Lake Toba

Lake Toba (Danau Toba), on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, is the largest volcanic lake in the world. Samosir island, in the lake, is an island within an island. It is located at Sumatera Utara|North Sumatra.

Lake Toba Halal Explorer

Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake covering an area of 1,707 km² (1,000 km² bigger than Singapore) with an island in the center. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is probably the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Some studies say it might have been associated with causing previous ice age/climate change and the largest human population bottleneck ever. Genetic estimates suggest that there were only a few thousand individuals that survived the catastrophe. The island in the middle - Pulau Samosir - was joined to the caldera wall by a narrow isthmus, which was cut through to enable boats to pass; a road bridge crosses the cutting. Samosir island is the cultural centre of Batak tribe who are mostly Christians nowadays.

Lake Toba was perhaps once more popular than it is nowadays, but for many it remains a firm fixture on the Banana Pancake Trail. It is a great laid back place to chill out for a few days after jungle trekking etc. The location is very popular with Chinese tourists around Chinese New Year, when availability drops dramatically and lodging costs skyrocket. In its effort to promote tourism, government has greatly improved the infrastructure.

Now, Lake Toba is unhealthy for swimming due to excess of fish feeding, mainly for locations near fish floating net cages.

Local Language in Lake Toba

The local people who live in the Toba region are called Toba Batak, or simply Batak, and they speak the local Batak language, but everyone also speaks (Indonesian). You may want to use the Batak greeting, horas, which means welcome, good morning, farewell, etc.

Travel to Lake Toba

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Lake Toba

• Silangit International Airport - As of April 2024 and the airport serves domestic & international airports with Batik-Air from/to Jakarta, CitiLink from/to Jakarta (via Halim Perdanakusuma Airport), Garuda Indonesia from/to Medan, Jakarta and Singapore, Wings Air from/to Medan and Jakarta, and Sriwijaya Air from/to Jakarta

You can also fly to Medan's Kualanamu International Airport and continue to Lake Toba by land.

By helicopter

A heliport is available in "World Heritage minimini".

By car

There are 2 routes to reach Lake Toba from Medan:

• Kabanjahe route
• Pematang Siantar route

The Kabanjahe route is by far the shortest route and the only road to offer several options to reach Lake Toba. The route passes through Berastagi town and Kabanjahe city till it reaches Merek town (about 2.5 hours' drive from Medan). Once you reach Merek and there are 3 options: go to Tongging in the northern part of the lake (30 minutes' drive), to Parapat in the eastern part (2 hours' drive) or go through Sidikalang and continue to the western part to reach Samosir island via the only land bridge. This route is recommended to those who wish to explore Berastagi, Kabanjahe and Lake Toba in one go.

The Pematang Siantar route is the most popular route if you choose to head for Parapat or the southern part of Lake Toba. It takes about 5 hours by bus from Medan and will pass through Pematangsiantar. Due to opening of a toll road and the travel duration may be cut by 30 - 45 mins. If you are flying to Kualanamu Airport and then most likely you will use this route.

By bus

• from/to Amplas Station in Medan: Rp 79,000 with local bus / 5hrs (every hour) or Rp 85,000 (offers start at 80,000) with tourist shuttle van / 4hrs (April 2022)
• from/to Berastagi: Rp 200,000 / 4hrs
• from/to Bukittinggi: Rp 280,000 / 15hrs or Rp 650,000 with tourist shuttle van / 15hrs
• from/to Bukit Lawang: Rp 630,000/person with tourist shuttle van
• from/to Sibola: Rp 85,000 / 6hrs with shuttle van
• from/to Dumai: Rp 250,000 / 11hrs with shuttle van

Best way to travel in Lake Toba by a Taxi

From Medan:

• Raja Taxi +62 617 366 555;
• Paradep Taxi; no contact details
• Tobatransporter; +62 85261492668 or Operates a 5-seater Toyota Inova, which in 2012 cost Rp 200,000 per person or Rp 70,000 for a private hiring.

By Rail

There is no direct train to Lake Toba. The nearest train station is at Pematangsiantar|Pematang Siantar 50 kilometers north of Parapat. The train (Siantar Ekspres) departs from Medan every day on 14:00 and the trip takes about 4 hours because the train stops at almost every station. Ticket price is Rp 62,000 one way (as of December 2023). From Pematang Siantar, you have to continue by bus/taxi to Parapat, which is another 1-2 hours ride. It is a long but wonderful way to travel if you like to learn more culture on their daily living and lifestyle.

How to get around in Lake Toba

By car

Using vehicle is the easiest and safest way to go around, but you have to rent from either Medan or Pematangsiantar|Pematang Siantar. Use vehicle with high ground clearance and preferably with lots of power. The majority road around Lake Toba is unpaved, save for the major road. Even the paved one conditions may be very bad with lots of potholes.

