Tanjung Tinggi Beach

Tanjung Tinggi on the northern coast of Belitung is a short beach where granite boulders the size of buildings sit in and around clear shallow water, rounded and stacked by weathering into arches and gaps you can swim and climb through - the same formation that runs along this coast and around the offshore islands. Its fame in Indonesia dates precisely: Laskar Pelangi, the 2008 film of Andrea Hirata's novel about schoolchildren in a Belitung tin-mining village, was shot partly here, and it became one of the most successful Indonesian films made, after which domestic tourism to Belitung rose sharply and the beach became the island's signature image. There are warung along the sand and boats to the offshore islands leave from Tanjung Kelayang nearby.

What you actually see

• House-sized granite boulders - stacked in shallow water into arches and gaps.
• A film location - the Laskar Pelangi beach that started Belitung's tourism.
• Clear shallow water - swimming and climbing among the rocks.
• Warung along the sand - the seafood stalls behind the beach.

When to go

March to October; weekdays for space. Half a day.

Honest expectations

It is short and gets crowded, particularly at weekends and holidays. The rocks are slippery. Litter has been a recurring problem. Tanjung Kelayang next door has the island boats.

Nearby

Tanjung Kelayang and Lengkuas island are west; Tanjung Pandan is south.