Countries / Bangladesh / Road trips
Road tripChittagong to Cox's Bazar: quick stops on the way
Most people rush down this highway to the beach. On the way are an elephant forest, a safari park, a 100-foot golden Buddha and one of the oldest monasteries in Bangladesh.
- Route
- Chittagong (Chattogram) to Cox's Bazar on the N1 highway, about 148 km
- Time
- Map apps say about 2 hours. Allow 3 to 4 hours in normal traffic, more at holidays. Add time for each stop.
- Best way
- A private car with driver, so you can stop. If you don't need the stops, the train is a relaxed option (about 3½ to 4 hours).
- Continue
- From Cox's Bazar, carry on down Marine Drive.
Hours, fees and road conditions change. Confirm before you set off.
Quick stops on the way
Small places most people drive straight past. Each is tagged by how long it's worth: 15 min for a quick break, 1 hour for a short experience. Follow the line from Chittagong to Cox's Bazar. Grey dots are well-known landmarks, to help you keep your place.
Estimated times, based on approximate distances and average driving speeds, plus the time shown on each stop. Untick "Stop here" to drive past a stop. Traffic, holidays and checkpoints can add a lot.
Swipe sideways to follow the road on a small screen.
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Chittagong (Chattogram)
Start
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Karnaphuli River bridge
Leaving the city southbound
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Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary
Elephant corridor: drive slowly
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1 hour
Dulahazara Safari Park
Chakaria, beside the highway
A big safari park (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park) with animals in large open enclosures. Generally open 8am to 5pm.
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15 min
The reclining Buddha, Ramu
Ramu, just off the highway
A 100-foot golden reclining Buddha at a meditation centre in Ramu, a town known for its Buddhist temples.
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1 hour
Rangkut monastery and Ramu's old temples
Ramu, about 12 km before Cox's Bazar
Rangkut (Ramkot) Banashram, said to be among the oldest monasteries in Bangladesh, plus other temples around Ramu.
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Cox's Bazar
End, about 148 km from Chittagong
Most drivers know these places. Agree the stops and the extra time in the price before you set off.
Make the most of the drive
- Start early. The safari park and Ramu are best before the midday heat.
- Save Ramu for last. It's close to Cox's Bazar, so you can visit and still reach your hotel by afternoon. It's also an easy half-day trip from Cox's Bazar.
- Dress for temples. Cover shoulders and knees, and take shoes off where asked.
Get ready to go
- Elephants. The highway runs through the Chunati forest, a corridor for wild Asian elephants. Drive slowly there, especially at dusk and after dark, and never approach an elephant.
- Traffic. The highway is mostly two lanes, with fast buses and trucks. Ask your driver to take it steady, and wear a seat belt.
- Hill Tracts. The road east at Keranihat leads to Bandarban, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where the U.S. advises do not travel. Stay on the highway. See the Bangladesh travel advice.
- Cash. Carry small notes for entry fees and snacks.
Sources
- The Daily Star: Ctg–Cox's Bazar highway expansion and wildlife
- The Financial Express: Elephant overpass at Chunati sanctuary
- Wikipedia: Dulhazra Safari Park
- TravelSetu: Dulhazra Safari Park FAQs (hours)
- Wikipedia: Ramu, Cox's Bazar
- Wikipedia: Ramkot Banashram
- The Daily Star: Exploring the wonders around Cox's Bazar
- Arab News: Ancient monastery and Bangladesh's Buddhist past
- Wikipedia: Probal Express (Chittagong–Cox's Bazar train)
- Rome2rio: Chittagong to Cox's Bazar
Last checked October 2026.