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a journey through Sumatra

Indonesia
Lake Toba

Lake Toba, Sumatra © HendrikH

Sumatra tour

PARAPAT -
Lake Toba

It takes four hours to travel the 185-km distance from Medan to Parapat, which is the largest and most important city on the lake. A journey well worth making!! Along the way you will see the beauty of the landscape, decorated with green rice field and plantations. On this tour you will pass numerous villages, before the landscape changes and becomes more virgin as it climbs into the highlands. The final reward of the long journey is the sight of Toba, Indonesia′s biggest lake as well as the largest quaternary caldera in the world, and one of the best attractions in Sumatra.
The crater of Lake Toba was formed by an eruption of the Toba super volcano 74,000 years ago. It is believed that these were the largest volcanic eruption of the past two million years. This was followed by a cooling of global climate, known as a volcanic winter.
Toba is now a very nice and large crater lake with a relatively cool climate. Even wealthy Indonesians use the air to relax over the weekend. The culture of the Batak is ubiquitous and interesting and offers surprising insights into the diversity of the peoples of Indonesia. Check our tour recommendations for additional information about how to travel at Lake Toba.


Indonesia travel

Sights to see at Lake Toba

  • The water of Lake Toba very clean and invites you to swim. However, there are not many places to swim and not every hotel has access to the lake. It is therefore advisable to consider the swimming possiblities when choosing a hotel.
  • Lake Toba is in the centre of the homeland to the Batak people. You can see the great culture of the Batak at a tour to one of several cultural sites, e.g. the king Sidabuar's grave, a Batak king who adopted Christianity, or a set of 300-year-old stone chairs, formerly used to precipitate cruel judgments. One of the best attractions of the region is the Batak architecture. At several locations travelers can see the distinctive wooden houses with sharp rising roof endings and outlandish carvings.
  • The waterfall just above Tuk Tuk is easy to reach along a pleasant walk. The pool beneath the waterfall is a great spot for swimming.

Getting there & Around

  • A tour to Lake Toba usually leads to Medan International Airport. From there you can take a bus from Amplas bus terminal, which is located right in front of the car entrance to the airport. You′ll have to walk about 15 minutes to reach it. There, you can catch a yellow public bus, number 64, to Amplas Terminal in Medan. From Amplas terminal a public bus leaves to Parapat at Lake Toba.
  • For comfort seeking travelers, we recommend to take a taxi to Parapat. Try to catch a Raja Taxi. The company operates new and modern mini-vans. They have air-conditioning and smoking is generally not allowed. You can book tickets through your hotel in Medan or by calling: Raja Taxi +62 (0)617 366-555.
  • From Parapat there is a ferry service to Tuk Tuk on Samosir. The ferry operates every two hours and costs Rp. 7.000. You should ask at the hotel reception for the first and the last service a day, and for more travel information. Many hotels are located right on the lake and have their own place to get on and off of the ferry. So, don′t hesitate to ask the ferry operator to stop directly at your hotel.

Hotel & Accomodation at Lake Toba

Budget

Lake Toba hotel

Carolina Hotel

This hotel offers a excellent location and very helpful staff.
Jl. Lingkar Tuk-Tuk Siadong, Samosir
Phone (0625) 451 210
and (0625) 700 0520
Fax (0625) 451 250
Email: carolina@indosat.net.id

Midrange

Lake Toba hotel

Saulina Resort

The air-conditioned rooms come with a private balcony overlooking Lake Toba. Fitted with wooden furnishings, each room has a flat-screen TV, a sofa, and tea/coffee making facilities. The private bathroom has a bathtub and a hot shower.

Midrange

Samosir hotel

Hotel Pandu Lakeside Tuktuk

Rooms are surrounded by garden landscape and are equipped with heating facilities, a private bathroom with hot shower and a bath tub. Pandu Lakeside Hotel Tuktuk’s restaurant serves local dishes, seafood and barbecue.

Tour operators & Links

  • Java Sol Tour offers some complete tour packages for the Toba region.
  • Another interessting tour package at Indo Travel Net.
  • Check the Samosir Touris Board for additional tour information and hints for additional attractions in the region.

Map of Lake Toba


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Find your accomodation in Indonesia by checking our hotel recommendations. You might get additional information on culture and attractions of Indonesia by trying on of the suggested books and guides. If you have special questions on a particular tour or trip, don't hesitate to contact one of the tour operators. We wish you a pleasant stay on our site, and maybe we once meet in Indonesia: the land of natural attractions and cultural diversity.

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