50 BEST Things To Do in LAKE TOBA 2024 | North Sumatra, Indonesia

There are SO many AMAZING things to do in Lake Toba - not only on Samosir Island, but in the areas surrounding this incredible volcanic lake in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Although Lake Toba is one of the most well-known destinations in North Sumatra, there is very little information for travellers on what to do and where to go.
We've spent the last year exploring stunning Danau Toba and Pulau Samosir, and have created this amazing list of the 50 BEST things to do in Lake Toba, North Sumatra.
From discovering the beautifully unique Batak culture to appreciating the mindblowing natural beauty of this area, we have all the best places to go and things to do for you to create the perfect Lake Toba itinerary.
For more detailed information on each of our Top 50 Lake Toba attractions, visit our matching blog below - you'll find a map showing every location and other essential info for your Samosir Island trip:
⭐ exploringsumatra.com/best-thi...
Here are a few more Lake Toba blogs to help you plan your holiday to Sumatra:
✅ exploringsumatra.com/the-best...
✅ exploringsumatra.com/best-res...
✅ exploringsumatra.com/travel-t...
😺 DID YOU ENJOY THIS VIDEO?
Support our work (and our cute cats!) by buying us some cat food or supporting us via PayPal:
☕ www.buymeacoffee.com/explores...
💰 www.paypal.com/paypalme/explo...
😃 LET’S BE TRAVEL BUDDIES!
📸 Instagram - / exploringsumatra
📱 Facebook - / exploringsumatra
✈️ SUMATRA TRAVEL TIPS
❇️ Find the best flight deals with Skyscanner: skyscanner.pxf.io/QyYNNY
❇️ Book your stays with our favourite platform, booking.com www.booking.com/region/id/sum...
❇️ Manage your currencies and travel money with WISE (we use this ALL the time!): wise.prf.hn/l/L3mZ2z3
❇️ Stay safe with SafetyWing Travel Insurance: safetywing.com/nomad-insuranc...
🎶 We get our music from Epidemic Sound.
Sign up and get a free month: share.epidemicsound.com/sw43ky
Some of the links above may contain affiliate partnerships, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through to make a purchase.
🌏 VISIT OUR SUMATRA TRAVEL BLOG: exploringsumatra.com
It's full of local knowledge, useful tips, and beautiful places in Sumatra. Learn about the culture, food, music, and people of Sumatra with us as we explore this incredible island.
🇮🇩 EXPLORE SUMATRA WITH US!🇮🇩
Hi, I'm Agung, I live in Lake Toba, Sumatra (Indonesia) with my wife Carly. I was born in Sumatra, so love sharing all my local knowledge with visitors. Carly has been a traveller to Sumatra since 2009, and has been living here the last few years. We now live in Tuktuk village on Samosir Island in Lake Toba, North Sumatra. Together, we create content to help share the beauty of incredible Sumatra with the world.
Horas, Mejuah juah - see you in Sumatra!
▬▬▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 50 Best Things to do in Sumatra
00:17 Simangande Waterfall
00:36 Huta Siallagan
00:59 Try Lontong
01:11 Go Kayaking
01:28 Scooter Adventures
01:47 Parhallow Viewpoint
02:03 Sipira Viewpoint
02:19 Danau Aek Natonang
02:31 Tomok Souvenir Market
02:48 See the Sigale Gale
03:07 King Sidabutar's Tomb
03:30 Aek Rangat Hot Springs
03:53 Ferry Boat Tour
04:14 Situmurun Waterfall
04:31 Jenny's Restaurant
04:51 Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo
05:08 Kampung Ulos Huta Raja
05:27 Hit the Beach
05:42 Silimalombu Eco Village
06:00 Hiking Samosir
06:16 Rent a Bicycle
06:32 Buddhas Cafe
06:51 Becak Tour
07:02 Cooking Class
07:23 Try Tuak
07:50 Local Markets
08:08 Sumatran Coffee Tour
08:21 Hire a Jetski
08:32 Rent a Speed Boat
08:45 Buy Nasi Bungkus
08:58 Roy's Pub
09:18 Climb Pusuk Buhit
09:36 Day at the Pool
09:52 Tele Tower
10:05 Bukit Holbung
10:25 Bukit Sibea Bea
10:53 Sipiso Piso Waterfall
11:07 Efrata Waterfall
11:26 Megalithic Ruins
11:47 Try Scooter Street Food
12:07 Get a Massage
12:20 Batak Food
12:39 Walk Around Tuktuk
12:59 Drive a Mini Electric Car
13:18 Birdwatching
13:33 Learn Wood Carving
13:48 Beautiful Ambarita Church
14:02 Sunset at Reggae Guesthouse
14:19 Sing with the Locals
14:34 Meet Agung and Carly!
#thingstodoinlaketoba #laketoba #samosirisland

[@ExploringSumatra]

Lake Toba has so many amazing places to see and things to do. Help us keep this list growing by sharing your favourite Lake Toba activities in the comments for everyone to see! HORAS!

