mygukguk: Belitung Island, Indonesia

Pulau Burung (Bird Island)

I visited this island a few years ago with my wife and I have to admit, this island is very amazing. It has white sand beaches with crystal clear water and huge granite rocks as the background. It is a heaven for photographer and people who just want to have a quite moment laying on the beach without many people around.

Belitung island is a small island about 45 minutes flight from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. At my time, I took Sriwijaya Air from jakarta to Belitung but yu also an take Batavia Air. We had a customized private tour where we had a car and a driver that would bring us anywhere we want. We staty in a hotel next to the city but if you like to close to the beach you can stay in a few hotels in Tanjung Tinggi like Lor Inn Hotel. Next are the places I recommend for you.

There are many small islands near Tanjung Tinggi. All islands have clean white sands and huge granite rocks. You can rent a boat from Tanjung Tinggi and visit some beutiful islands there. Pulau Burung (Bird Island) is made of huge granite rocks that look like a bird from a far.

Lighthouse in Lengkuas island

There is also an old lighthouse you can visit in Lengkuas Island. You can climb the stairs and see beautiful scenery from the top of the lighthouse. There is an old building in this island as well and one person as a keeper stays here. There is also a "sand island" this is special small "island" that only exists during low tide. the sand is white and clean and you can watch big starfishes on this island. My tour gude told me that once there was a tourist who just spent the whole days laying on the white sand beach. Nice way to enjoy life!

A boat at the quiet Belitung beach

Starfish on White Sand Island

Another thing to visit is the pristine blue lakes. There many lakes in Belitung and they are actually abandoned tin or kaolin mines. Belitung and Bangsa, it's neighboring island, are famous for tin and kaolin. It was said that long time ago even you can dig in your house yard to collect tin. You also still can find beautiful grassland and prairie in Belitung.

Now, talking about food, Belitung is famous of seafood. When I was there last time, my tour guide even brought us to the seaman who just finished netting white clams from the sea. There are many seafood restaurants in the island. Another famous fpod is Mi Bangka or Bangka noodle. It is like mee rebus but with thik gravy. The gravy contains dried shrimp powder so it tastes very good.

So if you are looking for serene beautiful white sand beach less many tourists, Belitung Island is the best place to visit.