Island Hopping in Belitung: A Complete Guide

If you’re planning a trip to Belitung in Indonesia, make sure you do a boat tour there! The island hopping in Belitung is amazing, with options for half-day or full-day tours.

The most stunning scenery is found in the smaller islands scattered around the northwest coast, where you’ll encounter crystal-clear waters and rocky granite islands reminiscent of the Seychelles. These picturesque islands are parts of Belitung’s newly recognized UNESCO Geopark.

This travel guide provides insights into how to embark on the island hopping tour in Belitung and what you can expect to see along the way. We enjoyed it so much that we participated in the tours several days in a row!

Where To Stay In Belitung

Island Hopping Belitung Tour

Firstly, for a guided exploration of the islands, Billitone Capture offers private island hopping day tours in Belitung. You can reach them via WhatsApp at +62 853-1555-5288.

This tour features popular destinations such as Lengkuas Island, Batu Berlayar, and more. It typically includes a complimentary lunch, entrance tickets, snorkeling gear, life jackets, and hotel pickup/drop-off.

Alternatively, if you prefer a more spontaneous approach, you can head to the main harbor in Tanjung Kelayang. There, you may find a boat driver willing to negotiate a better price. That’s what we did on one of our trips, and everything went seamlessly.

What To Expect

Generally, the Belitung island hopping tours encompass 6-7 scenic stops, allowing you to spend an hour or more at each significant location.

Your boat driver will navigate you around various granite rock formations, underwater coral reefs, walkable sandbars, and even a colonial lighthouse!

Lunch is typically served on Pulau Kepayang island and features fresh seafood, veggies, and rice.

Best Belitung Islands To See

• Lengkuas Island

This island stands out as one of the main attractions on a Belitung tour.

It hosts an iconic Dutch lighthouse dating back to the 1800s, which you can still climb today! From the 18th-floor balcony, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding granite rocks and azure waters.

Moreover, Lengkuas boasts some of the finest beaches and snorkeling spots in Belitung.

• Kepayang Island

Pulau Kepayang is one of the larger islands in the region and is inhabited, featuring a seafood restaurant that is included in some boat tours.

• Baby Pig Island (Pulau Babi Kecil)

This small island is situated next to Pulau Kepayang. Though there isn’t much to see at Babi Kecil, it remains one of the most picturesque islands in Belitung.

• Belitung Snorkeling

All Belitung island hopping tours include snorkeling at one of the abundant coral reefs in the area.

Belitung snorkeling is fantastic, featuring vibrant coral and friendly fish. However, it is advisable to be cautious of spiky sea urchins, as we observed several lurking among the corals. Avoid stepping on them to prevent injury.

• Sailing Rock Island (Pulau Batu Berlayar)

This island was personally one of our favorites in Belitung.

Batu Berlayar is a small sand circle adorned with rocks and boulders scattered throughout. It resembles a natural Stonehenge located in the ocean.

There is even a small cave-like opening among the main boulders that you can walk through, and you can capture unique photos by scaling the smaller rocks.

• Sand Island (Pulau Pasir)

This intriguing sandbar emerges only at certain times of the day.

We visited Pulau Pasir in July, noticing that the sandbar was largest in the morning and still shallow enough to wade on in the afternoon!

Starfish often appear in the shallow waters due to the ocean currents that flow toward the sandbar.

• Kelayang Island

This island offers more than meets the eye.

If you embark on a brief 3-minute hike to the rear of Pulau Kelayang, you will discover a rainbow-colored cave and natural pool nestled among the boulders—a truly fascinating spot.

• Tukong Kelayang Island

This small island near Kelayang features pristine white sand and few visitors. There is a small shack amidst the trees, though it seems uninhabited.

• Garuda Stone Island (Pulau Batu Garuda)

This island earned its name from a rock at the back resembling the beak of Garuda, the mythical bird from Hindu and Buddhist lore.

• Pegador Island

Most Belitung tours seem to overlook this island, yet it boasts a lovely beach and some flat rocks perfect for relaxation.

Although our time spent exploring this island was limited, it remains at the top of our list for future visits!

• Bird Island (Pulau Burung)

Pulau Burung gets its name from its resemblance to a bird in flight.

Be prepared to offer your boat driver a little extra to visit this island, as it necessitates an additional 15-30 minutes beyond the main tourist route.

We agreed to pay our guide an extra 100k Rupiah (~$7) to include Pegador, Burung, and Kelamin islands in our boat tour.

• Buto Island

This island derives its name from a rock shaped like male anatomy. If you climb the prominent boulder in the center of the sandbar, captivating views of the entire island are available from above.

Additionally, this island requires an extra charge of about 100k Rupiah (~$7) due to its location, which is further from the main tourist route.

• Tanjung Kelayang Beach

This is the primary beach from which all Belitung boat tours set off, yet it stands out as a wonderful beach on its own.

The beach features a long stretch of white sand, with certain areas remaining less crowded than the more renowned Tanjung Tinggi beach.

Leebong Island

In addition to the popular island hopping tours in northwest Belitung, you can also explore a charming little island in the southwest, which is owned by the 3-star Leebong Island Resort. This resort offers sea view villas and overwater bungalows.

Day trips to Pulau Leebong depart from Pegantungan harbor. Alternatively, you can opt for an overnight stay at the resort. Their official website contains additional details concerning day tours. Leebong showcases a stunning white sandbar along with various other attractions.

Best Time To Visit

The optimal time to visit Pulau Belitung is from April to September.

This period falls within Indonesia’s dry season, characterized by less rain, more sunshine, smoother seas, and improved snorkeling visibility.

It is advisable to avoid visits between November and January, when rainfall is significantly higher. Should traveling during the rainy season be necessary, consider allowing extra days as a buffer in case of inclement weather.

Belitung Hotels

More Belitung Travel Tips

Thank you for reading! We hope you found this guide to island hopping in Belitung enjoyable. We absolutely loved the boat tours here.