[@raygundesigns]

Great video! How is the weather late November? I am thinking of making a trip then. Thanks.

[@ExploringSumatra]

@@raygundesigns Thank you! It is really hard to predict, as the seasons aren't as reliable as they used to be. November is generally considered to be the beginning of wet season, but it may start a little later in the southern half of Sumatra. But generall☺y there isn't a monsoon season that makes travel a bad idea. Most of the time, the rain is late afternoon or evening, but more often in the rainforest!

[@raygundesigns]

@@ExploringSumatra Thanks for the clarity!

[@benbrussel9582]

OK will do, when there in November I'll come and say hi:) x Edgar

[@ExploringSumatra]

Awesome! We'll be happy to meet you when you arrive 😀

[@sengyzimm7184]

hey helped us with information, without which we would have done a lot of things wrong. very grateful for that. Super friendly people with a great heart met us in Lake Toba. I can only recommend you ... to contact them before travelling to Lake Toba.

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thanks Sengul! It was so nice to meet you and Reinholdt this morning - a real pleasure. Your diving stores were amazing haha. Have a lovely trip back down and hope to meet again some day!

[@user-hk2bg2xq3h]

Fantastic - Agung what a professional job - great to have the captions too. Such a scenic area and so much to do. Love it. Now I will have to read the blog xx 💜💙💚💛🧡🌻🌻🌻

[@ExploringSumatra]

Terima kasih 😍So many more things to see and do. Maybe another top 50 part two in a year or so. 😀

[@ellz_b3415]

We actually seen you guys today at the Huta Siallagan! Just watched this video to plan our itinerary and it has given us plenty of ideas. Thanks!

[@ExploringSumatra]

Oh hiiii! We saw a few tourists there but we were in our anxious video making mode haha. So glad you found this video - there are some great activities on here! Have a blast. ☺

[@martin53434]

Excellent vlog once again guys, very informative as always x

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thanks Martin. Thanks so much for the extra footage! 😁😁😁

[@susanjoy1501]

so much useful information thank you can't wait to arrive in November

[@ExploringSumatra]

Yay! So glad you found it helpful - and how exciting you have a trip soon! 😀

[@sebwalker7826]

Great suggestions thank you. We are on Lake Toba now and didn’t appreciate how stunning This island would be. Driving around, the surrounding landscape really reminds me of the Lake District back in my native UK. After 8 months on the road the nostalgia is nice! The road conditions around the island of Samosir are perfect for driving on, unlike almost every other part of Indonesia we have driven scooters on. The roads are wide, tarmac smooth and traffic not too busy. Keep up the good work promoting Sumatra. We decided to visit after spending two months across Java, Bali, Lombok & Flores. I must add, Sumatra is so far, certainly up there as one of our favourite islands across Indonesia. It should be included on any tourists itinerary visiting Indonesia.

[@ExploringSumatra]

Hey! Welcome to Toba - how cool that you've made it here. It really is stunning isn't it. Many of the areas remind us of New Zealand landscapes too - the rolling hills and some of the bushy areas. Just replace the buffalo with sheep and black and white cows and it could almost be home (except for the weather!) Totally agree that the roads are a dream for driving. They've really improved over the last 10 years. Awesome to hear that Sumatra is one of your favourites. Really appreciate your comment and support - have an AMAZING time! 😀

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Wow so many awesome things to do! Super well thought out video, great job guys :). Can’t wait to visit there some day

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thank you! Can't wait to show you around one day. 😀🙏

[@richarddiongsonph]

Wow! I shall return! There are so much to explore in lake toba. ❤

[@ExploringSumatra]

So much! We still have so much to see too :)

[@mosskino5479]

Thank you for the video ❤🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thank you for watching 🙏😊

[@SpanishAja]

Cannot wait to see you...

[@ExploringSumatra]

Are you coming to Toba? 😀

[@SpanishAja]

I think so hehe

[@PassportDreamGetaways]

Thank you cant wait to visit soon

[@ExploringSumatra]

No problem. ☺️

[@chweehar]

This is where we came for our honeymoon 42 years ago, we are contemplating on coming bake for a visit somedays soon.

[@ExploringSumatra]

That's awesome! It must have been pretty special back then - so many changes even in the last 10 years! What a special place for a honeymoon. Hope you can revisit again soon! ☺

[@chweehar]

@@ExploringSumatra It was, after watching your video it remind me of this beautiful place.

[@jnsr7591]

Wow. So cool. 👍

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thank you! ☺

[@jennylumbanraja5565]

Thanks so much

[@ExploringSumatra]

No problem! Thank you for the amazing food 😍

[@MuhammadAli-ki5lr]

Great Video, well done guys xxx

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thank you. 😍

[@ourlittlebigadventures1548]

Amazing❤ Thank you 👍🙏

[@ExploringSumatra]

No problem! We had so much fun making this video. 😀

[@piayopi4475]

great explore & adventure 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thank you!

