About Lake Toba
Lake Toba is one of the most unique locations in Indonesia. It formed after a supervolcanic eruption 75,000 years ago. The eruption was so large it caused global climate change and resulted in the extinction of a range of animals. It’s the largest volcanic lake in the world and it’s quite impressive, it has a max depth of over 500m!
There is a large island in the middle of the lake called Samosir Island. This island is almost the same size as Singapore and is considered a highlight for many visiting Sumatra. It is a great spot to wind-down, enjoy the nature, and swim in the lake.
Where to stay
You will want to stay on the island in the middle of Lake Toba, called Samosir Island. The other areas around Lake Toba aren’t as nice in our opinion, they’re more chaotic and don’t see as many tourists. On Samosir Island we recommend staying in the town called Tuktuk. This is where most people stay as it has the most accommodation options available and this is where the ferry drops you.
In Tuktuk there are a number of resorts or homestays available. We stayed at Carolina Cottage and it was great. They have a range of rooms available depending on your budget. They’re situated right along the water and have a large restaurant overlooking Lake Toba.
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About Berastagi
Most well-known for its diverse fruit and vegetable market and unique location between 2 active volanos. Berastagi is a beautiful small town with lots to offer! Whether you want to climb an active volcano, relax in a hot spring, or explore the local markets, Berastagi has it all. It is ideally located between Medan and Lake Toba, so it is the perfect place to use as a layover. We wrote a separate post about the top things to do and see in Berastagi, so check it out!
From Berastagi to Lake Toba
After having explored Berastagi, it is time to make your way to Lake Toba. In this post, we will guide you to the town of Tuktuk on Samosir island, as this is where we recommend to stay. But going here means you’ll need to take a ferry. The ferry leaves from the harbour in Parapat so you will first need to get here.
There are a few ways to get to Parapat from Berastagi. You can either get a taxi/grab or private driver, take a shared tourist bus, or go local and use multiple public busses.
Option 1. Tourist bus
We recommend this option as it will be a lot quicker and far more comfortable. This can be organised through two companies, Bagus travel and Happy track travel. Get in contact with your accommodation and they should be able to help you book it.
- 3 hours
- ~ 240,000 IDR per person (€14)
Breakdown
- Berastagi to Parapat by minibus (200,000 – 230,000 IDR)
- Parapat to Tuktuk by ferry (25,000 IDR)
Step 1. Berastagi to Parapat
These tourist busses will pick you up from your accommodation in Berastagi and take you directly to the harbour in Parapat. This costs 200,000 IDR for Bagus travel and 230,000 IDR for Happy track travel and takes around 2.5 hours.
Step 2. Parapat to Tuktuk
At the harbour in Parapat, you will need to go to the ferry dock called Pelabuhan Tiga Raja. It is not signed very well, so just go to this location (google maps). From here you will catch a boat across to the village of Tuktuk. Tickets can be purchased on the boat, the captain will come around and collect the cash after leaving. It costs 25,000 IDR and takes around 20 mins.
Option 2. Local transport
We, budget student backpackers, opted for the local transport. Looking back, it was a very long and intense ride from Berastagi to Lake Toba. But if you have the time and are up for an adventure, then you’ve come to the right post!
- 7 - 8 hours
- ~ 81,000 IDR per person (€5)
Breakdown
- Berastagi to Kabanjahe by minibus (6,000 IDR)
- Kabanjahe to Siantar by bigger minibus (25,000 IDR)
- Siantar to Parapat by big bus (25,000 IDR)
- Parapat to Tuktuk by ferry (25,000 IDR)
Note: For all the local busses, you pay the driver directly in cash. So make sure you have enough when you leave Berastagi, as there aren’t any ATMs until you get to Lake Toba.
Step 1. Berastagi to Kabanjahe
Go down to the main roundabout in Berastagi (the one with this big pillar monument in the middle) and look out for a yellow minibus with Karya transport written on it. You will need to take this bus to Kabanjahe terminal. It will cost 6,000 IDR and takes around 30 mins.
Step 2. Kabanjahe to Siantar
Arrive at the Kabanjahe terminal. You’ll see a heap of very strange looking mini buses. You will likely be approached by a lot of people trying to sell you a ticket for their bus.
Look around for a blue/black mini bus (slightly bigger than the previous one) with Sepadan written on it. You will need to take this bus to Siantar terminal and it will cost around 25,000 IDR. This trip takes a fair bit longer, around 3 hours, so get comfy.
Step 3. Siantar to Parapat
Once arriving at the Siantar terminal, walk in the direction of the main road. You will need to wait outside the Sejahtera ticket office for the next bus (look out for the France Bakery and convenience store which are right next to it).
You will need to get on a blue and white bus with Sejahtera written on it. It is a normal sized bus, so it is far more comfortable than the previous two. This one will take you to the harbour in Parapat and costs 25,000 IDR. It takes around 2.5 hours but is quite scenic as it drives along the water.
Note: These larger busses transport people between Medan and Lake Toba. So the bus you get on would have come from Medan and will stop in Siantar to pick up more people.
Step 4. Parapat to Tuktuk
At the harbour in Parapat, you will need to go to the ferry dock called Pelabuhan Tiga Raja. It is not signed very well, so just go to this location (google maps). From here you will catch a boat across to the village of Tuktuk. Tickets can be purchased on the boat, the captain will come around and collect the cash after leaving. It costs 25,000 IDR and takes around 20 mins.
Arriving in Tuktuk
The ferry will stop at a number of places around the Tuktuk peninsula. Shortly before arriving, the captain will come around and ask where you are staying and tell you the best time to get off. If done correctly, you should be within walking distance of your accommodation.
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