By ferry

In June 2018 within a week there were 2 accidents. First a ferry lost most of its passengers, about 200, who drowned due to high waves. The second was a boat with 9 passengers who drowned due to engine failure. Avoid using boats in bad weather and use boats with at least 2 engines. Don't use the ferry if it is overloaded, as they have an insufficient number of life vests. Small boats rarely have any life vests at all. Local transportation around the lake takes the form of boats (cheaper, school boats with limited schedules and more expensive public boats that operate throughout the day).

The ferry dock of Parapat is the major access point for the Samosir island. From there, jump in a local mini-van (Rp 4,000) towards the Parapat bus station. From there you can reach nearly all the big cities in Sumatra and even Java.

Several harbours on the mainland have ferry connections with Samosir island. Most common is the Parapat - Tomok route. Public boats from Parapat and surrounding areas sail from either Ajibata harbour GPS 2.65407,98.93384 or Tigaraja harbour GPS 2.66092,98.92829 to Tuktuk or Tomok at Samosir island. The boat runs every hour, with the last one at 18:00. Some ferry owners are tourist hunters and will overcharge you. Try to take the ferry with wooden benches inside and the light green ferry. Those are the ferries that charge Rp 20,000 and the local residents take to cross over. Self-proclaimed 'tourist hunters' may befriend you on the boat but are harmless and often helpful. If you are staying at Tuktuk, you can ask the ferryman to drop you directly at your resort. Watch out for the guys that ask for the fee before you embark — they do not work for the operators. You pay on the boat.

The large ferries KMP Tao Toba I & KMP Tao Toba II operates between Ajibata and Tomok GPS 2.6551,98.8591 daily, carrying passengers as well as vehicles. On non-peak season, usually only one of the ferry operates. The ferry ride over is fantastic, just truly peaceful, apart from the vehicle radios playing and the ladies selling peanuts, bottled water, Noodles or pretty much anything else. Normally some of the passengers and vendors will be able to speak English. Landing at the other end of the 1 hour ferry journey is daunting, but again, behave like everyone else in Indonesia and just push, ever so politely, but firmly and eventually you will get off the ferry and onto the primary street. If you are not bringing vehicles along, better use the boat service as it's faster.

Other large ferries routes are (as of January 2023):

• Sipinggan GPS 2.4346,98.8982 (1 hour drive from Tomok) connected to Muara GPS 2.3380,98.9041 and the ferry (KMP Sumut II) runs once a day every Saturday & Sunday. Trip last about 50 minutes with capacity of 40 people and 8 vehicles.
• Simanindo GPS 2.7540,98.7456 (30 min drive from Tuktuk) by KMP Sumut I connected to Tigaras GPS 2.7983,98.7887 which runs 7x trips daily. Trip last about 45 minutes with capacity of 16 vehicles.
• Onan Runggu GPS 2.4537,98.9786 connected to Balige GPS 2.337,99.062 by KMP Sumut II, runs once a day every Monday & Friday. Trip last about 90 minutes.

Public boat routes (passengers only) are (as of January 2023):

• from/to Tuktuk:
• from/to Tomok
• Tomok - Ajibata, 14x daily, Rp 7,000 / 30 min (from 8.30AM to 6PM every hour)
• Tuktuk - Tigaraja, 8x daily, Rp 25,000 / 35 min (from 8.30AM to 6PM every hour)
• Onan Runggu - Balige, once daily
• Onan Runggu - Ajibata, 5x daily
• Nainggolan GPS 2.4340,98.8833 - Balige, once daily
• Nainggolan - Ajibata, once daily except twice on Monday
• Mogang GPS 2.4653,98.8017 - Balige, once daily
• Mogang - Ajibata, once daily
• Simanindo - Haranggaol GPS 2.8766,98.6793, once daily
• Pangururan GPS 2.6011,98.7014 - Haranggaol, once daily
• Lopo Parindo, Tomok GPS 2.6498,98.8656 - Tigaraja, 10x daily

If you have cash to burn, you can charter a speedboat and tour around Lake Toba. Rent are Rp 700,000++.

By public transport

It may be obvious but just remember there are no taxis around Lake Toba. Public buses exist, but there is no specific schedule. Ask the local residents which bus to take as it may be confusing or you can flag a bus and ask the driver. State clearly your destination to avoid misunderstanding. Open minivans circulate around the main one way thoroughfare between the primary street, port/market waterfront area, and the mountains behind Parapat. Hop on / hop off anywhere. Prices around Rp 7,000 per person.