[@LifeOnLombok]

Great, informative video. Absolutely stunning place. Definitely want to come and check it out. It looks so quiet there. Are there many expats living in the area? Seems ideal.

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thank you! This was a big one to create - but we are so proud of it! It is lovely and quiet. Even during "high season" it's still so uncrowded. There are about 8 expats living in Tuktuk village (all older Europeans married to locals), and a few scattered around the area. It's a nice balance, a few friendly Western faces but not too many that it doesn't feel like Indonesia at all! Plus, the locals are just lovely (as they are all over Indonesia of course). :) You should definitely plan a visit someday. We'd love to show you around!

[@LifeOnLombok]

@@ExploringSumatra sounds like a good plan. It would be great to meet you and experience the beauty of your area.

[@vickiplowman7417]

Thats Awesome, great work on all that info. Well done Agung and Carly :)

[@ExploringSumatra]

Hi Vicki! Nice to hear from you. 😀 Thanks so much for the feedback - glad you enjoyed it.🙏

[@trudywright8293]

Awesome video guys!!! Can't wait to return and explore these places!! 💜💜💜

[@ExploringSumatra]

Thanks Trudes. So glad that we've already been able to see some of these places together. Here's to more adventures! 😍

[@trudywright8293]

@@ExploringSumatra you bet!!! Can't wait to return and continue exploring with you too 😊😊

[@lizcarlyle2477]

50 fabulous reasons to visit the beautiful island of Samosir in Sumatra, teeming with culture, friendly locals, amazing landscapes, safety, affordability, and accessible, swinging wildlife!😻

[@ExploringSumatra]

Terima kasih Liz! This really is such a special place - we are so lucky to be here and share it with everyone! 🙏😍

[@lizcarlyle2477]

Selemat Malam, Carly & Agung! Foto paling baik merbau. What is your equipement? Thanks.📷Your videos are clear & high-quality. Harus banyak tahun-tahun? Keep making videos!

[@ExploringSumatra]

Selamat malam Liz. Terima kasih banyak untuk supportnya. Agung uses an old Sony Alpha 6000 for alot of the b-roll footage, and we have a GoPro 5 for vlogging stuff, plus a DJI mini for drone footage. Sometimes we also use an old iphone for vlgging and footage as well. Hoping to upgrade to a GoPro 10 very soon, and buy a better lens for the camera! Really appreciate the feedback - it means alot! 🙏🙏🙏

[@lizcarlyle2477]

@@ExploringSumatra Selemat Sore, Carly, Exceptional fotos, film making, istimewa sedalia. Banyak digital disini tapi saya takut masuk ke rumah. Banyak orang gila & senang pembegaian! Beli timbangan digital di toko apa atau orang lain di Sumatra. Terima kasih. 😻

[@muhdhadi9186]

thanks for the video..now lake toba n tuk tuk wil be my next solo trip

[@ExploringSumatra]

Amazing! It really is a special place. 😊

[@muhdhadi9186]

@@ExploringSumatra where should I stay if going to toba..is it tuk tuk or prampat.lake toba is quite large

[@ExploringSumatra]

It is very large! The best place to base yourself is Tuktuk - then you're already on Samosir and can go exploring from there. Tuktuk has the most restaurants and guesthouses to choose from - but is still relatively quiet and very pretty!

[@Konseptor]

You need to stay at least three months to explore all best spot in Toba Lake and its surroundings

[@ExploringSumatra]

Totally agree that longer is better! We've been living here fulltime for 2 years and still discover new things every time we go out!!

[@ExploringSumatra]

For more detailed info on all these places - visit the matching blog on our website: exploringsumatra.com/best-things-to-do-in-lake-toba/

[@agungkacaribu]

Ada tempat2 yang belum termasuk? Kalau ada di komen ya gaes🎉😊

[@ExploringSumatra]

Ya - membuat list Top 100 ayok!

[@Flow.Travellers]

Are you guys in Lake Toba at the moment?

[@ExploringSumatra]

Yes! We live in Tuktuk ☺

[@Flow.Travellers]

Oh really? We are currently in TukTuk 🫶🏻🇮🇩 We may see you guys around ☺️

[@ExploringSumatra]

@@Flow.Travellers Oh niiiice! We'll keep an eye out for you guys when we're out and about hehe

[@juliandolingga8]

Apa jadinya kalau kawasan danau toba dijadikan kawasan wisata halal. Tentu pelan2 smua distinasi wisata tersebut kan dimusnahkan dengan dalih demi halalisasi. Wisata halal harus ditolak mentah2 di danau toba. Kalau mau wisata halal orang silakan pergi ke Aceh atau Sumbar.