Lake Toba

Satellite picture of lake Toba

Lake Toba is a pleasant retreat from hot and polluted Medan. People crazy enough to endure the hardships of the trans-Sumatran highway stop en-route at Lake Toba to rest and recuperate. Lake Toba was formed about 75,000 years ago after the eruption of the world's most recent super volcano. Toba lies on a fault line running along the western part of Sumatra but there has been no recent volcanic activity here.

Travel info for lake Toba

• Location of lake Toba: To the south of Medan in Indonesia. Parapat is a small town on the shore of lake Toba. Samosir is an island within Lake Toba. Tuk-Tuk and Ambarita are traveller centres on Samosir island.
  
  Map of north Sumatra
  
  
• Getting to lake Toba: Tourist mini-bus operators offer two different routes from Medan to lake Toba. The quicker route is via Siantar (Pemantangsiantar). When there is enough demand a more scenic, but longer, route via Berastagi and Sipiso-piso waterfall is also available.
  
  There are public buses and a daily train from Medan to Siantar. From Siantar there are public mini-buses to Parapat. Taking a public mini-bus for the whole journey from Medan to Parapat is not recommended since passengers are packed in like sardines and the journey takes over five hours. From Parapat ferries run hourly to Tuk-Tuk and less frequently to Ambarita.
  
  An interesting alternative route would be to take a bus from Medan to Berastagi and then travel by bus (or buses) to Haranggaol, on the northern tip of lake Toba. A ferry runs, once a week, from Haranggaol to Ambarita. I haven't used this route. There may also be a ferry from Tongging (near Haranggaol) to Ambarita.
  
  
• Flying to Sumatra: The nearest international airport to lake Toba is Medan (airport code MES). Air Asia flies between Kuala Lumpur and Medan, a return ticket costs about US$60. Malaysia airline system (MAS), Adam air, Jatayu air and Lion air fly between Penang and Medan. A return ticket costs about US$70. There are also flights between Singapore and Medan.
  
  Cheap flights to Medan
  
  
• Accommodation: A good choice of accommodation is available on Tuk-Tuk. Ambarita is a bit too remote and quiet.
  
  
• Food: The food at Tuk-Tuk is very good and much better than at Bukit Lawang or Medan. My favourite restaurant (I'm not saying which one) makes an excellent beef rendang and their pizzas and spaghettis are also very good.
  
  
• Costs: Cheap. During 2004, a room overlooking the lake with attached bathroom and hot shower cost about Rp35,000 per day. A meal cost between Rp15,000 to Rp25,0000, a Pizza cost Rp30,000. A seat on a tourist mini-bus from Medan to Toba cost about Rp50,000, using public transport would cost about Rp20,000.
  
  
• Activities: Lots of people hire motorbikes but watch out! The roads on Tuk-Tuk are windy and twisty with plenty of potholes and blind turns. Accidents are common and could easily cost you Rp10,000,000, when you've paid for the ambulance from Siantar, hospital fees and bike repair costs. Since you are a tourist any accident will automatically be assumed to be your fault. There is no insurance when you rent a motorbike. Much cheaper and safer are activities such as trekking and cycling. There are hot springs on the western side of Samosir island.