When Saint Martin is open
Saint Martin's is not open all year. The government sets the season afresh each year, and it has moved more than once — so anything you read in an older guide may no longer be true.
The 2026-27 season
The island is open to tourists from 1 November 2026 to 15 March 2027, with a daily visitor cap of 3,500.
Outside those dates the island is closed to tourists. That is not a hotel policy — no ships run, so there is no way to arrive.
Overnight stays
Rules about staying the night have changed between seasons and have been reported differently by different outlets. Rather than print a rule that might be out of date, we do this instead:
- The status pill at the top of every page on this site shows the current rule.
- Our booking calendar only offers nights we can actually sell. If a date cannot be booked, that is why.
- If you want certainty for a particular date, ask us — we will tell you what we know and what we do not.
The travel pass
You need to register online before you can buy a ship ticket. The pass carries a code checked at the jetty, and a ticket without one is not accepted. Registration is through the Bangladesh Tourism Board's authorised portal.
Because the daily number is capped, passes for weekends and holidays go early. Register before you make any other arrangements.
Why the island closes
Saint Martin's is Bangladesh's only coral island, and the coral is in poor condition. The closed months let it recover, and the visitor cap keeps the pressure down during the season. The ৳100 conservation fee collected this season goes to the same end.
We would rather you knew that than thought of it as red tape. Our island guide explains what you can do to help while you are here.
Booking around the season
We take bookings for the coming season while the island is shut, so the best rooms for December and January are usually gone by autumn. The dates we offer are the dates we can honour.
If the authorities close the island or sailings are cancelled after you have booked, we move your stay at no extra charge — see our refund policy.