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Sumatra in Western Indonesia is the sixth largest island in the world. It doesn't have the temples, beaches and historical sights of Bali or Java, but it's certainly make up for the awesome scenery and thrilling treks. Home to Batak ethnic groups - the term used by Malays settlers to describe non-Muslims in the Sumatra. A place steeped in tradition and fascinating culture. Tourism in North Sumatra is still under-developed, and this is the exact reason why you can expect to see Sumatra at its raw culture and the charm in all its natural glory; free from commercialisation and human tampering.
AVERAGE COST
Accommodations below are based on 4-person stay. Indonesia is relatively affordable but slightly more expensive compare to Thailand! Hostel dorm per bed will cost around US$5 a night and Hostel private room for 4 cost around US$20 a night. Alternatively, Airbnb is available as a great choice to experience authentic local culture.
Transportation - With the help from Horas Family Home (Pulau Samosir), we pre-arranged a driver to pick us up from the Kualanamu airport (Medan) towards Pulau Samosir. It's an almost 5 hours ride with stops for scenery and meal, so yes, get a real comfortable car as possible. Once you've arrived at Pulau Samosir, you can get around the island by foot, bicycle or motorcycle. We hired the same driver from Horas, travel from Pulau Samosir towards Taman Simalem, Mount Sibayak and back to Medan. Total cost for the 4-day arranged driver cost around US$40 for 4 persons.
LAKE TOBA
Supervolcanoes are usually not on your radar unless you have special interest in them. In North America - there are Yellowstone, Valles Caldera and Long Valley Caldera; In Europe - Campi Flegrei in Italy; or if you're in New Zealand, most likely you've heard of Lake Taupo. In Southeast Asia - there's Lake Toba (Danau Toba), a beautiful caldera lake measuring at 100km by 30km. In the centre of Lake Toba is an island called Pulau Samosir.
Places of Interest and recommended time to spend:
#1. At the Pematang Siantar City, Sumatra is famous for its Arabica coffee. Here you can find these great coffee at Cafe Kok Tong, which have been in operation since 1925, no espresso machine but traditional hand brewed coffee.
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MJ...w1906-h1266-no [/IMG]
#2. The Lake Toba!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/W_B9rvoT59VWXUruRl65iY4TvfqO9FkxIABRLJsoOUgd5TZbpK djlmh8LfFyhVzc7qo-ilvDf_YdHUcfBQ1JnWtCAm7VKrXi03aSkwRHD8-SkWNAffG_gMx4sUZN7xoT0CVlOhAX85c7eVyQ4SboKARifIfeH w3fmCtnTMhVLwk5q94ibYdD2RtvTBIt1jv_Q7IJVFNFTL7rV88 7E3a-vhWWp00M_WdXVj47zSAB3YEdTBZE8gI7qNc0xq7rzKz_lMsMv-iliqhgKfzgSLLLJrN6EePo1wT_V8VEMsqFB59_LUwZOo-34Kd4scctEZoKxQLFT9L9-uITntmUpazOoifpoUVZkhq2OB9N0v_MXwQwKB4BnRooPmOXJB_ AUp-fa3SHJK00kJvRFN87b3NXP__Gbg87J3S10q_RL4ZSyUqKcEuxi YSv79XD6k8M2EwSqBaplmrKmeRDKHBj8zsLpU5Xg43N4fkF63O pmRYoCYadmHn66dFM2zFXOJW3RV4_LUYNHfzdo1VvfZRjucYqR 9Dr-6F5p8dxClEJGJtZNBU1gdMOqmKGKUvGQ6wo7PKu0q0HDq2Ch8t L2Ecr6DDCBcK8-M3Vfz7p2Q99lBOgQq8WXl4jgZm7RBqy2YN6RLLSZB-ZLHApvhJR7FL5H1t2Ah12vGIuBFTeQQ=w1898-h1266-no
#3. The view of high land plateau of Parapat town from Pulau Samosir
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mF5X8RDZutWOrtILxojG-i4z1YnD6-W5OMAOwKFDiVOtiQraR_VR49PHzQZ78RFrwkXabcxOE4paN0uD UIZ6HmsywMqfqfwVQnREo3CfrN-wPoPw-2_sRP1prqHhEBCp-MyzrHXok8daOe_MSp2Br9SsoXcFf4ksmTVvXXV3AljCxa99rPw _DTIzJXjXKnw2CjuWeHohFnbZQCXFR_HH3Ortmq71uUaMwZBYm hOjG3c87Np9D1Ox7N3EA5B6uMPW3qPS_IMGlIf22vpyBO4usj2 SLO_TVmj45HMzMS9H5ZNBtGDBymL2COAmZMaZb8_MLwLu1rFJQ iiptcRmlb_nT9EyHwG6ykxlYkutpLRZdldhOTN_GakDJ-aU_o3ay6LqZOactLmxgImzCOR4v7Bf_xCIofzwGsPgJDcQw2E-jmuAOtlowZp0xfLLLREH1o1c5GlQTXQRnJ6KbK6DBOUkvaREQR q7k4OAcM_5Jgr2ERX4YbOerbn8RF7BJI2UK2BPHIcaVEuMTf77 lnJcR-tBSFRUuahxoLuBYN-FPA1gWbIcX_R_ChSpPAvE4ZpoW_JuFxQ8mW_M2Eeb43uY3hgpD KInQzdszSIT4TdxwoDOIaebpS_C8ANwxPAUj1udQojSZfH7IBP cgoknsEJkEet7f3ppHOyDjzdVLA=w1850-h1266-no [/IMG]
#4. Sun beams streaming into the valley through the clouds.
