BELITUNG
(by plane)
Written in Nov 2020
What a beautiful escape from Jakarta! Belitung is a small island nothwest of Java, very close to Sumatra. It should not be missed! Belitung (and another tiny hidden jam island nearby, Leebong) is only a 1 hour flight northwest.
You can easily spend a long weekend here. The island has a beautiful and has a calm sea, blue sky, lovely landscape with huge rounded granite boulders and fine sand beaches.
You can also do a little track in a forest and even go to see the smallest type of monkeys in the world, the Tarsiers, and admire a very special man-made kaolin lake.
The kids loved all of it!
You can also do a little track in a forest and even go to see the smallest type of monkeys in the world, the Tarsiers, and admire a very special man-made kaolin lake.
The kids loved all of it!
|
|
|
|
Belitung offers various site that you can visit. However, compared with Bali, Belitung's options of activities are limited. Most of the tourist go to North of Belitung only and spend there 2-3 nights.
Ask in your hotel for arranging all the trips, they will recommend a reliable driver who will take you to all the sites listed below:
Ask in your hotel for arranging all the trips, they will recommend a reliable driver who will take you to all the sites listed below:
1. Boulders
The most picturesque beach is Tanjung Tinggi, known for the huge boulders, they are just within 10 minutes drive from hotel Santika or Sheraton. Have fun climbing them up or just taking many wonderful pictures!
2. Island Hopping
The highlight of Belitung! Take a boat and go island hopping. The boat will stop at many islands, where you can swim, snorkel or even visit a 19th century lighthouse at Pulau Lengkuas.
We recommend that you take a private boat for your family only, so you can ask the boatman to stop here and there and stay longer at a place you like.
One stop will also include a restaurant serving Indonesian food. You can be always safe with simple Pop Mie at the lighthouse island (but make sure you ask not to put the spice in for your kids!). It might save you time compared to other restaurants so you can spend more time on the amazing tiny islands and beaches!
Go on this trip on your first day at Belitung if the weather is good. If the next day is rainy the boatman might hesitate to take you on the trip. That would be a real pity!
We recommend that you take a private boat for your family only, so you can ask the boatman to stop here and there and stay longer at a place you like.
One stop will also include a restaurant serving Indonesian food. You can be always safe with simple Pop Mie at the lighthouse island (but make sure you ask not to put the spice in for your kids!). It might save you time compared to other restaurants so you can spend more time on the amazing tiny islands and beaches!
Go on this trip on your first day at Belitung if the weather is good. If the next day is rainy the boatman might hesitate to take you on the trip. That would be a real pity!
3. Bukit Peramun
Trecking in the original natural forest. It's an easy hike for kids of almost all ages. The hike is about 30min slightly up the hill through the forest in beautiful nature like you know it! Go visit before all the natural forests are gone due to palm plantations :( Some “picture” spots on the top of the hill and truly amazing views!
Visit the manufacturer producing the natural “gula merah” - red sugar from the palm trees!
Visit the manufacturer producing the natural “gula merah” - red sugar from the palm trees!
4. Night visit to see Tarsius
The smallest monkey in the world!
You can only meet them at three places in Southeast Asia and one of them is Belitung island (apart from Sulawesi and in Philippines).
Again, you are going back to the forest to visit the sanctuary. Don't be afraid, it may look scary at first as the guides with flashlights only, lead you through the dark :) . They will ask you to wait at the “ranger station” with one of the guides as the others will look for the tiny little creature and then will call you to come. Don't take pictures using flashlight, just look and enjoy the unforgettable and rare experience!
Our kids were overwhelmed!
You can only meet them at three places in Southeast Asia and one of them is Belitung island (apart from Sulawesi and in Philippines).
Again, you are going back to the forest to visit the sanctuary. Don't be afraid, it may look scary at first as the guides with flashlights only, lead you through the dark :) . They will ask you to wait at the “ranger station” with one of the guides as the others will look for the tiny little creature and then will call you to come. Don't take pictures using flashlight, just look and enjoy the unforgettable and rare experience!
Our kids were overwhelmed!
5. Kaolin lake
Very special man-made lake with sparkling blue waters.
It used to be a white land containing kaolinite. Due to years of kaolinite mining, holes were formed, covered by rain water and the lake was formed.The lake is definitely worth visiting, only mind that it is not after the rain because the amazing blue color changes to a dark one.
It is located in Air Raya Village, 6km from Tanjung Pandan.
