Kotka Sea Beach (কটকা সমুদ্র সৈকত)

Kotka, also spelled Katka, is on the south-eastern edge of the Sundarbans in southern Bangladesh, where the forest meets the Bay of Bengal. It lies within the Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarankhola range, administered from Bagerhat district. The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

There is no road access. Visitors arrive by boat, usually on two- or three-day launch tours from Khulna or Mongla, with permits arranged by licensed tour operators and armed forest guards travelling with the group. The Kotka forest office stands at the landing jetty.

From the jetty, a wooden walkway and forest trail lead past a watchtower, from which herds of spotted deer and sometimes wild boar can be seen grazing in the grassland. A walk of about 30 to 45 minutes through the forest reaches the beach, a quiet strip of sand facing the open sea, often scattered with crab holes and driftwood. Bengal tigers live in the area and their tracks are sometimes seen, so visitors must stay with guides. Kingfishers, eagles and many shorebirds are common.

Nearby Jamtola beach and its watchtower are often visited on the same day. Monkeys and deer frequently gather near the forest office.

Entry to the Sundarbans requires a Forest Department permit and fee, usually included in tour packages, with higher rates for foreign visitors. The best season is from November to February, when the sea is calm.

What does it cost to visit Kotka? Kotka lies inside a wildlife sanctuary, where the Forest Department charges foreign visitors BDT 3,000 per person per day, under fees revised on 26 February 2022. Outside the sanctuaries the foreign rate is BDT 2,000 a day. Tour packages usually add the permit, forest guard and camera fees to the boat fare. Forest officials said in early 2026 that the fee structure was under review, so confirm the current rate with your operator.

Permission for Kotka is issued through the Divisional Forest Officer in Khulna, and operators handle the paperwork with passport copies sent a few days before departure. Independent travel into the forest is not allowed.

How a Kotka trip works. Most launches leave Khulna or Mongla early in the morning and reach Kotka on the evening of the first day or the morning of the second, after a long run down the Pasur River and through forest channels. Groups land at the jetty at dawn, when deer are most active, walk to the beach, and return for breakfast on board. Boats then usually move on to Jamtola and Kochikhali. The launch is your hotel for the whole trip, with cabins, a dining deck and toilets on board. Bring insect repellent, a torch, and shoes that can get muddy on the trail.