Belitung Tourism: Beautiful and Budget-Friendly

Belitung is a regency located in the Bangka Belitung Province. This regency is part of an archipelago and is bordered by straits and seas, namely the Natuna Sea and the South China Sea to the north, the Karimata Strait to the east, the Java Sea to the south, and the Bangka Strait to the west. Due to its archipelagic nature and surrounded by saltwater, the tourist destinations in Belitung are mostly beaches. The beaches in Belitung are certainly as beautiful as those in Bali and Yogyakarta, featuring white sand and stunning blue sea water.

In addition to beaches, Belitung is also famous for its granite stones, has protected forests safeguarded by the government, and features highlands such as Mount Tajam.

Belitung has five districts, namely Membalong, Tanjung Pandan, Badau, Sijuk, and Selat Nasik. Each of them has its own tourist sites that are favored by visitors.

Short Itinerary to Belitung

Getting to Belitung is not as complicated as traveling to European countries where you have to deal with expensive visa arrangements. Moreover, for those who enjoy traveling independently without the help of travel agencies, there is no need to be confused.

Belitung has an airport located in Tanjung Pandan, named HAS Hanandjoeddin Airport. For those on a budget but want to visit Belitung, just book your flight tickets well in advance. Look for the cheapest flight tickets, especially during promotional periods; usually, some transportation ticket provider apps will notify their customers about cheap flight promotions. So, the transportation costs to Belitung depend on the distance from your residence, okay?

Visit Belitung during the dry season considering that the area is an archipelago with many beautiful beach destinations, so your travel plans won't be interrupted by rain.

Also, prepare your accommodation. Choose one that doesn't drain your wallet too much. However, some accommodations with good facilities can be stayed in for around Rp200,000 to Rp400,000 depending on the size and how many people occupy it. So, usually, when traveling with friends or family and sharing accommodation, it will be more economical.

If you are only visiting Belitung with a friend or partner, you can rent a motorbike for more freedom to go anywhere. Usually, the rental cost for a motorbike is around Rp100,000, which can be picked up at the rental place or delivered to your accommodation, which will require additional costs. Oh, and don't forget about the fuel costs, which depend on how far and how long the vehicle is used.

Affordable Tourist Destinations

What else is there to explore in Belitung if not the beaches? With many beach destinations, tourists are usually offered to rent a boat so they can visit several beaches at once with a guide. The boat rental cost is Rp400,000 for up to twelve passengers. So, this cost can be shared with friends, family, or other tourists, meaning that if calculated per person, it would be no more than Rp40,000.

The journey to visit several beaches usually reaches up to three small islands in the Belitung Islands. The most frequently visited is Tanjung Island. On this island, there is Tanjung Tinggi Beach, famous for the film Laskar Pelangi. This beach is located not far from the city center and can be reached in just half an hour.

After visiting Tanjung Island, continue to Lengkuas Island. On this island, snorkeling activities are provided. So, tourists who want to see the underwater beauty of Belitung can try diving. The rental for snorkeling equipment is only Rp25,000. For those who cannot swim, there are also life jackets available.

Tired of the beach views? You can visit Kaolin Lake. This lake is a mining lake with white soil, creating a beautiful view of the blue water and white land. Entrance to Kaolin Lake is free, you know!

Oh, there is one tourist spot that is also famous because of Laskar Pelangi, my friends. This tourist destination is the Museum Kata.

Museum Kata was founded by Andrea Hirata, the author of Laskar Pelangi. This museum is the first literacy museum in Indonesia. With an entrance fee of Rp50,000, visitors can enjoy every detail about Laskar Pelangi. There are also short stories specifically written by Andrea Hirata for Museum Kata. So, for tourists who idolize the Father, a visit to Museum Kata is a must!

Delicious and Affordable Food

Like most tourist spots, food prices are usually higher, right? However, in Belitung, they are still quite affordable.

If you visit the beach, you will definitely find sellers of young coconuts. These young coconuts are not too expensive, as they can be exchanged for just Rp15,000. Delicious foods like seafood dishes are also not too heavy on the wallet. Bangka noodles, one of the specialties of Bangka Belitung, cost around Rp20,000 and are filling! Quite reasonable for a snack, right?

Souvenirs: Buy, But Don't Go Overboard

Going on vacation somewhere feels incomplete without bringing home souvenirs. If you go to Belitung, the must-buy items are its local delicacies! However, vacationing on a budget means you won't overspend, right? Of course not, as long as you don't go overboard!

Belitung is known for producing the best key limes. Due to the abundance of key lime trees, the people of Belitung also produce key lime syrup. Usually, it is packaged in small bottles, priced at Rp35,000 each.

Most of the people in Belitung earn a living as fishermen, so the fish catch in the regency is abundant. Therefore, there are many local dishes made from fish and other seafood like shrimp, crabs, and squid. One of them is stuffed crab. Crab is boiled, and the meat is removed, mixed with flour and spices, and then fried. This dish can be stored for up to three days outside the refrigerator, making it a great souvenir. The price is Rp100,000 per pack, containing 10 stuffed crabs.

When buying souvenirs from Belitung, don't forget kemplang and fish meatballs! Kemplang is a round, flat cracker. Its crispy taste with the aroma of mackerel is usually packaged in plastic, containing 10 to 30 pieces, with the cheapest price starting at Rp15,000.

Fish meatballs are sold in plastic packaging. They are available in both wet and fried varieties. The price for fish meatballs per pack ranges from Rp50,000 to Rp70,000, depending on the packaging and contents.

The prices of Belitung's local food souvenirs are not too expensive, right? For tourists who are budgeting, it is certainly not a problem to bring home souvenirs for family or friends. What you need to remember is not to overdo it when buying.

Looking at the breakdown of prices and expenses, whether for food, transportation, accommodation, or souvenirs, a vacation to Belitung does not require excessive spending, does it? If that's the case, it's better to try all the tourist destinations in the country rather than tasting a vacation abroad!

Happy saving! Happy holidays!

Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa