Indonesia🇮🇩 | beachesPantai Tanjung Bloamcliffside views, rugged coastline, turtle nesting | things to do and best time to go

Most travelers assume Pantai Tanjung Bloam is a remote secret, but it's actually a well-established beach on Belitung Island, off Sumatra's southeast coast. The reality is more nuanced: it's cleaner and less crowded than Bali's tourist beaches, with dramatic granite boulders and calm, swimmable waters, though the vibe skews quieter than party-focused alternatives. I remember wading out at dawn, the water glass-smooth and warm, granite formations rising like sculptures from the seafloor. Accommodation and food are budget-friendly, and the beach works as a genuine pause rather than a pit stop. The trade-off is isolation: fewer restaurants and nightlife than Lombok or the Gili Islands, but that's precisely why it rewards the effort.

Stay in the small village area immediately behind Pantai Tanjung Bloam or in nearby Tanjung Pandan, Belitung's main town, a 30 to 45 minute drive away. The beachfront guesthouses are basic but social, with shared common areas where backpackers naturally gather. Tanjung Pandan offers more accommodation variety and budget restaurants, though you'll need transport to the beach. Both areas are safe, walkable, and populated by other travelers. Prices range from US$8 to 20 per night for clean, simple rooms.