Saint Martin's Island (Bengali: সেন্টমার্টিন দ্বীপ ) is a small island (area of 3 square kilometres) in the northeastern Bay of Bengal and also the southernmost point of Bangladesh. From Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, this island is roughly 9 km away. In the native tongue, Saint Martin is also known as coconut Jinjira (Bengali: নারিকেল জিঞ্জিরা ). On the sea voyage from Teknaf to Saint Martin island, flying and playing in the foamy sea of white Gangchils will first offer you a taste of the impending limitless joys. Despite having seven distinct neighbourhoods, they are all interwoven into one seamless pearl necklace. The best sunset of your life may be seen from Saint Martin island's west coast in the afternoon while enjoying a cup of tea. West Beach is the only place to dive into Saint Martin. The morning can be spent at East Beach. Chera Dwip is the name of a small neighbouring island that is cut off by the high tide. It is located at the mouth of the Naf River, about 8 kilometres (5 miles) west of Myanmar's northwest coast. St. Martin's distinctive features, including its deep blue sea, endless sky, and rows of coconut trees, have attracted travellers and made it one of Bangladesh's top tourist sites.
Best Time to Visit Saint Martin's Island
The main attraction of a place to visit quite depends on the best time to visit that place. In order to explore Saint Martin, you need to plan your visit from November to February. The reason behind being the perfect time to visit is the weather and ambience it provides. Saint Martin still lacks continuous electricity support, and hotels or resorts rely primarily on generators and solar power. As a result, during hot summer days, roaming and enjoying Saint Martin's beauty becomes unbearable. Moreover, the rainy season endures saint martin with the true nature of the ferocious sea, and tourists are not well prepared for that. Hence, it all comes down to this time when the sea remains calm; the weather remains gentle and relaxed for the incoming tourists to play along with the majestic beauty of Saint Martin. That's why many tourists arrive at saint martin during this particular time of the year.
Best Way to Visit Saint Martin's Island
To reach Saint Martin, the best mode of transportation is to travel by ship. However, you can choose a ship journey from three different locations: Teknaf, Cox's Bazar and Chittagong (Chattogram) as well. The most convenient ship journey starts from Teknaf, where you will find 5 to 6 ship choices. Each of the ships has different amenities and pricing which different types of tourists. With the increasing tourist demand, ship services are available from Cox's Bazar and Chittagong. Below, we have listed the top cruises that you can choose to make your Saint Martin journey memorable and enjoyable at the same time.
Keari Sindbad Ship
The first choice to travel to Saint Martin from Teknaf is the Keari Sindabad Ship. Honestly, it is the best ship to make your journey from Teknaf to Saint Martin. The ship is big enough to cruise effortlessly in the sea.
Keari Cruise & Dine
Keari Cruise and Dine is an exclusive version of Keari Sindabad with an open dining option within the ship. This allows travellers to enjoy food and the magnificent view of the bay of Bengal to reach Saint Martin.
MV Green line-1
A luxury and fastest way to travel to Saint Martin is the MV Green Line-1. This water bus is comparatively smaller than any other ship. But don't go with the size, as this ship boasts luxury and speed on its way to Saint Martin. This two-storey ship has two types of air-conditioned seating arrangements: economy class on the ground floor and business class on the upper floor.
MV Bay Cruise – 1
Another addition to the cruise list of the Teknaf-Saint Martin route is the MV Bay Cruise-1. This whole ship is air-conditioned, and the seats are more comfortable than any other ship in Teknaf. As a result, tickets are relatively high, and tourists who prefer AC ships can choose this.
Karnafuly Express
Are you planning to visit Saint Martin from Cox's Bazar yet confused about how to visit? Then you can easily choose the Karnafully Express for your journey. Thai sea-going vessel is the latest addition to Siant Martin tourism which carries passengers directly from Cox's Bazar to St. Martin.
MV Bay 1 Cruise Ship
The MV Bay 1 Cruise ship is the first Bangladeshi ship that boasts luxury, comfort and much more within a giant ship. Here, you can enjoy every bit of luxury on your way back to Saint Martina and coming back. The ship starts the journey from Neval Ship Point, cruising through the mighty Bay of Bengal and all the way to Saint Martin's Island. Travellers from Chittagong find it a very convenient way to travel to Saint Martin.
Apart from the ships, many engine boats are popularly known as trawlers. Many tourists prefer to take a journey on these to visit Saint Martin. Besides, you can also choose a speed boat, the fastest and most adventurous way to arrive in Saint Martin. In order to travel in this way, you have to be a real adventurous seeker.
In Jeti Ghat of Teknaf, Cox's Bazar and Chittagong, you will find each ship's ticketing system. So you can confirm your ticket on the spot. However, many tourists pay a visit to Saint Martin during the peak season, so tickets are often sold out. So, it is always better to confirm your advance ticket during the long weekends and weekly holidays. In this case, you can take support from ShareTrip. At ShareTrip, you can scroll through different available ships and confirm your ticket instantly. This provides you with peace of mind and removes all the hassle of moving from counter to counter and confirming your tickets.
Where to Stay in Saint Martin?
