Lake Toba
4.5
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tours & experiences
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Top ways to experience Lake Toba and nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
37 within 5 kms
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
868 reviews
Excellent
452
Very good
305
Average
81
Poor
22
Terrible
8
HolidayFun2017
Singapore, Singapore283 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
I engaged Agus as my driver for 4 days, covering Medan, Lake Toba and Berastagi, after reading an excellent review about his service by a TripAdvisor contributor.
Indeed Agus is very friendly, patient and easy-going, bringing us to places for sightseeing and meals which we specified to him in our itinerary.
Before our holiday, Agus also gives me recommendations and help in planning my itinerary.
My family will certainly ask Agus to drive around us around again when we next come to North Sumatra.
You can reach him by WhatsApp:
+62 823 6407 8465
Indeed Agus is very friendly, patient and easy-going, bringing us to places for sightseeing and meals which we specified to him in our itinerary.
Before our holiday, Agus also gives me recommendations and help in planning my itinerary.
My family will certainly ask Agus to drive around us around again when we next come to North Sumatra.
You can reach him by WhatsApp:
+62 823 6407 8465
Written 12 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Qistina S
Bristol, UK26 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
We crafted our own itinerary Medan-Samosir( Lake Toba)-Berastagi-Medan, and did hiking, paddle boarding, camping and of course sightseeing.
Our trip was 5 days and 4 nights long- which I think is just nice and sufficient time. If we are to add more days, I would most likely stay at Danau Toba longer. there’s not much to see here besides the magnificent scenery- which is more than enough for me.
We did paddle-boarding with SupToba (can look them up on IG) , which is around 40mins drive from Tuktuk (a tourist hotspot in Samosir Island). Our paddle boarding guide, Tito was amazing and command good English.
Then we camp one night with Rio at Pea Farmhouse (also on Instagram). AMAZING VIEW (& breakfast). Tents and equipments are provided. Toilets are proper.
Last activity was hiking up Mt Sibayak for sunrise. Also, a memorable experience. You need to have a local guide to hike up!! So make sure you hire one.
We hire a supir (driver) to bring us around because we can NEVER drive in Indon like a local plus the road is windy and narrow. Our supir services start and end from the airport, tiptop in terms of punctuality and helpfulness. highly recommended to deal with En Arifan (+62 813-9652-5896) and request for En Akmal’s service!
Our trip was 5 days and 4 nights long- which I think is just nice and sufficient time. If we are to add more days, I would most likely stay at Danau Toba longer. there’s not much to see here besides the magnificent scenery- which is more than enough for me.
We did paddle-boarding with SupToba (can look them up on IG) , which is around 40mins drive from Tuktuk (a tourist hotspot in Samosir Island). Our paddle boarding guide, Tito was amazing and command good English.
Then we camp one night with Rio at Pea Farmhouse (also on Instagram). AMAZING VIEW (& breakfast). Tents and equipments are provided. Toilets are proper.
Last activity was hiking up Mt Sibayak for sunrise. Also, a memorable experience. You need to have a local guide to hike up!! So make sure you hire one.
We hire a supir (driver) to bring us around because we can NEVER drive in Indon like a local plus the road is windy and narrow. Our supir services start and end from the airport, tiptop in terms of punctuality and helpfulness. highly recommended to deal with En Arifan (+62 813-9652-5896) and request for En Akmal’s service!
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Johannaloves2travel
Palo Alto, CA53 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
Lake Toba, Samosir Island and its surroundings are beautiful and culturally interesting places to visit.
I arranged a private 4 day tour with Bob Sumatra Tours from Medan, lake Toba, Samosir Island to Berastagi, Mount Sibayak and the beautiful Karo highlands.
The region features beautiful nature from the lake to waterfalls, volcanoes and fertile highlands that are the pantry of Sumatra and beyond.
The region features Batak houses and history, delicious food and kind, hardworking people. I was glad to have a knowledgeable guide in Bob with local knowledge and connections.
I arranged a private 4 day tour with Bob Sumatra Tours from Medan, lake Toba, Samosir Island to Berastagi, Mount Sibayak and the beautiful Karo highlands.
The region features beautiful nature from the lake to waterfalls, volcanoes and fertile highlands that are the pantry of Sumatra and beyond.
The region features Batak houses and history, delicious food and kind, hardworking people. I was glad to have a knowledgeable guide in Bob with local knowledge and connections.
