Belitung Island
Belitung Island is part of Bangka Belitung Province near Sumatra Island. Belitung Island although just 2 hours flight from Batam, is the opposite of hustle bustle of city life. Belitung used to be an underrated and a hidden jewel destination for tourist. However, since the 2008’s award-winning movie “Laskar Pelangi (The Rainbow Troops)”, the island has been gaining popularity as the background place for the movie. The movie was originated from a best seller tetralogy novel written by Andrea Hirata, a Belitung native who dreams and pursuit education.
Getting to Belitung Island is relatively easy. There is a direct flight from Jakarta for under an hour to A.S. Hanandjoeddin International Airport in Tanjung Pandan. If you travel from abroad, you need to transit at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta first. Once you arrive in Belitung, you can check out these hotels to get the best accommodations with the best deals! There is also an alternative though, by the sea from Tanjung Priok harbor in Jakarta. However, keep in mind that the journey will take much longer.
The main attractions in Belitung Island are the breathtaking beaches, with crystal clear water and white sandy beaches and decorated with giant granite rocks. To make it more exciting, Belitung is blessed with hundreds of small islands surrounding it, therefore island-hopping must be on your bucket list to enjoy this hidden paradise. Not to worry because we have some of the best to do list to guide you in Belitung Island!
1. Danau Kaolin (Kaolin Lake)
Tanjung Pandan is home to Danau Kaolin, a picturesque lake with Tosca color and white lakeside. It used to be a mining site but is now abandoned. The blue color came from the mining activity, the Kaolin itself is a type of mineral. The water isn’t dangerous or hot so you might see some people swimming in the lake. Don’t forget to take some snaps of this massive lake with sand dunes formed around the lake creating a splendid landscape unlike anywhere else in the world.
2. Pantai Penyabong (Penyabong Beach)
Penyabong Beach is your escapade when you need solitude or just quietness with or without your loved ones. Pantai Penyabong is located between Teluk Gembira Beach and Arumdalu Resort. It has crystal water dotted with giant boulders, making a spectacular beach scene, especially during the sunset. Don’t forget to bring your own lunch or meals because this place doesn’t have much facilities or restaurants, but that means the beach is for yourself!
3. Lighthouse in Pulau Lengkuas
In Lengkuas Island in Belitung Province, lies a lighthouse that dated back since 1882. It was built by the Dutch and is now becoming a major attraction and viewpoint of the island. Climb up this 70-meter lighthouse and see the green seas below you. Keep in mind that you can only climb it on foot, therefore you will need a lot of stamina to get to the peak. If you’re looking for some marine adventure, don’t miss out the chance to snorkel in the eastern and western shores of Lengkuas Island.
4. Island-Hopping
Island or isles hopping is certainly once in a lifetime opportunity when you visit Belitung Island. There are numerous islands with magnificent beaches and only a few are inhabited. Visit Batu Berlayar Island, a small island dotted with large boulder around the beach, perfect for photo spots. Don’t miss Batu Berlayar which is loaded with giant rocks, Kelayang island that is known for its pristine white sandy beach and caves, or Burung Island which have powdery sand.
5. Engage in the Culture and History of Belitung
Belitung Island is rich in culture and history. Visit the historical places to learn more about this island. You can visit Belitung Museum in Gantung District that preserve a piece of history in Belitung including ancient ornaments such as bowls, jugs, and many more. You can also find the biggest species of fish in the world from Amazon River here, paiche. If you watched the movie Laskar Pelangi, you can’t miss the chance to see the replica of elementary school from Laskar Pelangi and Museum Kata Andrea Hirata.
6. Have a Taste of Local Cuisine
While you’re in Belitung Island, have a taste of the local cuisine especially the delightful seafood of this beach paradise island. Grab the legendary Belitung coffee at Kong Djie and Kopi Ake that still use the iconic traditional method to brew the coffee. Kopi Ake itself opened first in 1911 and preserve the traditional brewing method until today to retrieve the best quality.
Now that you’ve got your itinerary, check out this site to prepare everything you’ll ever need! If you also happen to own or manage accommodation, car, or everything related to traveling, don’t hesitate to join our growing travel marketplace!
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