Belitung Island or Bangka Belitung is known for its white-sand beaches, granite boulders, and crystal clear blue waters. A famous vacation or weekend destination among locals, it was considered one of Indonesia’s hidden gems. When the movie, Rainbow Troops (Laskar Pelangi), used it as one of their locations, everyone else who saw the film was charmed. With the island experiencing an influx of tourists, Indonesians are aiming to make it one of the best UN-designated geoparks where visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature.
That dream might just be around the corner because the island has a lot to offer and presents more opportunities for development in the future. Discover wonderful Indonesia and this fantastic island just waiting to greet you and your family.
How To Get To Bangka Belitung From Kuala Lumpur
AirAsia has just introduced its direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangka Belitung — with regularly scheduled flights four times a week. The new service has cut travel time from what used to be a five-hour flight to just one hour and fourty minutes (1hr40min). This makes Bangka Belitung an attractive and convenient option even for those on a short weekend trip.
The Best Places To Explore Belitung Island With Your Family
Here are some of Belitung’s exciting places and the activities you and your family can enjoy.
1. Enjoy A Day Of Snorkeling And Diving At Tanjung Tinggi Beach With Your Family
Tanjung Tinggi lies on the northern side of Belitung Island, between Tanjung Pendam and Tanjung Kelayang. It’s the actual shooting location of Laskar Pelangi. Hence, the locals gave it the nickname Laskar Pelangi Beach.
Its primary attraction is its white beaches and granite rocks. Its underwater life is also charming as the beaches because it is home to a wide variety of corals and colorful fishes. Kids will surely enjoy watching the fish.
Bangka Belitung can become one of the primary destinations for those who love snorkelling or scuba diving. You can either bring your own snorkelling gear or rent it from local tour guides. If all you want is swimming and basking in the sun, or making sandcastles with your kids, Tanjung Tinggi has family-friendly cottages along the beach.
2. Bring Your Family To Kepayang Island And Discover Wonderful Sea Creatures
This is another beautiful beach to explore on the island. Unlike Tanjung Tinggi, Kepayang has no granite rocks, only a 300-meter stretch of white sandy beaches and pristine waters.
Kepayang is also a protected area where turtles breed. So if you want to get up close and personal with these wonderful sea creatures in their natural habitat, this is the island to visit. Aside from the turtles, you can also plant corals. The activity is a good educational experience for children, encouraging them to preserve and take care of the world around them.
3. Experience Tons Of Fun Water Activities For The Whole Family At Leebong Island
Leebong is three kilometers away from the main island of Belitung. Its charm lies in the white sand expanse that surrounds it as well as the natural forest that serves as its backdrop. The water that surrounds Leebong Island is calm — no heaving waves but slow, rippling water hugging the white sand beach.
Because there are no deep spots, there are many fun water activities you can do with your family, even at night.
Kayaking and paddleboarding are very popular, and you can rent them from the resorts there.
Another popular activity that is very unique in Leebong is what the locals call nyuloh, a traditional way of catching crabs and shrimps at night using only a net and a flashlight. It’s a fun activity for the whole family and your kids will enjoy this unique experience.
4. Visit The Beautiful Bangka Botanical Garden With Your Family And Experience Mother Nature At Its Best
Bangka Belitung is not just beaches and water activities. It is also forests and gardens, like the Bangka Botanical Garden found in the Bukit Intan district. You can drop by the garden after hitting the beaches. The place promotes agro-tourism where visitors can engage in farm activities like farming, fishing, and animal husbandry. It’s a good place to have your kids experience nature and wildlife, which is a welcome respite from computers and gadgets.
The place is also a favorite photography spot for couples. Thanks to the spruce-lined pathway that evokes a romantic feel. There’s also a big dragon fruit farm inside the garden. If you happen to visit during harvest season, you might have a taste of this wonderful fruit for free or buy it at a discounted price.
5. Immerse Your Kids With The Local Culture At Desa Namang
Desa Namang is a quaint, green town in Belitung Island which is often overlooked. These days, however, the local government is promoting it as another destination, focusing on the cultural life of the locals. Learn not only the daily life of the people who live in that community but also the livelihood of the people. Exposing your kids to such activities will help them realize that there’s more to the world they live in.
6. Amaze Your Kids By Bringing Them To Danau Kaolin And Admiring The Landscape
Kaolin mining was big in Belitung but when it stopped, it created a place that looks ethereal as if you’re in one of the planets in Star Wars. The spaces in the all-white landscape are filled with blue water that provides beautiful contrast against the white mounds.
Bringing your kids in the Danau Kaolin will not just give them a wonderful experience but also a learning opportunity about kaolin and its uses. It is also a good place to take awesome pictures for your Instagram.
7. Inspire Your Kids With Literary Works At Museum Kata Andrea Hirata
Belitung Island would not be the popular destination it is today without the highly-successful novel to the movie adaption of Laskar Pelangi. Imagine, this is the movie that attracted more than 4 million viewers shortly after the movie’s release.
If your kids haven’t read the best-selling novel or seen the movie, this museum is a great way to introduce them to the charming story of how ten poverty-stricken boys overcome their struggles through faith and spirit.
A bright yellow-coloured wall entrance greets you as you approach the building. Inside, you’ll see various literary works from around the world. Your kids will be inspired by reading the words of artists, writers, actors and other talented individuals, not to mention there is a section for visitors to express their inner creativity by reciting poems, singing songs or playing music.
The museum was founded by the famous author himself – Andrea Hirata. So you can find pictures, quotes and snippets from his novel and movie adorning the colourful walls.
8. Have Lots Of Fun Under The Sun With Your Family At Pasir Padi Beach And Pasirpadi Bay Water Park
Another beautiful beach that is not to be missed when you’re in Belitung is Pasir Padi Beach. The literal meaning of this beach is Sand Rice beach, aptly named because the sand on this beach is unique – the form is more oval than round which is similar to how a grain of rice would look like.
Due to its proximity to the town of Pangkal Pinang, this beach is a favourite for locals and tourists alike. You can relax here with your kids the whole day, swimming in the calm ocean or just soaking up the sun.
This 300 metres long beach has lots of restaurants and small stalls(warungs) lining up the beach. The Aroma Laut Restaurant, in particular, is quite well-known for its unique boat-shaped look and the delicious seafood that they serve.
If you and your family happen to crave for more excitement than just gazing at the beautiful sunset or playing volleyball at the beach, you can head to the west side area of Pantai Pasir Padi to Pasirpadi Bay Water Park.
This family theme park is the first one in Bangka Belitung. Opening its doors in 2017, it’s a great alternative for families that don’t want to lounge on the beach all day but instead seek some water-splashing fun.
There are tall slides up to 18 meters high for parents and also smaller 7.5 meters high slides for children. You can find several other amenities like kid-friendly pools, a family slide that is shaped like a small boat, toddler slides in baby pools. If you’re hungry, there are few small stalls to satisfy your hunger after a long day of swimming.
Getting Around There
Belitung Island is a small place and although there are different ways to get around the island, a taxi is the most preferred method to go from one place to another. However, make sure that you only get metered taxis because those without tend to overcharge tourists. The fare cost should be just $6.
Belitung is the new destination where your family and friends can enjoy a wide range of activities on land and in water. Experience the culture, food, nature, and the hospitality of the locals — all in one place.
For more details about traveling to Belitung, you can visit this website or contact the VITO Malaysia email VITO.MY@aviareps.com or call 03-21488033. If you’re travelling with your baby for the first time, don’t check out our ten tips here.