8 Ways for Effectively & Practically to Explore Lake Toba, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Lake Toba as one of the main tourist destinations of the world's largest volcanic lake located in the province of North Sumatra and surrounded by 7 districts. Its the main destination for vacation and adventure in Indonesia for the domestic and foreign traveler like the famoust destination, Bali.

The beauty and richness of nature, customs and the many objects plus tourist attractions must be visited, make a lot of travelers wants to visit. However, there may be many travelers who are still hesitant to visiting due to limited vacation time or lack of information about the most effective and efficient way to visit Lake Toba.

Following below could be one alternative guide and tips on how your vacation visiting Lake Toba more effectively and practically. The information given based on the experience when exploring Lake Toba and several cities in North Tapanuli on March 2018 by our traveler Rido.

1# Make Reasearch for Priority Places to Visit Around.
In addition to enjoying the beauty of Lake Toba itself, many tourist attractions and interesting life around the lake is a pity to miss. Do research in advance where you want to visit according your interest in traveling models (Bacpackers, Family Traveling, Adventurous, Ethnic-Culture Traveler).

Once you've got the priority of the places you want to visit, adjust with the total time of your visit and this will make your exploration more effective.
Also read:
​7 Best Places You Must Visit Around to Enjoy the Beauty of Lake Toba

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​2 # Landed at Silangit International Airport, Siborong-Borong Tarutung, North Sumatera, Indonesia.
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Book your flight tickets to Silangit Airport and not through Medan Kualanamu. If you through Medan, your mileage to Lake Toba could be further and longer. Although right now there is Toll Kualanamu - Tebing Tinggi then advanced to Prapat Lake Toba, but its not fully completed. Targeted if all completed any mileage fastest 2 hours.
Airport Silangit deliberately opened by the Indonesian government as a gateway to Lake Toba. Silangit airport is an international class and has opened direct flights from Jakarta and other cities by Garuda Indonesia and other airlines. Reportedly, Air Asia and other international airlines will also open direct flights from abroad to Silangit.
To get back from your trip, you can re-use Silangit Airport or via Kualanamu Airport Medan if you want to explore Medan city with Prapat-Tebing Tinggi-Kualanamu-Medan route.

Also read: Traveling While Learning 5 Secrets of Business Success Durian Ucok Medan Legend!

Distance of Silangit Airport - Prapat, Lake Toba.
The distance from Silangit Airport to Lake Toba is 71.3 km and can be reached only with 30 minutes - 1 hour drive. You can save your vacation time and explore more by landing at Silangit International Airport.

Transportation.
Do not be afraid you lacked transportation there. Lots of taxi travel towards Lake Toba with price range between IDR.200.00 - IDR.400,000 / car (depending on destination cities such as Prapat, Muara, Samosir Island, P.Siantar, etc.). Usually the taxi or MPV contains 4-5 people with some luggage and operate until the last flight arrives at 17.00 pm.

Damri bus is also available with 3 routes, one of which are route Silangit Airport - Prapat, Lake Toba with tickets only IDR.35.000 / person. Adjust the available ground transportation facilities to your needs. Can you imagined, its easy to reach Lake Toba right now.

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​3 # Rent Travel Car with Driver Guide.
If you bring along with family consist of a few small children or maybe just a couple traveler, it will be safer and comfortable to enjoy Lake Toba and other attractions using the car or vehicle transportation from travel with driver as a tour guide. Many travel tour provides driver as a tour guide and you can make reservations via online.

You better spend a little more on driver tips, but you get a variety of information about the history and tourist locations, habits and customs of locals.
Besides, the driver as a guide who was usually a local native, more know the practical streets that are safe and comfortable to pass. You can concentrate more enjoying the trip while watching your beloved kids and your family.

There are some places that really need information about what should and should not be done there, like in the traditional village of Siallagan Samosir, Tao Silalahi and some other Samosir region. It also requires special skills on driving as if passing through Tele P.Samosir; to connecting road with Dairi County in North Tapanuli.
But you dont have to worry, because all tourist areas and villages there is very beautiful, safe and comfortable to visit.

