Pulau Samosir is an island around the size of Singapore, located in the middle of the world’s largest volcanic lake, Danau Toba. This unique landscape is the result of the largest known volcanic eruption in the past two million years. Around 74.000 years ago this supervolcanic eruption created an enormous caldera which slowly filled with water and is now known as Lake Toba.
Samosir island is one of the main tourist attractions in
Sumatra. The blue lake and the steep green hills surrounding it create a
picturesque setting around Samosir island. Another aspect which makes Samosir such
a unique place are the Batak people and their culture which can be seen all
around the island.
The Batak people combine their traditions and the amenities
of modern life. Their beautifully decorated traditional wooden houses often
have a second concrete building connected to them in the back.
Large gravesites decorated with typical Batak elements can
be seen all around Pulau Samosir. They are an important part of the Batak
people’s complex burial rituals.
Getting to Samosir
You have a lot of options on how to get to Samosir island.
It all depends on which direction you are coming from and what type of vehicle
you are traveling with.
The main tourist area on Samosir is the small village Tuk
Tuk with many hotels, restaurants, and a few simple bars. However, if you are
like me and prefer to get away from the tourist crowds, there are plenty of simple
hotels and camping spots all around the island. I usually book hotels through https://en.tiket.com/, the Indonesian alternative
to Agoda or Booking.com.
By car
Samosir is almost connected to the mainland in Pangururan.
That’s where you’ll find the only bridge bringing you to the island. Coming
from Sidikalang and wanting to explore the western side of Lake Toba before
heading to Samosir we opted for that route. There are a lot of beautiful places
to explore when driving to Samosir via Tele. Check out this post to find out more.
However, if you’re coming from a different direction, it
might be easier and quicker for you to take a ferry from one of the many
harbours around Lake Toba. Check out the different routes and ferry schedules
on this website. https://samosirkab.go.id/pariwisata/
We took the ferry from Pelabuhan Sipinggan to Muara on our way back to the mainland. If you choose to do the same, make sure to be at the harbour early as the tickets are limited and sold on a first come, first serve basis. I highly recommend taking the ferry at least once. It will save you some time and more importantly, it gives you the change to see this amazing landscape from a different perspective.
By motorbike or on foot
If you are traveling with a motorbike or without a vehicle you have the additional option to take smaller boats to get to the island. One of the popular routes is from Parpat to Tuk Tuk, the main tourist area on Samosir. You can find the different routes on the website shared above. Those boats are labelled as “Kapal Kaya” which means wooden boat. It looks a bit scary, but motorbikes can also be loaded onto the boats by pushing them over narrow wooden planks.
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Best places along the route
We spent several days exploring the area surrounding Lake
Toba and just had one day left to drive around Pulau Samosir and to camp on the
island. To make the most of our time there we decided to drive along the
northern shore of the island and then to cross over it to see more of its
inland.
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| Route around Pulau Samosir |
Beaches
There are several beaches where you can stop for a swim and relax for a while all around Pulau Samosir. Just follow one of the many “Pantai” signs, pantai of course meaning beach, from the main road. A popular beach with Indonesian tourists is Pantai Ikan Mas with its many selfie-spots and different water sports options. It’s a great place to visit and people-watch for a while. It will give you some insight into how many local families like to spend their holidays.
Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo
This small open-air museum was once
the home of the Batak king Rajah Simalungun. The complex includes the king’s
house, well preserved royal tombs, and several traditional Batak houses displaying
cultural artefacts such as traditional musical instruments and weapons. The
traditional Batak dance “Tortor” is regularly performed at this venue. Make
sure to check the dance schedule before your visit. A small coffeeshop, set in
a beautiful garden, is right next to the museum.
Location: Click here
Tuk Tuk
Tuk Tuk is a small town located by the lake. It is the area
where most tourists decide to stay as it has many restaurants and hotels for
all types of budgets. Many hotels are built directly on the shore of the lake
with their own little beaches. You can also experience sleeping in a traditional
Batak house as many bungalows are built in that style. Tuk Tuk is also a good
place if you’re interested in buying local handicrafts such as woodcarvings.
All that said, I think Tuk Tuk is a good starting point for
people visiting Pulau Samosir for the first time. It’s easy to get information
about places to visit, rent scooters, make future travel arrangements, and meet
fellow travellers. However, during my second time on the island I decided to
skip Tuk Tuk and search for a campsite instead of staying in the small town.
Location: Click here
Tomok
Tomok is a small village filled with important historical and
cultural landmarks. There are regular traditional Batak dance performances,
called Sigale-Gale, around the village. Tourists are often invited to join the
dance and give a small donation afterwards. This village is extremely touristy
and has a huge market filled with souvenir shops.
Location: Click here
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| Credit: @Kumparan |
Parhallow Viewpoint
This is a Warung serving drinks and simple Indonesian dishes
with beautiful panoramic views over the hills and Lake Toba. It’s a great spot
to watch the sunset.
Location: Click here
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| Credit: @Andalas |
Lake Sidihoni
This is a small lake located in the inland of Samosir. You’ll
pass it if you cross over the island. It’s known as the lake on an island in another
lake. It’s a quiet place and a great option for a camping spot.
Location: Click here
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| Credit: @Laketoba.travel |
Air Panas Rianiate
These hot springs are open 24 hours and it’s especially nice
to soak in the hot water at night-time when the temperatures at the lake drop.
Location: Click
here
Camping spot
There are many spots on Samosir where you can set up camp
for a night. Some of the beaches offer camp sites or you can look for some
empty land if you prefer wild camping. Just make sure to ask for permission if local
are nearby. It’s a bit tricky to find empty land near the lake, as a lot of it
is private property or farmland. After a long drive, we managed however to find
a beautiful spot right by the lake near Desa Saor. It was the perfect spot for us,
and the sunset was mind-blowing.
Location: Click here
A little heads-up
Make sure to bring some warm clothes when visiting Lake Toba. I had to learn this the hard way during my first visit. The lake is situated at an altitude of around 900 meters above sea level, so it gets quite chilly in the evenings.
Can’t get enough of Lake Toba? Have a look at my other blogs about the area.
Must -see places on the eastern
side of the lake.
Must -see places on the western side of the lake.
My favourite
road at Lake Toba.
Camping at the tallest
waterfall in Indonesia.
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