Fairytale in Samosir
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival on Samosir Island
Your driver will take you all the way to Parapat where you’ll board the ferry to Samosir Island. The deep, dark lake is surrounded by densely wooded mountains, with traditional Batak houses sticking out above the green treetops. Your accommodation is situated directly on the banks of Lake Toba in a room with a breezy balcony and wonderful views across the lake.
Days 2-4 – Free time & departure
As you explore the island over the next couple of days, you’ll find typical Batak houses and get an idea of how the local people live. Tomok is the most important village on the island and a brilliant place to see wooden Batak houses with ritual graves and unique tombs. For local culture, pay a visit to Simanindo village, where you can watch the daily Batak dance performances accompanied by homemade instruments. Bicycles are available for hire on the island if you’d like to use pedal power to get around.
In the evenings, try some local Indonesian specialties in one of the little restaurants lining the roads of Tuk-Tuk, before sitting back and watching the sun go down over the lake.
The fourth day, your Samosir trip comes to an end and you’ll take the ferry crossing back to Parapat, from where you’ll continue your Sumatran adventure.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Samosir Discovery tour by 4WD
If you are seeking an adventure we can arrange an exciting jeep tour around Samosir for you. Samosir is a peninsula in Lake Toba, known as the world’s largest crater lake, with a depth of 450 meters. You’ll start with a hearty lunch before going off-road in a 4WD jeep, stopping at small Batak villages along the way. The Batak people, the traditional inhabitants of North Sumatra, live a simple, traditional lifestyle and will welcome you warmly. As you journey through the lush landscape, you’ll be amazed by the abundant vegetation—every spot is covered with trees, plants, and shrubs, many of which are cultivated versions of what you might find back home. You’ll also discover a variety of exotic fruits and vegetables at local markets, offering flavours you won’t find in the UK.
