Chattogram Division
Rent a car with a driver in Cox's Bazar
The long beach, the Marine Drive south towards Teknaf, and the practical business of getting a family and their luggage from an airport or a nine-hour drive to a hotel that is somewhere along twenty kilometres of coastline.
- Division
- Chattogram Division
- Areas covered
- 11
- Nearest airport
- Cox's Bazar Airport
- Popular trips
- 5
Cox's Bazar is Bangladesh's principal beach destination and its busiest domestic holiday market. The town runs along the shore, with hotels spread across Kolatoli, Laboni and Sugandha points, and the newer development stretching south along the Marine Drive.
Transport here is mostly two problems: arriving, and then getting up and down a long, thin town. Local three-wheelers cover the second cheaply but not comfortably, and rarely with luggage or older relatives in tow.
Arriving in Cox's Bazar
There are three realistic ways in. Fly to Cox's Bazar airport, which is close to the town and easily the least tiring option. Fly to Chattogram and drive four to five hours down the coast. Or drive the whole way from Dhaka, which is a long day of roughly nine to twelve hours.
Whichever you choose, the transfer at the far end matters more than people expect, because hotels are spread along the coast rather than clustered in one centre. See Cox's Bazar airport transfers.
The Marine Drive
The coastal road running south from Cox's Bazar towards Teknaf is one of the most striking drives in the country — the sea on one side, hills on the other, for around eighty kilometres.
A car with a driver is genuinely the right way to do it: you can stop at Himchari and Inani when the light is good rather than when a schedule says so. Ask about a half-day or full-day booking rather than a point-to-point transfer.
Practicalities in season
Cox's Bazar is intensely seasonal. Winter weekends and the days around Eid are extremely busy, hotel prices climb steeply and roads into the town slow considerably.
If you are travelling then, book transport well ahead. A vehicle that is easy to arrange in June can be genuinely difficult to find at short notice in December.
Days out
Popular trips from Cox's Bazar
Distances and timings are honest rather than optimistic — and several of these are seasonal, which we will tell you about before you book.
- Inani Beach
- About 30 km south on the Marine Drive, under an hour. Coral-strewn shore and far quieter than the town beach.
- Himchari
- Roughly 12 km south — waterfall and viewpoint, an easy short run combined with Inani.
- Teknaf
- The southern tip, around 80 km down the Marine Drive. A full day, and a spectacular one.
- Ramu
- Around 16 km inland, known for its Buddhist monasteries and the large reclining Buddha.
- Maheshkhali
- Reached by boat from the jetty; the car booking covers the town legs at either end.
Arriving
Getting to Cox's Bazar from the airport
Flights monitored, meeting point agreed in writing, and a vehicle sized for the luggage you are actually carrying.
Answers
Cox's Bazar — your questions
How long does it take to drive from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar?
Typically nine to twelve hours for roughly 390 km, depending on traffic through Chattogram and Chakaria. Many travellers break it overnight or fly one leg — see the Dhaka to Cox's Bazar route.
Do I need a car once I am in Cox's Bazar?
For a beachfront hotel and nothing else, not really. For the Marine Drive, Inani, Himchari or Teknaf, a car with a driver is much the best way — and essential with children or older relatives.
Should I book transport in advance for the winter season?
Yes. Winter weekends and the Eid periods are extremely busy in Cox's Bazar and vehicles become genuinely hard to arrange at short notice.
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More for Cox's Bazar
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Ready when you are
Book a car and driver in Cox's Bazar
Send the dates, the passengers and the address — including the village, union and nearest bazaar if it is rural. You will get a written quote with the vehicle and what is included.
No deposit taken at enquiry. Every quote states the vehicle, the Sarothi and what is included.