It used to be a white land containing kaolinite. Due to years of kaolinite mining, holes were formed, covered by rain water and the lake was formed.The lake is definitely worth visiting, only mind that it is not after the rain because the amazing blue color changes to a dark one.
It is located in Air Raya Village, 6km from Tanjung Pandan.
6. Leebong island
This is a trip to another white sand beach with turquoise water, private owned island! The boat ride is only 30min from the Tanjung RU harbour and can be organized by your hotel.
It's a wonderful and peaceful place for paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, beach volleyball or even cycling around. Or you can just read a book and relax in a hammock… The kids will have lots of fun climbing up the tree house!
Tea, coffee and water facilities and even a restaurant are on the island.
Leebong Island is synonymous with the unique culinary delights of Belitung's typical Boiled Noodles!
You might even consider to stay here instead of just visiting! Our friends definitely recommend to stay longer rather than just hop here for a day. Stay 1-3 days ideally! Especially with kids. The villas in the only resort are beautiful, spacious and you need to book them on time as they get full quickly.
Where to stay at Leebong: leebongisland.com
It's a wonderful and peaceful place for paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, beach volleyball or even cycling around. Or you can just read a book and relax in a hammock… The kids will have lots of fun climbing up the tree house!
Tea, coffee and water facilities and even a restaurant are on the island.
Leebong Island is synonymous with the unique culinary delights of Belitung's typical Boiled Noodles!
You might even consider to stay here instead of just visiting! Our friends definitely recommend to stay longer rather than just hop here for a day. Stay 1-3 days ideally! Especially with kids. The villas in the only resort are beautiful, spacious and you need to book them on time as they get full quickly.
Where to stay at Leebong: leebongisland.com
7. Just relax in your hotel
Belitung has a new 5-star hotel, Sheraton (inaugurated in August 2020). Water at the hotel beach is crystal clear. You can just relax, have a massage or do some sports like paddle board or kayak.
Hotel has excellent wifi, so our friends worked and stayed there for 1 week during Covid.
Hotel has excellent wifi, so our friends worked and stayed there for 1 week during Covid.
Where to stay:
Hotel Santika Premiere Beach Resort Belitung
Very much recommended, stay on the ground floor if you travel with kids, they will love the long pool going along the rooms! (There is one more pool overlooking the sea if you stay on higher floors).
Food is very good, just the service is not the fastest so plan to go and have your dinner before the kids get really hungry :)
Website: www.mysantika.com/indonesia/belitung/hotel-santika-premiere-beach-resort-belitung
Very much recommended, stay on the ground floor if you travel with kids, they will love the long pool going along the rooms! (There is one more pool overlooking the sea if you stay on higher floors).
Food is very good, just the service is not the fastest so plan to go and have your dinner before the kids get really hungry :)
Website: www.mysantika.com/indonesia/belitung/hotel-santika-premiere-beach-resort-belitung
Sheraton Belitung Resort
5-star and the newest hotel on the island (opened in 2020)! Simply amazing!
Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tjqsi-sheraton-belitung-resort/
5-star and the newest hotel on the island (opened in 2020)! Simply amazing!
Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tjqsi-sheraton-belitung-resort/
Other hotels or resorts to be checked on Booking.com
How to get there
Fly to Belitung Tanjung Pandan (TJQ) airport. The flight from Jakarta is very short, 1 hour only. Garuda, Cicitilink and other companies fly there.
It takes only about 45min to get from the airport to your hotel (Santika or Sheraton) by taxi (Rp 200 000)
It takes only about 45min to get from the airport to your hotel (Santika or Sheraton) by taxi (Rp 200 000)
Warning of sand flies:
The only unpleasant thing you need to be aware of are sand flies. You have to take care and spray yourselves with mosquito repellent regularly or wear long sleeves and light pants.
We got actually bitten at night in the Santika hotel, but the itching lasted for a couple of weeks after we returned to Jakarta.
Some of our friends were not bitten at all, others were.. So it also very much depends and it is not always the case. It should definitely not be something to put you off the trip :)
We got actually bitten at night in the Santika hotel, but the itching lasted for a couple of weeks after we returned to Jakarta.
Some of our friends were not bitten at all, others were.. So it also very much depends and it is not always the case. It should definitely not be something to put you off the trip :)
|
Read more about Belitung here:
http://www.gobelitung.com/ Read more about Leebong here: http://leebongisland.com/ |