FINDING BLISS IN BELITUNG
THE BEACH PARADISE YOU CAN HAVE TO YOURSELF
WHILE HOLIDAY HOTSPOTS
like Bali and Lombok are well established, those willing to explore a little further will find Indonesia is hiding more than its fair share of secluded paradise spots.
One of those secrets is Belitung. This small island off the southeast coast of Sumatra, just a 45-minute flight from Jakarta, is blessed with some of the softest, whitest sand in the country.
The two main beaches, Tanjung Tinggi and Tanjung Kelayang, are characterised by perfect sweeps of sand, calm, clear waters and rounded granite boulders that will create a distinctive backdrop to your Insta post.
While the easygoing pace of life and back-to-nature vibes will help you disconnect from modern stress, the modern traveller is very much catered for. A recent opening is the Eco Beach Tent – a glamping experience in nature, with rustic cabins made from local and sustainable elements (think driftwood and recycled material) complemented by hotel-like services and facilities. Guests are encouraged to get involved with a range of activities, from harvesting fresh, organic vegetables and joining local fisherman to catch dinner to a wide range of watersports above and below the waves.
Those exploring the island will come across the ethereal Lake Kaolin, famed for its unusual ice-blue water and chalky hills. Unlike the rest of the island’s natural beauty, this picturesque site is manmade – the result of an abandoned kaolin (clay) mine. The presence of kaolin and white colour of the land help to give the water its vivid blue appearance.
While Belitung has everything you need, it’s also surrounded by more than 100 equally idyllic islands, making island-hopping a popular activity. A 45-minute zip across the turquoise ocean will take you to Lengkuas Island, replete with more perfect palm-fringed beaches and also home to a 19th century lighthouse. The historic eight-storey structure built by Dutch colonialists still functions today. Visitors can enjoy a 360- degree panorama of azure ocean dotted with tropical islands as far as the eye can see.
The worst thing about paradise is having to leave. To delay the inevitable, consider returning to Jakarta by ferry instead: the 24-hour journey will help you prolong the experience and ease your transition back to normal life.