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    Lake Toba and Samosir
    Lake

    Lake Toba and Samosir

    Lake Toba fills the caldera of a supervolcano whose eruption approximately 74,000 years ago is among the largest in Earth's history.

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    9. Lake Toba and Samosir
    Lake Toba fills the caldera of a supervolcano whose eruption approximately 74,000 years ago is among the largest in Earth's history. It is the largest lake in Southeast Asia, and at its center lies Samosir Island, home to villages, tombs, and royal houses of the Toba Batak.
    Lake Toba is around 100 km long and the largest lake in Indonesia. It fills a caldera formed by a massive volcanic eruption approximately 74,000 years ago. At its center lies the island of Samosir, roughly the size of Singapore. Most travelers stay on the Tuktuk peninsula on Samosir's east coast, from where you can reach the Batak villages of Tomok, Ambarita, and Simanindo by scooter or bicycle. The lake lies at an altitude of around 900 m, and the climate is pleasant. The caldera has been a UNESCO Geopark since 2020.

    Sights in Lake Toba and Samosir

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Stone Chairs of Siallagan
    Museum

    Stone Chairs of Siallagan

    Stone seats in the village of Ambarita, where formerly council meetings and courts were held.
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    The Grave of King Sidabutar
    Attraction

    The Grave of King Sidabutar

    Stone sarcophagi of the Sidabutar family in Tomok, with carved heads on the lid. On the way there are souvenir stands with Ulos.
    Open in Google Maps
    Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo
    Museum

    Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo

    Former royal village on the northern tip of Samosir, with Batak houses and a museum. Regular Sigale-gale puppet and dance performances.
    Open in Google Maps
    Bukit Holbung
    Attraction

    Bukit Holbung

    Grassy hills in the south of Samosir offering views over the lake. Short climb, popular at sunrise.
    Open in Google Maps

    Sights in Lake Toba and Samosir

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Stone Chairs of Siallagan
    Museum

    1Stone Chairs of Siallagan

    Stone seats in the village of Ambarita, where formerly council meetings and courts were held.
    Open in Google Maps
    The Grave of King Sidabutar
    Attraction

    2The Grave of King Sidabutar

    Stone sarcophagi of the Sidabutar family in Tomok, with carved heads on the lid. On the way there are souvenir stands with Ulos.
    Open in Google Maps
    Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo
    Museum

    3Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo

    Former royal village on the northern tip of Samosir, with Batak houses and a museum. Regular Sigale-gale puppet and dance performances.
    Open in Google Maps
    Bukit Holbung
    Attraction

    4Bukit Holbung

    Grassy hills in the south of Samosir offering views over the lake. Short climb, popular at sunrise.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Lake Toba and Samosir

    1

    Horas Vegetarian Restaurant

    Vegetarian restaurant on the Tuk Tuk peninsula.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Juwita Cafe

    Cafe with Indonesian cuisine in Tuk Tuk, which also offers cooking classes.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Willem's Resto Cafe & Bar

    Restaurant with bar on Samosir, west of Tuk Tuk.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Drink

    Arsik

    Carp in yellow spice sauce with Andaliman, the lemony pepper of the Batak.

    Mie Gomak

    Thick noodles with spicy sauce or broth, also known as “Batak Spaghetti”.

    Tuak

    Lightly fermented palm wine, which is served in Lapo establishments.

    Culture

    Samosir is the heart of the Toba-Batak. Wooden houses with curved roofs and carvings stand in the villages, next to stone tombs of royal families. Famous are the Sigale-gale puppet, which dances in performances, and Gondang music. Most Batak here are Christians; many churches line the shore. In the evenings, Tuak, a palm wine, is enjoyed in Lapo-Lokalen.

    Travel and Exploration

    Getting ThereFrom Medan: Buses from Terminal Amplas take approximately 4 hours to Parapat.Flight: Silangit Airport (DTB) south of the lake has direct flights to Jakarta.To SamosirPassenger Boat: From Tiga Raja Port in Parapat, boats depart hourly and take approximately 45 minutes to Tuktuk.Car Ferry: From Ajibata, the ASDP ferry travels to Tomok and Ambarita in about an hour; tickets via ferizy.com.On the IslandOn Samosir, you can rent scooters or bicycles; a road leads around the island.

    Outings

    Sipiso-piso

    Waterfall at the north end of the lake, plunging about 120m into a gorge.

    Berastagi

    Highland town of the Karo with volcano hikes, about three to four hours north.

    Accommodations in Lake Toba and Samosir

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    Nearby

    North Sumatra

    North Sumatra

    North Sumatra combines the vast crater lake Toba, Batak culture, active volcanoes, and Gunung Leuser National Park's orangutan-filled rainforest. Most trips begin in the metropolis Medan.
    Berastagi
    Christian Advs Sltg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Berastagi

    Berastagi in the Karo Highlands is a market town at around 1,300 meters, surrounded by vegetable and fruit fields. The volcanoes Sibayak and Sinabung dominate the landscape, and traditional Karo-Batak longhouses stand in the surroundings.
    Medan
    Mimihitam / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Medan

    Medan is Sumatra's largest city and the transportation hub of the north. The Sultan of Deli's Maimun Palace, the Great Mosque, colonial buildings from the tobacco era, and diverse street food make for a worthwhile stopover.
    Bukit Lawang
    VanuitVoorburg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Bukit Lawang

    Bukit Lawang on the Bohorok River is the best-known gateway to Gunung Leuser National Park. Guided jungle treks lead to semi-wild and wild Sumatra orangutans, and the return journey is often by tubing on the river.
    Putrajaya

    Putrajaya

    The planned administrative capital is located about 25 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur and has been the seat of the federal government since 1999. Around an artificial lake, you'll find monumental government buildings, bridges, and parks. Its most famous landmark is the Putra Mosque, made of pink granite. Putrajaya is well suited for a half-day trip, accessible via the KLIA Transit.