Lengkuas Island
A century-old Dutch lighthouse rising from a tiny island of granite boulders and white sand
Lengkuas Island's 19th-century Dutch-built lighthouse, still functioning and climbable, is Belitung's most iconic single landmark — a genuine colonial-era structure rising incongruously from a small island otherwise made up of the same granite boulders and white sand found across the region.
Quick facts
The lighthouse
Built by the Dutch in 1882 and still an active navigational aid, the lighthouse can be climbed via an interior staircase for a panoramic view over the surrounding scatter of islands and granite formations — one of the few colonial-era structures in Indonesia still open for visitors to climb.
The island itself
Beyond the lighthouse, Lengkuas is small enough to explore fully in an hour or two — granite boulder formations similar to the mainland beaches, clear water good for snorkeling, and a genuinely photogenic combination of white sand, turquoise water and the tower itself as backdrop.
Getting there
Lengkuas is one of the standard stops on an island-hopping boat charter from Tanjung Kelayang — rarely visited as a standalone trip, it's almost always combined with 2–3 other nearby islands in a full-day itinerary.
Practical tips
- —Climbing the lighthouse costs a small additional fee on top of the island-hopping boat charter — worth it for the view.
- —Bring snorkel gear — the water around Lengkuas is clear and calm, good for a casual look at the reef.
- —This is nearly always visited as part of a multi-island boat trip, not independently — factor it into your island-hopping day plan.
- —Midday light gives the clearest turquoise water for photos of the lighthouse against the sea.
