Travel to Lake Toba; North Sumatera - Indonesia

Wonderful Lake Toba

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world where super volcanic eruption occurred there 75,000 years ago and lake Toba is the largest lake in Indonesia. Lake toba offer the best wonderful scene with Batak Toba local culture will welcome you friendly. 

HORAS, when you arrive in Toba land, you will hear this word, this word is a warm greeting for visitor who visit Toba land.  Danau Toba (like Toba) Danau it's mean lake, Indonesian say lake with danau. Lake Toba has a legend story. if you want to hear the legend story you can ask to your guide when you travel to Lake Toba North Sumatera. Lake Toba is one of Tourism icon of North Sumatra.

Getting there

If you want to visit Lake toba this is the travel routes;

By plane you can choose destination Medan (MES) Polonia International Airport, there is available direct flight from Malaysia and Singapore using Airlines AirAsia or Garuda Indonesia. Also you can choose direct fllifgt from Jakarta or Surabaya.

After you arrive in Medan you can find the tour best accommodation to Lake Toba by Bus. The distance medan and Lake Toba is around 170 KM,  traveled time around four to five hour.

Google Map Lake Toba

Interesting Places

• Ambarita

Ambarita is an ancient Batak tribal village on Samosir Island, in Lake Toba. It is located an hour's walk northwest from Tuk Tuk or about 20 minutes by boat. I visited it together with a small group of AsiaExplorers members.

What makes Ambarita interesting, from an anthropological standpoint, is that during ancient times the Toba Batak people of Ambarita practised a form of carnibalism. What remains today is the cluster of stone chairs where the village elders held council. Whenever an enemy was captured, the elders would invite the rulers of neighbouring villages to a conference, to determine the fate of the victim. The victim is held in behind bars under one of the houses.

• Parapat
  

Gateway to Danau Toba, Parapat is a great place to stock up on supplies and enjoy the semblance of an urban existence before plunging into the rugged countryside. This is a necessary stepping stone to some of Indonesia's most interesting backcountry.

Parapat may not have a distinct tourism flavor, but it is well stocked with shops and hotels. Given its status as a secondary transport hub, it's also well connected to the rest of the region.

• Simanindo
  

Simanindo is a small Toba Batak village on the northern part of Lake Toba, about 16 km from Ambarita. Tourists come here to view the restored house of the Toba Batak king. This house has since been turned into a museum. In front of the museum is a row of ancient Toba Batak tombs of the ancient Simanindo kings. Just as in Pematang Purba, the Batak kings of Simanindo are Christians. Hence there are Christian motifs in the design of their tombs.

• Tomok
  

A traditional village with beautiful houses and ancient tombs. Tomok is gateway to Samosir and one of the main landing-points on the island. Rows of stalls sell an array of handicraft, traditional ulos cloth and Batak musical instruments. The 200-year-old stone sarcophagus of King Sidabutar built in the shape of a ship is its most famous sight. He was the Batak King that introduced Christianity to the Batak people. It is located a short walk away from the lake. Tomok is also known for the Sigale-gale dance.

• Tuk Tuk
  

Samosir Island is accessible by ferry from Ajibata or Parapat. One of the main inhabited areas on the island, Tuktuk has been described as Samosir's answer to Bali's Kuta Beach. Tuk Tuk is the main tourist center on Samosir Island. It is a pleasant place for walking around, shopping and admiring the views over Lake Toba. This popular destination offers scenic views at very low prices. People come here to relax, enjoy the sceneries, eat well and cool down from tougher travelling in other areas. Culture is available on certain days and in other nearby villages anyway. Western tunes have replaced the harmonic popular songs of the well-singing Bataks.

Events 

Pesta Danau Toba (Lake Toba Party) is one of the annual event that hold by local regency of Danau toba, and its a ansional event where all culture of Batak Toba, like Dances, art, Musics, Modern Music collaborated with traditional music of Batak Toba with traditional instrument and all about tourism will perform in this event. This event will be scheduled at end  of of each year. This event will be attend by Batak people around the world, they will return to your home to hold this event. Even from Antartika they must attend thi event, if they have budget. Its event look like a traditional customs party.

Hotel

For Hotel accomodation you can seacrh in Hotel Combine for booking, you can save 75% for your hotel. 

After you visiting the Lake Toba don't forget to tell you family, friend about the wonderful volcanic lake created by God. 

I hope information on Travel to Lake Toba North Sumatera Inonesia will helpful for you. 

Enjoy your vacation in Lake Toba!