Where is danau toba

Also, there is a wooden puppet called Sigale-gale, which has become a tourist attraction in Samosir Island because of the mystical value within the myth and belief surrounding the puppet itself.

The locals believed that Sigale-gale can wail and dance by itself without music. Some also said that Sigale-gale can only be placed in a coffin. This statue is also commonly used in family death ceremonies in the Samosir area because Sigale-gale dance is believed by local residents to deliver the spirit of the deceased to the afterlife. There are also authentic wood carvings that you can get in the souvenir shops. Well, I just love Bali so much, and we fell in love with the culture, people, the food.

Everything was just amazing. I feel like in Bali, you can find serenity anywhere, literally. It's our favorite place that we've been to on our entire trip. This is the official website of the Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia. The contents listed on this website are intended for informational purposes rather than commercial.

Any displayed sale is meant as a token of partnership and will always redirect you to our partners' sites. Home Destinations Sumatra Lake Toba. A Comforting Escapade Toba is a place to sit back, relax and absorb some beautiful pristine scenery. By Land Parapat, the town by Lake Toba, is km away from Medan and can be reached in under 6 hours by public buses that follow two routes: Medan-Parapat or via Medan-Berastagi.

How To Get Around Feel the wind in your hair and do as the locals do by hiring a motorbike to explore this beautiful part of the world. Indonesia Tourism Office.

Here are…. For those of you who come to Nias Island for your next vacation, it is better to find information about attractions that were previously available.

As for reference, the beautiful beach is in West Nias Regency named Sirombu. Usually tour agents will recommend this place to locals and foreigners. The reason is none other than the sunset view.

In addition, Sirombu Beach is also equipped with amazing facilities and surroundings. Not surprisingly, many people consider it the best vacation spot in West Nias Regency. It is true that Sirombu Beach…. What makes Indonesia is a worthy vacation destination? Many travelers are impressed by nature beauty of the country. Being the biggest lake in Indonesia, Toba becomes the signature tourism in Sumatra Island. It is because the flawless nature and pristine water would satisfy all visitors.

Samosir island is the cultural centre of Batak tribe who are mostly Christians nowadays. Lake Toba was perhaps once more popular than it is nowadays, but for many it remains a firm fixture on the Banana Pancake Trail. It is a great laid back place to chill out for a few days after jungle trekking etc. The location is very popular with Chinese tourists around Chinese New Year, when availability drops dramatically and accommodation costs skyrocket.

In its effort to promote tourism, government has greatly improved the infrastructure. The water quality in Lake Toba is not the same everywhere, so seek local advice before swimming. Some areas of the lake are not recommended for swimming, due to pollution caused by intensive fish-farming.

The local people who live in the Toba region are called Toba Batak, or simply Batak, and they speak the local Batak language, but everyone also speaks Indonesian.

You may want to use the Batak greeting, 'horas', which means welcome, good morning, farewell, etc. The Kabanjahe route is by far the shortest route and the only road to offer several options to reach Lake Toba.

The route passes through Berastagi town and Kabanjahe city till it reaches Merek town about 2. Once you reach Merek, there are 3 options: go to Tongging in the northern part of the lake 30 minutes' drive , to Parapat in the eastern part 2 hours' drive or go through Sidikalang and continue to the western part to reach Samosir island via the only land bridge.

This route is recommended to those who wish to explore Berastagi, Kabanjahe and Lake Toba in one go. The Pematang Siantar route is the most popular route if you choose to head for Parapat or the southern part of Lake Toba. It takes about 5 hours by bus from Medan and will pass through Pematangsiantar.

Due to opening of a toll road, the travel time may be cut by 30 - 45 mins. If you are flying to Kualanamu Airport, then most likely you will use this route. There is no direct train to Lake Toba. The nearest train station is at Pematang Siantar 50 km north of Parapat. The train Siantar Ekspres departs from Medan every day on and the trip takes about 4 hours because the train stops at almost every station.

Ticket price is Rp 22, one way as of December It is a long but wonderful way to travel if you like to learn more culture on their daily living and lifestyle.

Using a car is the easiest and safest way to get around, but you have to rent from either Medan or Pematangsiantar. Use a car with a high ground clearance and preferably one with lots of power. The majority of roads around Lake Toba are unpaved, save for the major road. Even the paved one may be in very bad condition, with lots of potholes.

Local transportation around the lake takes the form of boats cheaper, school boats with limited schedules and more expensive public boats that operate throughout the day. The ferry dock of Parapat is the major access point for the Samosir island. From there, jump in a local mini-van Rp 2, towards the Parapat bus station.

From there you can reach nearly all the big cities in Sumatra and even Java. Several harbours on the mainland have ferry connections with Samosir island. Most common is the Parapat - Tomok route. Public boats from Parapat and surrounding areas sail from either 2.

The boat runs every hour, with the last one at Some ferry owners are tourist hunters and will overcharge you. Try to take the ferry with wooden benches inside and the light green ferry. Those are the ferries that charge Rp 10, and the locals take to cross over. Self-proclaimed 'tourist hunters' may befriend you on the boat but are harmless and often helpful. If you are staying at Tuktuk, you can ask the ferryman to drop you directly at your resort. Watch out for the guys that ask for the fee before you embark — they do not work for the operators.

You pay on the boat. On non-peak season, usually only one of the ferry operates.