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4 # Watch "Ferry" Schedule Departure to Samosir Island.

Its not complete if you visit Lake Toba without visiting Samosir Island. You need to adjust your arrival schedule in city of Prapat, Lake Toba with the Ferry boat departure time that will dock to the island of Samosir. Travel time from Ajibata, Prapat to Tomok, P.Samosir ranges 30 minutes and you can enjoy the beauty of Lake Toba directly during the trip. Above is the Schedule of Departure of Ferry; - to and from Samosir Island, Lake Toba which can be adjusted to your travel time.

The purpose of attention to the schedule is for you to have an effective trip that is tailored to the time and the interesting thing to explore in the area around Prapat town, Lake Toba before leaving for Samosir Island and Tomok tourism area after arriving on Samosir Island. So, its not much time wasted just to wait for the ferry arrives and departs.

5 # Watch "Halal" Label Store for Muslim Travelers.
Enjoy the breeze on the edge of Lake Toba while eat some delicious of fresh "nila" or "mujair" grilled fish, gomak noodles, goldfish arsik, up to "saksang" (pork) are widely available in the restaurants near the port of Ajibata, Prapat.
For Muslim tourists, it helps you to pay attention to the first store that includes the words "Halal" or ask first the ingredients of the side dishes which is consumed.

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​6 # Try Motorbike or Cycle Rental Service to Explore Samosir Island.
If you're not using travel transportation service along with a guide driver like at point 3 #, you can explore Samosir Island by using a motorbike or bicycle rental service that is usually rented out in lodging places in Tuk-tuk and Tomok, Samosir Island . But, it takes about 1 full day and even more to surrounding the island of Samosir and back to your starting point.

Visit and documenting the attraction places on Samosir Island that you have previously researched at point 1 # on a motorbike/cycle and do interact with the locals community. You will gain experience and other insights about the culture and behavior of the local people, while keep maintaining our manner/behavior during our stay in Samosir Island. This experience will be the best part for your trip.

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7 # Always stock cash on Samosir Island.
If you stay at TukTuk P.Samosir and want to explore the island for longer, prepare your cash adequately because there are not many ATMs and banks there yet. You have to go to Pangururan city which is quite far from Tuk-tuk to get cash money.
Otherwise, if you want to shop for personal needs everyday, not to much store for.e.g.; Alfamart or Indomaret over there. But for internet or wifi signal, all telecommunication network providers can be accessed.

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8 # Start via Tomok, Finish via Tele on Samosir Island.
This last tip will help you find the satisfaction as well as the excess experience. Coming through the port of Ajibata, in the town of Prapat then entering Samosir Island via Tomok and returning out through Tele. Set aside at least 4-5 days for you to get the satisfaction of enjoying Lake Toba.
Begin the start of Silangit Airport, directly to Prapat town on the outskirts of Lake Toba. Adjust your time to arrive. You can stay in Prapat or if time is enough, directly use the Ferry boat to Samosir Island and stay at Tuk-Tuk.

Explorers all that can be enjoyed there: Site megalithikum Sidabutar, Siallagan traditional village, Tenun Ulos, Sigale-gale, Tor-Tor dance, local culinary rich flavor spice, souvenir trinkets, warm water bath, lake beach tour, banana boat , etc.

Then you go home or exit from Samosir Island via Tele road to Dairi County in North Tapanuli and go straight back to Silangit Airport, Siborong-borong, Taput. It takes skill drive passing via Tele, but you will find the amazing experience of enjoying the beauty of Lake Toba while enjoying other nearby attractions.

The summarize journey according to this # 8 tip can be read through this article :
​7 Best Places You Must Visit Around to Enjoy the Beauty of Lake Toba

​" Happy Traveling and Visit Danau Toba! " :)

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