Pantai Punai, Tanjung Kelumpang

Pantai Punai lies at Tanjung Kelumpang, a cape on the far south coast of the island, administratively in East Belitung but reached by the long road through the south. It is a quiet stretch of sand backed by casuarina trees, with clusters of granite boulders at the water's edge and shallow, generally calm water.

Few tourists make it this far, so the beach is mostly visited by local families at weekends. The appeal is the sense of space and the coastal scenery rather than facilities: expect a small parking area, perhaps a stall selling drinks, and little else. The rocks give good spots to sit and watch the sea, and at low tide you can walk out among them.

The drive from Tanjung Pandan takes around two hours, so combine Pantai Punai with other sights in the south and east rather than making a special trip. Bring food, water and sun protection, fill up with fuel beforehand and allow time to return before dark, as roads in the area are unlit.