Lake Toba surrounding small and beautiful island of Samosir with a cool, friendly climate, is located on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Lake Toba is one of the world's great natural lake. It formed inside the crater of an ancient supervolcano. About 100 km long, 30 km wide and over 400 m at its deepest, and home to Batak tribe.
How to visit Lake Toba and Island of Samosir?
- Get to Sumatra, via Medan, the airport : Polonia, Sumatra´s largest city, the capitol of North Sumatra Province. Use International flight to Medan, or by flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. There is also a ferry crossing from Penang, Malaysia. From Medan, you can reach the lakeside town of Parapat by public bus, private bus, or hired car and driver. You can ask the taxi driver at Polonia Airport to take you directly to Hotel in Parapat (like : Niagara Hotel, Pardede Hotel, etc.), and pay him Rp.500,000 (US$ 50).
- Go to Samosir Island. While there are hotels in Parapat, the place to be is on Samosir. Ferries or small ships (Rp.8000 or about US$ 1) run from Parapat to Samosir, and will drop you off at different parts of the small neck of land
- Choose a trip, take a sight seeing, go for a swim, rent a speedboat, or get a used book from a local shop, have a cup of delicious sumatra coffee or tea, use internet service, etc.
- Hike over Samosir ridge to break up your relaxation with something strenuous, try hiking these rugged trails.
- Get a scenic ride, rent a bike or motorcycle (about US$ 10/day) to explore Batak culture. There is a museum and culture center on the far end of Samosir island, several kilometers from the main tourist strip. A little collection of antique Batak-style houses, and a traditional dance waiting for you.
- Try the baked goods at Tabo Cottages. It is one of the most luxurious Cottages on the island.
- Try dancing with the locals. The local Batak girls are eager to dance with you, they are not "bar girls." they just nice want to have a good time with a foreigner.
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