm and 6pm, also based on tidal conditions. Depending on weather and sea currents, the voyage typically takes five to five and a half hours each way.
Visitors may remain on the island without a fixed time limit during December and January, when night stays are allowed.
Ship ticket and travel pass
Like the previous year, a travel clearance remains a mandatory requirement for entry to the marine haven. The pass is automatically issued after the purchase of an official ship ticket, ensuring that only verified travellers are permitted to board. All tickets must be obtained exclusively through the Bangladesh Tourism Board's authorised online portal. Once a ticket is confirmed, the respective ship authority completes all formalities related to the travel token, linking it directly to the passenger's booking information.
Alternatively, travellers may access the official travelpass.gov.bd platform. The required documents, primarily a national identity card and basic travel details, must be submitted to generate the pass.
Each valid ticket is embedded with a unique QR code, serving as proof of authorisation. The QR code will be digitally verified during boarding, and tickets lacking such authentication will be treated as invalid. Passengers are instructed to carry a printed copy of the ticket throughout the journey for verification purposes.
Children aged five years and under are exempt from ticket requirements, whereas anyone above that age must hold an individual ticket. Depending on seating arrangements, ranging from deck and lounge spaces to private cabins, the round-trip fare varies between Tk3,500 and Tk20,000.
Understanding the new rules and regulations for visiting Saint Martin's Island in the current tourist season requires careful planning under renewed regulations. The island remains open from November to January.
Though travellers are not permitted to stay on the island during night hours in November, they may stay overnight from December to January.
All passenger ships will depart exclusively from the Nuniya Chhara BIWTA Jetty in Cox's Bazar, which is currently the only authorised route. The mandatory travel pass, issued with each ship ticket, continues as part of the official process. Despite these strict measures, the coral island's allure endures, reflecting its timeless appeal among travellers.