By motorcycle

Hire a motorcycle for a day or two and get out and about Rp 80,000 per day including full petrol. You can bargain down to Rp 70,000 per day in low season if you hire for several days. Most of the motorcycles available for rent are the owner's own transportation, so you may need to return it to them before sunset (depends on owner) or you may be charge for an extra fees. Take a map. There are no police checking licenses and there is not much traffic - just watch out for the big trucks, buses and diabolical bridges.

Honking around is a norm to indicate that there's incoming vehicle from the opposite or there's a vehicle bypassing you from the back (in driver's point of view). A good journey to take on a motorcycle would be to travel North from Tuktuk around to the western shore, stopping at the tourist sites along the way such as the many and varied traditional houses and villages. The roads are very bad in the center of the island (bumpy and washed out) and it takes half a day to cross this way (verse 1–2 hours by coast road which is more scenic anyway).

You can expect to ride at least up to 100 km in the day. If you're going around the island with motorcycle or bicycle, be sure to put on some sunblock as when you venture out in the morning things can be deceiving due to the cooler temperatures in the morning cause of the higher elevation, but the sun will be intense by mid-day.

Travel by bicycle in Lake Toba

Most of the cottages and guest houses at Tuktuk will rent you a very serviceable bicycle for a nominal fee (for local residents, it's about Rp 200,000), this is a very much preferred way to get around, but be very careful for the cars as nobody looks and there does not seem to be any right side of the road, even when its the left side.

By foot

Sure you can walk the small part of the island in an hour or so but if you are heading out for the night plan ahead on how you will get back home. The local residents are very friendly people who will go out of their way to help. However, some corners of the island are very quiet at night and you may find yourself on a long long walk. Most part of the island also lack road lights, combined with bad road condition makes driving at night is misery!

What to see in Lake Toba

The Batak king who adopted Christianity is buried in Tomok, a village 5km southeast of Tuktuk.

• Batak Tombs Many large tombs scattered in the (often rice) fields as family graves. This is typical for Toba Bataks but also other Bataks (e.g. Southeast of Berastagi).

• Batak Museum At the northern tip of the island there is a Batak Museum with traditional dance performed twice daily at on 10am.

Tele tower terrace - Tele observation tower terrace overlooking western Lake Toba & Samosir island.

• Stone chairs and old houses Stone chairs used for judgement and executions on a village square, in front of a line of old Batak houses (about 50-100 years old, but look older). Many houses are still in use.Entrance fee of Rp 7,000 (June 2017)

• Or you can just enjoy the scenery which is breathtaking!

• Sipiso-piso falls - Air terjun Sipisopiso | Highest waterfall in North Sumatra. You can climb down to get near to the waterfall or just enjoy the vista from top

• Monument of King Silalahi - Tugu Makam Raja Silahisabungan | A grave of Batak King Silalahi, contains impeccably maintained Batak traditional house.

• Tele observation tower - Menara pandang Tele | Offer a view of Mt. Pusuk Buhit and the whole western side of Lake Toba. There is a small souvenir shop just beside the tower. The road to here are narrow and offer limited parking place.

Bukit Holbung - Bukit Holbung

• Holbung - Bukit Holbung | A splendid rolling hills that offer breathtaking view of the western part of Lake Toba. Also a popular spot for camping.

• Simarjarunjung hill - Bukit Indah Simarjarunjung | There is a path leading up the mountains to the north of Parapat about 100 m out of the buildings down the primary street. This leads up to an attractive pine forest.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Lake Toba

• Hot springs - The are several establishments at thermal spas (Muslim Friendly), most of which also offer lodgings and restaurants. If you stay or eat at the establishment and the entry fee may be free. The water is hot. Locals usually use their hands to get some water out of the pool. Standing in the swimmingpool is feasible, but you probably won't be able to swim.

Replace after the frenetic atmosphere of Indonesia. Swim in the volcanically warmed waters of the lake or arrange an overnight 'party' boat out on the lake if you can get enough volunteers together. A stunning location to do nothing at all. Plenty of second hand book shops to stock up on reading material. Traditional Batak Dance in Restaurant Bagus Bay every Wednesday and Saturday from 20:15 onwards. After the dance, sit back and enjoy the folk songs done by a group of men.

Rent a scooter to get around. Scooters cost about Rp 80,000 -100,000 per day. Petrol is approx Rp 9,000 per liter as of June 2017.

Do visit the west! Especially the viewpoint at the northwest tip called Pantai Batu Hoda. Very chill place with a couple of huts to relax and have coffee in. It's away from the roads and bustle of touristic jet skis.

Get to the viewpoint in the northeast, after Tomok near Latihan Paralayang, for a good accessible view over the lakes while up on the hills. Take a right fork after passing Tomok town. Roads are good. The road on the left fork is not paved.

Fishing Rental of a fishing rod (Rp 120,000 including bait) is feasible.

