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Home » Destinations » Asia » Indonesia

Lake Toba: Sumatra's Volcanic Island Paradise

Modified: Sep 14, 2024 · Published: Mar 21, 2011 by Mark Wiens |

Nestled in the palms of a supervolcano lies the immaculate volcanic Lake Toba (Danau Toba). Once an explosive volcanic catastrophe zone, it's now a picturesque scene so peaceful and gorgeous that any initial impression is that of laziness and relaxation.

Everything from the Indigenous Batak people to the glassy top of the lake induces a slow-paced attitude and a license to clear the mind by doing as little as possible.

Homes along the lake.
Homes along the lake

Getting There

From the northern Sumatran capital city of Medan, the journey to Lake Toba takes five to six hours. Our driver attempted to maximize the velocity of our van, overtaking freight trucks at frightening speeds and gaining air on the potholes.

Driving through the forest, we eventually reached the outskirts of the main volcano and wound our way around the lake edge before arriving in the town of Parapat. The nerve-rattling ride contrasted with the peaceful tranquility we would experience on Samosir Island, located within Lake Toba.

Ferry at Parapat.
Ferry at Parapat

From Parapat, we took the local ferry, which dropped us off at our chosen guest house on Samosir Island. The ferry was so lenient that it allowed anybody to get dropped off anywhere around the lake they requested. 

We dropped several people off at hotels, some locals off at their homes, a few got out at a small water village, and finally, the ferry stopped at our guest house. It was like handing me a plate with a slice of heaven.

Lake Toba, Sumatra.
Lake Toba paradise

Where To Stay

Guest houses on the banks of Lake Toba are cheap and comfortable. Some offer traditional Batak-style accommodation in huts that overlook the water. Our room at the Reggae Guest House had at least four beds and was located so close to the lake that we could jump right off our balcony into the calm, warm water.

I was delighted when the reception informed us that the grand total for our noiseless Shangri-La pad was a mere $3 per night, split by two (and there were four beds in the room!).

I couldn't help but daydream about spending the rest of my life in that very spot on the side of Lake Toba, relaxing my life away.

It'd be worth seeing my bank account deplete, but here, it's a micro drop in the bucket each month. My dreams shattered when I remembered my Indonesian visa that was about to expire, depleting my stay to only a few days.

Related: Relaxing Destinations in Southeast Asia

Sunrise over Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Sunrise over Lake Toba

Hanging Out

I truly appreciated the area's relaxed and tranquil nature in the few days I spent on Lake Toba. I would awaken at dawn to observe the sunrise that ever so slowly rose above the volcano ledges and ricocheted off the mirror lake.

A few lone fishermen would cast their nets without making even the slightest sound, paddling their boats with silent strokes. The faint, pleasing sound of birds chirping could be heard, but it was almost impossible to pinpoint as the sounds carried across the landscape.

For exercise, we followed the trail to the mountaintop of Samosir Island, whacking our way through thick brush and being rewarded with jaw-dropping views of the lake. Along the trail, we met a few Batak farmers, excited to see us and happy we had made the ascent.

Submerged by the peaceful atmosphere (just like on Mount Taal), it's sobering to think that Lake Toba is the product of a violent blast from a supervolcano. Today, it remains the world's largest volcanic lake, over 62 miles (100 kilometers) long.

Getting to central Sumatra and finally arriving at Lake Toba can be challenging to arrange, but the relaxing reward is unparalleled. Lake Toba remains one of my all-time favorite destinations in the world!

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About Mark Wiens

Mark was raised in central Africa before migrating back to the U.S. for University. After graduating, he decided to continue traveling the world. On Migrationology, he shares the cultural side of travel from a slow-paced local perspective that often revolves around his love for eating all forms of food. Join him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @migrationology.

Comments

  1. Lisa E says

    March 22, 2011 at 2:09 am

    This looks fantastic to me--especially now as I'm planning a trip to Indonesia! It really looks like it's worth the time/energy to get there. I'm going to bookmark this page and keep it in mind. Lovely photos, by the way!

    • Travel says

      March 22, 2011 at 2:33 am

      yes Lisa, this place is so wonderful...
      also there are many places you can enjoy here in Indonesia...
      From the beautiful scene of Mountain to the gorgeous underwater scenery...
      :)

    • Mark Wiens says

      March 22, 2011 at 3:13 am

      Thanks Lisa! Lake Toba is well worth it, I hope you can fit it into your itinerary! In the same region you can also do Orangutan trekking - which is pretty cool too.

  2. Ben Reed says

    March 22, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    The guest house looks great. I love the roof!

