Samosir Island Budget Travel Guide
Lake Toba, North Sumatra
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Tourist Attractions and Sights in and around Samosir Island
Samosir, the island within an island
Samosir Island is the island in the middle of Lake Toba in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. It is located more or less at the centre of the lake. Samosir Island is believed to be the largest island within an island, and the fifth largest lake island. At 630 sq km, Samosir is just slightly smaller than Singapore, which is 714 sq km.
Samosir Island is believed to have been created 30,000 years ago during a massive eruption. Lake Toba itself was created earlier, 75,000 years ago, in what is believed to be the biggest eruption ever known. During the eruption that created Samosir Island, a peninsula was also formed on the Sumatra mainland, where the small town of Prapat is now located.
Samosir Island is today a major tourist destination in Indonesia, attracting mostly local tourists as well as visitors from neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Western tourist also come to Samosir Island usually for extended relaxing holidays. Most of the tourist attractions on Samosir Island are connected to its Batak heritage. The main town on the island is Tomok. This is where the tomb of King Sidabutar is located.
Getting there
Samosir Island can be reached by ferry from Prapat, the town on the Sumatran mainland. Prapat is itself a 4-hour car ride from Medan, the main gateway to northern Sumatra. Public buses from Medan to Prapat costs Rp. 22,000. Most hotels in Medan can help to arrange tours to Samosir Island. Alternatively, you can arrange with the hotel for a rented minivan at a cost of Rp. 60,000.
Accommodation
Most tourists to Samosir Island ends up staying in one of the budget accommodation in the town of Tuk Tuk, the main tourist haven of the island. Tuk Tuk is certainly the most scenic place in Samosir Island, and the landscape along the rural roads can well be described as panoramic. Here are a few recommended places to stay:
Hotel Carolina: good panoramic views of Lake Toba. Rooms from Rp. 20,000 for a Batak-style cottage to Rp. 100,000 for a luxurious lake-front room. Hotel Carolina also has motorcycle rental. Contact: carolina@indosat.co.in, phone 0625 451210/41520. The ferry from Prapat can drop you at the Hotel Carolina jetty - be sure to inform them in advance.
Tabo Cottages The most luxurious accommodation on Samosir Island, with prices starting from Rp 165,000. Contact: tabores@indo.net.id, website: http://tabotoba.com/ phone: 0062 625 451318
Getting around
There are no taxis in Tuk Tuk. Apart from walking (well worth it to appreciate the views), an alternative is to hire a motorcycle, at a cost of Rp 70,000 inclusive of 4 litres of petrol. This should allow you to explore the island at your own pace, stopping at all the tourist attractions. Be warned that the roads are quite bad, so ride carefully.
Tourist Information
The local tourist board is Samosir Tourism (www.samosirtourism.com).
Samosir Island Photo Album
A Toba Batak village on Samosir Island.
Rows of resorts and hotels in Tuk Tuk, Samosir Island.
A small island adjacent to Samosir near the village of Simanindo.
View of the Samosir landscape.
Group shot of AsiaExplorers members on our chartered boat at Lake Toba.
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