Getting to Bakkhali requires some patience, which is part of what keeps it from being overrun. From Kolkata, the most comfortable approach is by train from Sealdah station to Namkhana — trains run several times daily and the journey takes about two to two and a half hours. From Namkhana station, a shared auto or bus runs to the Hatania Doania river ferry ghat, where a small ferry crosses to the far side. From the far bank, another bus or auto completes the journey to Bakkhali, with the whole journey from Namkhana taking about an hour.
Alternatively, direct buses from Kolkata (Esplanade or Babughat bus terminus) cover the full distance to Bakkhali in three to four hours but involve crossing the same ferry. Private cars can be hired from Kolkata for the convenience of door-to-door travel without the ferry interruption — the car crosses on the ferry while passengers walk on and rejoin it on the far side. The ferry cannot be reserved; it runs on a first-come first-served basis and can cause delays during festivals and weekends.