BANGKA ISLAND
Warm, inviting and unspoiled
Untouched by time
Bangka is a small tropical island off North Sulawesi, surrounded by the clear waters of the Celebes Sea. Famous for its vibrant reefs and tranquil pace, it remains one of Indonesia’s most authentic and unspoiled islands. Together with the nearby Lembeh and Bunaken area, it forms part of a rich marine conservation zone. There are no towns here, only a few coastal villages linked by dirt roads and footpaths. Most travel is by boat, and life follows the rhythm of fishing and farming, guided by strong community ties. Reaching Bangka is simple: from Manado’s Airport, it’s about an hour’s drive to Likupang pier, then a 20–30 minute boat ride to the island. As Bangka’s green hills rise from the sea, time seems to slow down. Bangka’s true charm lies in its authenticity, a place where nature, culture, and community remain in harmony. Visitors come for its diving and beaches, but stay for its peace and the warmth of island life.
Authentic Island Life
A genuine island community where nature and tradition live in harmony. Life here moves with the rhythm of the sea, surrounded by warmth and simplicity.
Marine Paradise
Vibrant coral reefs and world-class diving in protected waters. Explore untouched dive sites filled with color, life, and rare marine species.
Easy Escape
Just an hour’s drive and a short 30-minute boat ride from Manado, yet it feels like a world away, where time slows down and nature takes over.
Life on the Edge of the Archipelago
For centuries, Bangka Island has been home to small fishing communities living in harmony with the sea. Long before foreign influence, the island was part of ancient trade routes linking the Moluccas, Sulawesi, and Mindanao. Outrigger boats carried dried fish, spices, and coconuts to nearby islands, returning with pottery, cloth, and metal tools. Life was guided by the tides, the monsoon winds, and a deep respect for the natural world that sustained them.
Dutch East India Company
In the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) expanded its reach across the Indonesian archipelago, bringing the region around Manado, including Bangka, under Dutch control. Although Bangka was never heavily colonized or developed, it became part of the wider spice trade network. Dutch missionaries introduced Christianity, and small coastal churches still reflect that legacy today.
Remote, traditional and untouched by modernity.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Bangka remained remote and self-sufficient, far from Sulawesi’s main trade routes. Wooden boats were its only connection to the outside world, exchanging copra, dried fish, and cloves for salt, tools, and cloth. The island’s landscape was dotted with coconut plantations and simple villages surrounded by forest. Life followed the rhythm of nature—fishing at dawn, farming under the tropical sun, and gathering by lantern light in the evening.
Bangka After Independence
After Indonesia gained independence in 1945, Bangka gradually reopened to the outside world. Its small Christian communities preserved traditions introduced by Dutch missionaries, blending them with local customs and a simple island lifestyle. In the decades that followed, Bangka gained recognition for its rich marine life, pristine nature, and enduring sense of peace.
Bangka today
At Mimpi Indah Dive Resort, we feel deeply connected to is history. Our land once belonged to local families whose ancestors fished these same waters generations ago. By working hand in hand with the local community and preserving the island’s natural beauty, we hope to honor both the past and the future of this remarkable place.