    • Mark Wiens says

      March 23, 2011 at 2:28 am

      Yah, that's a traditional-ish style Batad home - roof keeps things pretty cool when it's hot outside!

      • Mark Wiens says

        March 23, 2011 at 2:28 am

        *Batak

  3. Lis - MidlifeTraveler says

    March 25, 2011 at 4:39 am

    Cool it looks like Lake Toba hasn't changed much since 1989 when I got stuck there for about a week - I was staying in a new guesthouse which had an internal atrium - there was me a german guy who practiced classical guitar every day - he was an amazing player and acoustics were awesome - I meant to stay a couple of days - I stayed at least a week maybe 10 days.

    It may have saved my life I caught the bus down to Pakembang and the bus on the same route/time a few days earlier had crashed with fatalities - Lake Toba was just one of those magic places

    • Mark Wiens says

      March 25, 2011 at 12:27 pm

      Wow Lis, good thing that you stayed a few more days than planned at Toba! Lake Toba is such a great place if you come with something to do, like play guitar, read, or just to enjoy the relaxation.

  4. Titch99 says

    May 05, 2011 at 9:38 am

    I agree, I traveled for 2 years in the early 80's to alot of places and Lake Toba still stands fresh in my mind 30 years later as one of the truly magical places in the world. It sounds still the same and I am considering taking my family there.

  5. Heinz Mhanroe says

    March 30, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Horas Mark, molo boi, roma ho muse tu TAO TOBA. jala unang lupa tongtongma baritahon hinaulini TAO TOBA i tu liat portibion. Mauliate godang sian hami parhuta na di SAMOSIR disiala pamaritaonmuna taringot tu TAO TOBA dohot pulo SAMOSIR i... HORAS MA....
    ...Lost of translate...? please, visit again LAKE TOBA & SAMOSIR ISLAND... and don't forget, you must be studing BATAK language...
    Thank's a lot Mark to promote LAKE TOBA....
    Henry Manurung (Heinz Mhanroe) from TOMOK Village...

  6. Fajle Khurshid says

    May 28, 2012 at 4:43 am

    I had been to Lake Toba 15 years back. Reading this travelog I feel very nostalgic to visit the place once again. It is a worth visiting place not only for backpackers but for for any one who likes nature at its best.

  7. Chien Yi says

    May 29, 2012 at 11:28 am

    I am planning to go to Lake Toba with my parent, they are not young anymore and i'm afraid it will be too exhausting and hot for them, what do you think? I really want to go there, my friend who just came back told me briefly bout her trip and it does seem like a nice place to relax.

  8. nandito silaen says

    August 31, 2012 at 3:39 am

    hi mark, thanks for share about Toba lake. hopely tourist will be touch and gonna going there:).

  9. Anthony Galligani says

    February 02, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    I was in Lake Toba in 2000 and then again in 2003. It is absolutely my favorite place in the world. It transformed my life in so many ways. I was on a three month trip to S. E. Asia and though I found many great chill and beautiful places none of them quite held the same magic as did Lake Toba. I meant to go there to meet up with some friends but missed them by a few days, but I "got stuck" there, meaning I fell in love with the place, the people, the lifestyle. I often wonder if I should not have at the time just bought a house and lived there forever. If you go to Sumatra leave enough time to stay in Lake Toba at least 5 days - you will achieve a feeling of utter happiness as I did and, as the author points out, it is ridiculously cheap so there is no reason not to stay there. The weather is always the same year round - between 85 and 90 degrees Farenheit, with a beautiful calm clean lake to swim in surrounded by beautiful scenery, no motorboats or jet skis, just the ferry boats which arrive periodically to give rhythm to the day. Don't stay in Parapat, which is noisy and not nearly as nice as Tuk Tuk, which is where the most tourists stay, but there is always room even on holidays. You can go here also during Ramadan since most people in Lake Toba are animist Batak people with a bit of Christian mixed in. Remember the greeting "HORAS!" which all the Batak people will great you with whereever you go on Samosir Island. Oh I miss it so much! I will must back again and soon....

    If you go through Medan you must also save 3 or more days to go to Bukit Lawang to see the orang utan sanctuary, which is positively incredible for utterly different reasons. To see this great ape in it's natural environment is something truly once in a lifetime experience. Unfortunately the second time I went to Sumatra Bukit Lawang had been destroyed 2 months earlier by an enormous flash flood which killed 200 people and the area was too devastated to support tourism (obviously) but from what I understand it has been restored (this was 10 years ago or more).

  10. Kristin says

    June 13, 2013 at 11:19 am

    i'm heading there in a few days. Hopefully Reggae is still around because it sounds perfect!

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

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