The longest natural sea beach in the world is an hour’s flight from Dhaka. Here is how we plan a three-day weekend there for families and friends, without spending the trip in traffic.
When to go
November to March is dry, cool and calm, the best time for the beach. April and May get hot. From June to September the monsoon brings rough sea and red-flag days, but also empty hotels and green hills on the Marine Drive.
Book early for long weekends. Hotels near Kolatoli and Sugandha fill up weeks before public holidays. Thursday-to-Saturday stays cost more than Sunday-to-Tuesday.
Getting there
Flights from Dhaka take about an hour, and several airlines fly the route every day. Overnight buses take 10 to 12 hours. If you have only three days, fly: you gain a whole beach day.
Day 1: the town beaches
Check in, rest, then walk down to Laboni or Sugandha beach for the sunset. Dinner is fresh fish picked from the ice at one of the beach-side restaurants: agree the price per kilo before they cook it.
Day 2: Marine Drive, Himchari and Inani
Hire a CNG or a car for the day and take the Marine Drive south, with the sea on one side and hills on the other. Stop at Himchari for the view, then carry on to Inani, where the coral-stone beach is quieter and the water is clearer.
Swim only where the lifeguards’ flags say it is safe, and never after dark. Rip currents are strong, even on calm-looking days.
Day 3: Ramu and the flight home
If your flight is in the afternoon, spend the morning at the old Buddhist temples of Ramu, a short drive from town. Buy dried fish and Burmese sandals at the market on the way back, and leave an hour for airport traffic.
What it costs
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight from Dhaka | from ৳9,800 per person |
| Hotel near the beach | ৳3,500 to ৳12,000 a night |
| Car for the Marine Drive | about ৳3,000 for the day |
| Meals | ৳1,200 to ৳2,500 a day each |
Indicative prices, October 2026. Your expert confirms real prices for your dates.