Despite Saint Martin's small size (it is about 3 square kilometres), there are plenty of options to live there. The abundance of hotels and resorts in this area amazes a lot of visitors. Some hotels even let guests have exclusive beach access from their suites, which many visitors find to be quite fascinating. The Shayari Eco Resort, Beach Valley Eco Resort, Kingshuk Exo Resort, Dwipantor Beach Resort - St. Martin, Josnaloy Beach Resort, Sand Castle Beach Resort, Coral View Resort, Blue Marine Resort, etc., are just a few of the many hotels and resorts that stand out among the many others. A few hotels are on the west shore, while some are close to the Jethi Ghat. However, the resort you choose throughout your time at Saint Martin depends entirely on your amenities and advantages.
What to Explore in Magnificent Saint Martin's?
Now that you have reached safe and sound Siant Martin Island, it is time to explore every corner of it. Each side has been blessed with incredible views and sights. For your easy exploration, we have listed them below:
Explore the Beach
Whether you are residing on the east beach or the west beach of Saint Martin, every side of the beach is easily accessible and takes a few minutes of walk. The best way to explore the whole island is to take a walk with your dear one. At times, the sun directly hits the island from above, so bring some sunscreen, water and especially a pair of sandals because you might not be able to resist wading through the water. It will take you around 1.5-2 hours to walk the length of the island. It will be an exciting stroll and a great way to lose fat.
Enjoy the evening on the rock beach
The rocks hidden inside the waves and ocean rise as the sea water goes down. You can enjoy a relaxed and natural seating place with views of the sea.
Visit Chera Dwip
Chhera island, often called Chhera Dwip, is the last mainland of Bangladesh and adjacent to Saint Martin. Your saint martin trip will be incomplete if you don't pay a visit and enjoy your daytime and sunset time at Chhera Dwip. To explore Cherra Dwip, the best travel method is by trawler with your friends and family. With this, you will experience riding the trawler and experiencing the sea's magnificence. The incoming waves and blissful blue combination of saint martin island make a truly mesmerizing experience for any traveller. However, you can even ride to Chhera dwip on your rented cycle. It takes approximately one and a half hours to reach Cherra dwip from Saint Martin Jethi Ghat.
Relax in the hammock
A hammock is a perfect companion for a relaxed seating experience while letting you explore the beach. You can easily spend hours residing on the hammock and enjoy the beautiful sunset in the west. Moreover, you can listen to the roars of the incoming waves and bless your ears.
Cycle ride
If you think walking can be time-consuming and tiring, hop into one of the rental cycles available on the island. With an hourly or daily basis contract, you can rent paddle cycles and explore the whole island yourself. Couples who love to ride and enjoy it find it quite fascinating.
Take part in Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is getting more popular day by day in Saint Martin Island. Don't miss the chance of seeing what's inside the sea through Scuba diving with professionals.
Evening Market
As the sun became less intense, temporary shops opened their window. They were selling biscuits, chips, hats (for protection from the sun), and some toys for the kids.
Take a halt in the wonderland of Coconut Trees
The most common yet delightful scenery of Saint Martin Island is the numerous coconut trees. The view these provide is sure to catch anyone's eye. Moreover, you can halt and position your camera to deliver the best picture of your Saint Martin trip.
Foods at Saint Martin
The roar of the water may be heard as the sun sets and night falls. Eating fish is the most acceptable option at such a time. Usually, you won't have to travel too far from your hotel. These are a few locally established restaurants that provide fresh fish. For some tourists, the environment or the facilities may not seem comfortable or relaxed. But don't fall for the looks, as the food will blow your mind. On the other hand, there are chairs and tables on the beach where you may eat mouthwateringly fried fish while listening to the sounds of the ocean and sinking your toes into the sand.
For fish lovers, this island is nothing short of bliss. Fish of all varieties, including Coral, Kalachanda, Sundari Poya, Rupchanda, Lobster, etc., are waiting here with various flavours. Nearly all hotels and resorts offer travellers the choice to grill their preferred fish. Additionally, you can sample the regional chicken curry known as "Kura" if you get the chance. It would be best not to miss eating the green coconut, known locally as "dab," when you visit Saint Martin's island.
What's next? The dried fish on this island is also available in various forms, including Laita, Churi, Rupchanda, Kachki, and others. On Saint Martin's island, the dry fish market attracts many interested visitors who come to see and participate in fish drying. You can buy some of your preferred dry fish to consume later and eat some there too.
Precautions
True, everyone travels to Saint Martin's Island to have a good time. However, be cautious so that your enjoyment does not injure anyone else. Additionally, adopting caution enables you to avoid any potential vacation mishaps.
* When visiting Saint Martin's Island, don't forget to bring your national ID card because law enforcement officers may be conducting checks there to prevent Rohingya infiltration.
* When stepping on coral, be careful and watch your steps. Otherwise, you risk hurting your legs.
* Even at low tide, avoiding diving deep into the sea is best.
* Learn as much as possible about the local weather before travelling because you must travel by sea.
* When you're travelling on a boat, wear a life jacket.
* Avoid harming the island's ecosystem, particularly by dumping plastic or other trash on the beach or in the water.
Plan your Saint Martin Trip with ShareTrip
So this was our Saint Martin Travel guide which will help plan your Saint Martin trip and make it a memorable experience with your friends and family. ShareTrip offers customised Saint Martin tour packages from Bangladesh as well and you can get your customised trips.
Visit our website, www.sharetrip.net or ShareTrip App and get your vacation prepared in a few steps. Just mail at vacation@sharetrip.net or call +8809617617617 to get in touch with us.
