Toba Lake
Identity of Lake toba
Location : North Sumatera, Indonesia
Type : volcanic/tectonic
Primary outflows : Asahan River
Area : 1130 km²
Length : 100 km
Width : 30 km
Understand
Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake covering an area of 1,707 km² with an island in its centre.
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 suggests
that there were only a few thousand individuals that survived its catastrophic eruption.
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 the Batak tribe who are now mostly Christians.
Transportation About 2 hours
5 minutes
Malang Jakarta Medan
(Abdul Rachman (Soekarno Hatta (Kuala Namu
Saleh Airport) Airport) Airport)
About 1 hour
20 minutes
Travel onwards by land to Parapat, the town by Lake Toba. Parapat is
about 4 hours by car from Medan or 4-6 hours by public bus.
What Can Be Founded There?
Resort Taman Simalem
Batu Gantung Parapat
Sipiso-piso Waterfall
Binanglom Waterfall
Sampuran Efrata Waterfall
Samosir Island
Tomok Village
Pangururan Hot Spring
Gajah Bobok Hill
SOUVENIR
We can find the souvenirs in Tomok
Village.
The kind of souvenirs are weaved
clothes, such as :
Sarung
Scarf like cloth
Many traditional Bataknese
handicrafts.
Price :Rp.40.000-50.000
CULINARY
There are some restaurants around lake Toba :
The main road around Tuktuk is lined with small restaurants of varying
quality. Also on offer is magic mushroom and various "happy herb" pizzas
if you want that.
Cotney Restaurant, (by the Samosir resort)
Jenny's Restaurant
Joe's Restaurant
Marco Polo
Maruba Restaurant
COTNEY RESTAURANT MARCO POLO JOE’S RESTAURANT
Cotney Restaurant (by the Close to the northern tip of The place about 2 km from Tuk
Samosir resort). Tuk Tuk (Walk north past Tuk towards Ambarita.
most restaurants, about 15
They serves : Rendangs, A family restaurant with a
min from Carolina).
curries, steak. kind, friendly owner.
Views and reasonably priced
Internet is available at a They serves : Chicken à la
food.
reasonable local price. batak,banana chocolate cake,
Make sure to try the avocado fresh vanilla.
sandwich.
JENNY’S RETAURANT MARUBA RESTAURANT
There is only one or two roads so simply ask Maruba Restaurant, Tuk-tuk (In between
for Jenny's Ambaroba Hotel and Rodeo
Restaurant with view of Lake Toba. Accommodation).
They serves : Curries, fresh lake-fish, steamed Traditional Batak and Indonesian food and
or grilled, western food such as schnitzel a variety of Western meals such as
(breaded pork or chicken chop pan fried). schnitzels, real homemade burgers, pasta
Desserts include fresh papaya that grows in and roast chicken with fresh herb stuffing.
the back-yard or a golden-brown banana Brown bread, burger buns and baguettes
pancake with chocolate sauce and a sprinkle baked most days. English breakfast with
of coconut. smoked bacon is delicious, etc.
BAR
There is one discotheque on Fri and Sat nights - expect the latest 80s music. Better to drink at your
guest house generally.
Saturday night is often the highlight on the local calendar. You can hear a chorus of parties going
around the Tuk Tuk area.
SAMOSIR COTTAGES REGGAE BAR
Samosir Cottages will provide a wonderful local Batak Reggae Bar is perched high up looking over the lake.
performance that is a mixture of traditional dances
and fantastic drinking songs.
HISBISCUS BAR ROY’S PUB
This area is in a depressed tourist state but is actual a Roy's Pub, Tuk-Tuk (At the
wonderful gem that should be on the world stage northern end of Tuk-Tuk
peninsula.).
Midday until 1am :Roy's is the
local live music venue.
On Tues, Thurs, and Sat : Roy's
son and his band play the
western-orientated classics
LODGING
There are numerous hotels and guest houses, mainly in Tuk Tuk but with a few scattered in other
small towns around the island.
The favourite hotel in there is Bagus Bay
Bagus Bay
☎ +62 625 451287
Next to the lake.
A dark wood and bamboo bar/restaurant gives
the place a relaxed feel.
Great free wifi, hot showers, free kayak,
volleyball court, pool table and a bunch of other
cool free stuff.
