Belitung
Belitung is a quiet island in the Java Sea, between Sumatra and Borneo, about one hour by plane from Jakarta. Its beaches look like nowhere else in Indonesia. Huge round granite boulders, some as big as houses, stand on soft white sand and in calm, clear water. Small wooden boats take you hopping between tiny islands, to swim, snorkel and climb an old white lighthouse on Lengkuas island. Inland, old mining pits have filled with bright blue water, and in the east the town of Manggar is famous for its many coffee shops. In 2021 UNESCO named the whole island a Global Geopark for its rocks and landscapes. Belitung is still calm and uncrowded, with simple seafood, friendly towns and very little traffic. There is almost no public transport, so most visitors rent a car with a driver. Come in the drier months, when the sea is calm and boats run every day.
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All Belitung Guides
5 in-depth guides to Belitung — food, nightlife, beaches, transport, money and the practical detail that is hard to find.