The adventurous travelers may find many opportunity to explore the wilderness. Lake Toba offers plenty of rainforest with hills and mountains. Unless you are an experienced trekker and know what you are doing, a guide is recommended.

• Pusuk Buhit - Gunung Pusuk Buhit | A sacred mountain for Batak people, legend said that the Batak people's origin is from this mountain. With a height of 1982 m, this mountain is the most accessible mountain to be climbed around Lake Toba. The climbing is easy and can be completed in less than a day. Climb from just after midnight to time your arrival at summit before sunrise to get best experience.

• Sibuatan - Gunung Sibuatan | Highest mountain in North Sumatra with a height of 2457 meters. Located in northern part of Lake Toba and the mountain is covered in thick rainforest. A guide is needed and the climb is hard. Not very popular with climbers. Usual climb will take 2 days.

• Water scooters with a guide on-board

• Speed boat rides - Private boat to Tomok or Tuktuk costs Rp 800,000 and takes 10 minutes.

• Kiddle ride - Self paddle "kiddle ride" boats for Rp 60,000 per hour.

• Rafting - Rafting in Parhitean: Asahan River is a river in North Sumatra which flows from Lake Toba. This river passes Porsea, neighborhood Asahan, and ends at Nibung Gulf and the Strait of Malacca. The river is 150 kilometers in length and passes through the valleys of the Barisan Mountains. The Asahan River, especially around the Tangga village, flows around 120 m / sec with grade IV-V + and has an average depth of 5 m: it is considered very challenging by whitewater rafting enthusiasts.

Ecotourism

• World Heritage Minimini | The government has promoted development of several fish farms, using dugout lakes, far from Lake Toba, to prevent its contamination. One of these new farms uses a unique sustainable development technique, using the surplus of plankton to fertilize the 5,000 fruit trees planted around the 26 dugout lakes. Camping sites, gardens, golf 19-20, badminton, mölkky, geocaching, a heliport and world legacy replicas have been laid out around the lakes without cutting the pre-existing trees in this valley. Actually and the Government already controls the situation and many new fish farms are opening away from Lake Toba. One of these new farms "World Heritage minimini" which is managed by a Community Organism welcome ecotourism tourism. World Heritage minimini uses, for fish farming, a sustainable-development technique (1000 years), unique in the world, taking excess-plankton-annually-to-fertilize-fruit-trees. 5 000 fruit trees were planted around the 26 dugout lakes.

Halal Food & Restaurants

To be updated

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Lake Toba

Lake Toba - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Lake Toba, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Lake Toba. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Lake Toba and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Lake Toba. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Lake Toba. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inLake Toba: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Lake Toba.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Lake Toba: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Lake Toba, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Lake Toba.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Lake Toba, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Lake Toba, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Lake Toba and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Lake Toba, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Lake Toba, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Lake Toba without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Lake Toba is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Lake Toba.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Lake Toba is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Lake Toba, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Lake Toba Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

There are numerous hotels and guest houses, mainly in Tuktuk but with a few scattered in other small towns around the island. During Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb), many Indonesians come for vacation and will pay generously for their rooms (about triple the rate). To accommodate these guests, some guest house owners may ask their existing guests to vacate their rooms, but only giving them very short notice. Therefore, when arriving before Chinese New Year, check with the guest house owner to ensure your stay will not be interrupted.

• Niagara Hotel and Resort - One of the better hotels, although only 2 to 3 stars. Can be crowded with families at weekends and on public holidays.

• Taman Simalem Resort | Taman Simalem Resort is Indonesia's first agro-eco-tourism destination that has the magnificent Lake Toba as the backdrop at some 1400 m above sea level. Some unique features of the resort comprise Indonesia's largest loquat farm, an organic vegetables farm, a 9-hole golf course set in a tea and coffee estate and a twin waterfall in the 130-ha jungle that surrounds the resort. The resort is still under development but lodging is available; ranging from the 4-bedded rooms with detached bathrooms to villas set in the jungle. For the more adventurous, camping packages are also available. A minimum 2-night stay is recommended to be able to enjoy most of the resort's facilities. Windbreakers and sweaters are recommended as the temperature averages below 20°C year round.

Stay Safe

The local Batak people are very respectful. Some of the local males may try to turn on the charm too much.

A popular way for tourists to get around Samosir Island is to hire a motorcycle Rp 80,000-80,000, a lower rate may be available if rented for a longer period. Care should be taken if choosing this option as the roads around the island are in poor condition and medical services very limited if you have an accident requiring medical treatment.

Travel Next

• Medan - the major city in northern Sumatra and transportation hub
• Pematang Siantar - the 2nd largest city in northern Sumatra after Medan
• Berastagi - a beautiful town next to two famous volcanoes
• Bukit Lawang - home of orangutans in the Gunung Leuser National Park

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