6 days in Bangka Belitung Islands Itinerary

The province of Bangka Belitung Islands encompasses an archipelago of two large islands (Bangka and Belitung), and hundreds of smaller islets around them. Beach vacations and marine tourism form the mainstay of a typical Bangka Belitung Islands holiday. White sands dotted with granite boulders line the archipelago's shallow shores, coral reefs and shipwrecks teem with fish, and colorful boats bob on the waves as their occupants dive, scuba, snorkel, fish, and sail. The islands display a strong Chinese cultural influence--brought by Chinese laborers in the tin mining industry that has driven the region's economy since the 18th century. This is most evident in the Chinese spices that flavor the seafood-heavy local cuisine, and the dozens of ornately decorated Chinese and Buddhist temples found on the islands.