Rock and Wreck Dive Resort

Rock and Wreck is one of Belitung's most distinctive places to stay: fourteen traditional Malay houses, many decades old, that have been carefully restored and rebuilt on a beachfront plot at Tanjung Kelayang. The colourful timber houses on stilts sit among palms and flowers, around a swimming pool, with the beach and calm, swimmable water right in front.

Rooms are cosy and simple rather than polished, with good beds, air conditioning and, in some houses, partly open-air bathrooms, so check if that suits you. Wi-Fi is fast for such a remote spot. The restaurant is a sociable place to meet other travellers, with a varied menu that includes well-reviewed burgers. Staff readily arrange scooters, taxis, snorkelling tours and, as the name suggests, diving on the reefs and wrecks around the north-west coast.

The Tanjung Kelayang jetty for island hopping and a handful of beach restaurants are a short walk away, and a supermarket is nearby. Bring insect repellent for mosquitoes and sandflies. It is a strong mid-range choice for couples, solo travellers and families who value character.