Written 28 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CK N
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
Our family had a wonderful short trip 3D2N in Medan with astonishing sceneries at itineraries arranged by Mr Afrifan. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Written 2 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fezree
5 contributions
Jul 2023
We engaged the services of a driver and car rental with Mr. Arifan, who drove us from Medan airport to Medan City, lake Toba Samosir Island, Parapat, Brastagi, Bukit Gundaling and also brought us to other interesting places over Five days and 4 Night with Hotel packages, Hotel very nice and clean with 3 to 4 Stars. He is a safe and reliable driver, always on time, polite and very responsive.
We highly recommend Mr. Arifan as a tour guide for anyone looking to explore the beautiful region of Sumatera Utara ( Medan) .You can reach him at +62-8139 6525 896 or find him on Facebook (Arifan Hasibuan Irfan). Thank you, Mr. Arifan for the efforts to make our trip even more enjoyable, and for an unforgettable experience!
We highly recommend Mr. Arifan as a tour guide for anyone looking to explore the beautiful region of Sumatera Utara ( Medan) .You can reach him at +62-8139 6525 896 or find him on Facebook (Arifan Hasibuan Irfan). Thank you, Mr. Arifan for the efforts to make our trip even more enjoyable, and for an unforgettable experience!
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
srrsSG
Singapore31 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
We engaged the services of a driver, Arifan, who drove us from Medan airport to Lake Toba and also brought us to other interesting places over three days. He is a safe and reliable driver, always on time, polite and very responsive. He constantly checked on our wellbeing and adjusted the itinerary based on our preferences. Although he does not have a strong command of English, he still managed to share many interesting stories with us. He is a Muslim, so he brought us to eating places serving delicious halal food. He takes good photos too! If you require his services, please contact him at +6281396525896.
Written 26 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobby M
4 contributions
Jun 2023
Found the name, here on TA, of our local guide cum driver, who lead both us from Medan to Parapat, then four days later from Tuk Tuk to Medan, via Berastagi.
He was reliable, always on time &careful, answering to all of our questions, showing us smoothly all of the unforgettable places around the region. He also spoke about his highly interesting Batak culture, which has learned us a lot about these lovely people.
Everything went well and I highly recommend his services. You can call him
at +6281396525896 Arifan Hasibuan Irfan).
He was reliable, always on time &careful, answering to all of our questions, showing us smoothly all of the unforgettable places around the region. He also spoke about his highly interesting Batak culture, which has learned us a lot about these lovely people.
Everything went well and I highly recommend his services. You can call him
at +6281396525896 Arifan Hasibuan Irfan).
Written 25 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esther
Singapore, Singapore9 contributions
May 2023 • Family
It was a super fun experience to see the local’s lifestyle and lake toba was amazing. Definitely recommended with Bob Sumatra tours 👍🏼👍🏼 +62 813-6116-4282
Written 23 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam C
5 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Daniel Manik was a great tour guide for the Lake Toba scooter tour. Highly recommend! He knew a lot about the island and took us to incredible places.
Written 19 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YS Y
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
We made the mistake of going to Lake Toba without a guided tour, though thankfully we met amazing folks who helped us make the most of this beautiful place with a rich culture.
The lake is MASSIVE with many hidden gems that are IMPOSSIBLE to explore without a guide/driver. Different sides of the lake are vastly different from the other and you'd want someone who can help map out a tour route for you. There is NO GRAB, NO HAILING TAXI, road conditions are tough and most locals and even service staff don't speak English.
Thankfully, we met Lucky who is a skilled driver and guide with a great command of English and high knowledge of Medan/Lake Toba culture. You can ask him ANYTHING and he'll have an answer for you and he will also cater the itinerary exactly to what you're looking for. His rates are also very reasonable and he will go the extra mile to make your trip a good one. He really turned our trip around!
For anyone who needs a proper guide/driver (as it can be hard finding one on major travel sites), you can reach Lucky at +62 877-4860-7220.
You do not want to miss out on experiencing the beauty of Lake Toba for not having a guide!
The lake is MASSIVE with many hidden gems that are IMPOSSIBLE to explore without a guide/driver. Different sides of the lake are vastly different from the other and you'd want someone who can help map out a tour route for you. There is NO GRAB, NO HAILING TAXI, road conditions are tough and most locals and even service staff don't speak English.
Thankfully, we met Lucky who is a skilled driver and guide with a great command of English and high knowledge of Medan/Lake Toba culture. You can ask him ANYTHING and he'll have an answer for you and he will also cater the itinerary exactly to what you're looking for. His rates are also very reasonable and he will go the extra mile to make your trip a good one. He really turned our trip around!
