Pulau Belitung Travel Guide
Situated off the east coast of South Sumatra and lying north of Java, Pulau Belitung (Belitung Island) is the smaller and more remote of the two main islands of Bangka-Belitung Province. This is one of the region’s nicest islands.
Pulau Belitung comes with a string of gorgeous white sand beaches and perfect waters for snorkeling. There are also many islets and sizeable sandbars surrounding Belitung, making island-hopping popular. The best beaches on Pulau Belitung are Tanjung Kelayang and Tanjung Tinggi.
The main town on Pulau Belitung is Tanjung Pandan in the northwest of the island. It has an airport and a modicum of tourist facilities and hotels, yet is largely laid back and quiet. It features loads of Dutch colonial buildings, including a century-old lighthouse that was cast in England. Tanjungpendam Beach is one of the main draws in Tanjung Pandan.
When you’re done with the shop houses and colonial buildings in Tanjung Pandan, the wharf and fish market are worth checking out with their traditional Bugis fishing boats. The best hiking on Pulau Belitung can be had up on and around Mount Tagam (Gunung Tagam), which also comes with a waterfall and swimming.
Getting There & Away
The airport on Pulau Belitung is Bulutumbang Airport in Tanjung Pandan. It receives flights from Jakarta (45 minutes) as well as from Palembang in South Sumatra and nearby Pangkal Pinang. Ferries run in from Bangka and Jakarta daily.