For anyone who needs a proper guide/driver (as it can be hard finding one on major travel sites), you can reach Lucky at +62 877-4860-7220.
You do not want to miss out on experiencing the beauty of Lake Toba for not having a guide!
Written 17 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kasmadi Munthe
Malang, Indonesia173 contributions
Tahun 2008 saya pernah mengeliling Danau Toba, karena teman-teman sekolahku ada di sekitaran sana, namun yang paling berkesan adalah di pinggiran Runway bandara Si Langit yang sudah menjadi bandara Internasional, kemudian dilanjutkan ke Parapat.
Bersambung
Gauri p
1 contribution
I understand after about 4 hours taxi trip from Medan airport to Parapat jetty to get to a hotel in Lake Toba itself (is ist Samosir Island?) you need to get a ferry to cross the lake and I learned that there was an incident in June 2018 when the ferry capsized due to carrying surplus beyond its capacity, almost 200 passengers drowned. So my question is is the ferry trip dangerous?
PaulSiow
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia2,731 contributions
Quite safe as long as not overloaded. There are life jackets on board. The boat trip is quite enjoyable. Try to avoid public holidays and the crowds.
zoeeetann
9 contributions
Hi Christie D. where did u find your tour guide? i m going next week but since im a single female, i am abit sceptical to travel wtih a tour guide and a driver, 2 men. Can you recommend your tour guide?
thanks alot. how much did u pay for your private tour?
Christie D
Langkawi, Malaysia44 contributions
Hi Apologies for not getting back to you sooner but unfortunately I only just saw your message tonight. Ronnie Betchak ÷62081362774855.He is a gentleman i would have no reservation recommending him. The costs will depend on where you want to go. He is fair and won't
try and rip you off. We loved Toba
Lynn L
Stockton on Tees7 contributions
Does anyone know the date for Lake Toba festival 2019
SGK
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia5 contributions
Hi.. i am planning for a trip to lake toba but i am unsure how many days should i account for sight seeing? What are the top 3 places would someone suggest to visit around lake toba?
Furuya Yohei
2 contributions
May I know that any daytour of hire a motorbike driver on Samosir Island and how much of it?any recommandation?
Tiara Tours Indonesia
Medan, Indonesia13 contributions
Hi,
The rate is approx USD 10 day - 15 USD / day
You may ask for motorbike at some hotel around the island
Thank
Arina A
Johor Bahru, Malaysia43 contributions
I'm going to Lake Toba end of this month. Anyone has the contact number for driver & transportation that can bring us around to the places of attraction?
AnneMiekeFSK
Eindhoven, The Netherlands1,197 contributions
Send me an pm please. Maybe I can help you.
Zhong Y
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2 contributions
anyone has experience with Robby medandriver before? Thinking to book a package with them but I'm wary of its service, didn't see many reviews on it. Your responses are very much appreciated:) thanks
sylviatan2017
Singapore, Singapore2 contributions
He confirmed my booking by email, and cancel on me 2 days before my arrival. Beware, you may be left without a car if he gets a better deal.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Toba
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Lake Toba:
- 7 Days 6 Nights North Sumatra Tour (Bukit Lawang-Berastagi-Lake Toba) (From ₹ 61,828.11)
- 2D1N Medan-lake Toba Car Rental (From ₹ 16,672.22)
- Medan City Tour 3 Days 2 Nights (From ₹ 41,680.56)
- 6 Day North Sumatra Highlights - Jungles Orangutans Lakes and Volcanoes (From ₹ 81,386.30)
- 3N/4D Lake Toba Culture & Sunrise Soft Trek For School (From ₹ 36,436.31)
- Hotels near Lake Toba:
- (0.07 km) Samosir Villa Resort
- (0.17 km) Carolina Cottages
- (0.21 km) OYO 1812 Dg Inn
- (0.56 km) Horas Family Home
- (0.25 km) OYO 2379 Hotel Sibigo
- Restaurants near Lake Toba:
- (0.14 km) Juwita Cafe - Cooking Class
- (0.20 km) Today's Cafe
- (0.18 km) Tuktuk Pizzeria Restaurant
- (0.20 km) Coffee2Go
- (0.31 km) Sekapur Sirih Restaurant
- Attractions near Lake Toba:
- (1.04 km) Roy's Pub Live Music
- (1.04 km) Erick Souvenir Shop
- (2.94 km) King Siallagan's Stone Chair
- (1.65 km) Rumang
- (9.64 km) Holbung Hill