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fl...w1898-h1266-no [/IMG]
#5. An invite into the Lake Toba, dock from Horas Family Home.
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Bb...w1898-h1266-no /IMG]
AVERAGE COST
Accommodations below are based on 4-person stay. Indonesia is relatively affordable but slightly more expensive compare to Thailand! Hostel dorm per bed will cost around US$5 a night and Hostel private room for 4 cost around US$20 a night. Alternatively, Airbnb is available as a great choice to experience authentic local culture.
- Pulau Samosir - Horas Family Home US$53/night - stayed for 2 nights
- Tonging - Taman Simalem Resort US$103/night
- Medan - Airbnb at Medan Town Centre US$33/night
Transportation - With the help from Horas Family Home (Pulau Samosir), we pre-arranged a driver to pick us up from the Kualanamu airport (Medan) towards Pulau Samosir. It's an almost 5 hours ride with stops for scenery and meal, so yes, get a real comfortable car as possible. Once you've arrived at Pulau Samosir, you can get around the island by foot, bicycle or motorcycle. We hired the same driver from Horas, travel from Pulau Samosir towards Taman Simalem, Mount Sibayak and back to Medan. Total cost for the 4-day arranged driver cost around US$40 for 4 persons.
LAKE TOBA
Supervolcanoes are usually not on your radar unless you have special interest in them. In North America - there are Yellowstone, Valles Caldera and Long Valley Caldera; In Europe - Campi Flegrei in Italy; or if you're in New Zealand, most likely you've heard of Lake Taupo. In Southeast Asia - there's Lake Toba (Danau Toba), a beautiful caldera lake measuring at 100km by 30km. In the centre of Lake Toba is an island called Pulau Samosir.
Places of Interest and recommended time to spend:
- Jump into Lake Toba - swim or kayak - 2 hours
- Explore Tuk Tuk town - tranquil town on Pulau Samosir - half a day
- Bukit Holburg - hill view of Lake Toba - 1 hour
- Huta Siallagan - stone chair of King Siallagan - 1 hour
- Pasar Tomok - local handicraft market - 1 hour
#1. At the Pematang Siantar City, Sumatra is famous for its Arabica coffee. Here you can find these great coffee at Cafe Kok Tong, which have been in operation since 1925, no espresso machine but traditional hand brewed coffee.
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MJ...w1906-h1266-no [/IMG]
#2. The Lake Toba!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/W_B9rvoT59VWXUruRl65iY4TvfqO9FkxIABRLJsoOUgd5TZbpK djlmh8LfFyhVzc7qo-ilvDf_YdHUcfBQ1JnWtCAm7VKrXi03aSkwRHD8-SkWNAffG_gMx4sUZN7xoT0CVlOhAX85c7eVyQ4SboKARifIfeH w3fmCtnTMhVLwk5q94ibYdD2RtvTBIt1jv_Q7IJVFNFTL7rV88 7E3a-vhWWp00M_WdXVj47zSAB3YEdTBZE8gI7qNc0xq7rzKz_lMsMv-iliqhgKfzgSLLLJrN6EePo1wT_V8VEMsqFB59_LUwZOo-34Kd4scctEZoKxQLFT9L9-uITntmUpazOoifpoUVZkhq2OB9N0v_MXwQwKB4BnRooPmOXJB_ AUp-fa3SHJK00kJvRFN87b3NXP__Gbg87J3S10q_RL4ZSyUqKcEuxi YSv79XD6k8M2EwSqBaplmrKmeRDKHBj8zsLpU5Xg43N4fkF63O pmRYoCYadmHn66dFM2zFXOJW3RV4_LUYNHfzdo1VvfZRjucYqR 9Dr-6F5p8dxClEJGJtZNBU1gdMOqmKGKUvGQ6wo7PKu0q0HDq2Ch8t L2Ecr6DDCBcK8-M3Vfz7p2Q99lBOgQq8WXl4jgZm7RBqy2YN6RLLSZB-ZLHApvhJR7FL5H1t2Ah12vGIuBFTeQQ=w1898-h1266-no
#3. The view of high land plateau of Parapat town from Pulau Samosir
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mF5X8RDZutWOrtILxojG-i4z1YnD6-W5OMAOwKFDiVOtiQraR_VR49PHzQZ78RFrwkXabcxOE4paN0uD UIZ6HmsywMqfqfwVQnREo3CfrN-wPoPw-2_sRP1prqHhEBCp-MyzrHXok8daOe_MSp2Br9SsoXcFf4ksmTVvXXV3AljCxa99rPw _DTIzJXjXKnw2CjuWeHohFnbZQCXFR_HH3Ortmq71uUaMwZBYm hOjG3c87Np9D1Ox7N3EA5B6uMPW3qPS_IMGlIf22vpyBO4usj2 SLO_TVmj45HMzMS9H5ZNBtGDBymL2COAmZMaZb8_MLwLu1rFJQ iiptcRmlb_nT9EyHwG6ykxlYkutpLRZdldhOTN_GakDJ-aU_o3ay6LqZOactLmxgImzCOR4v7Bf_xCIofzwGsPgJDcQw2E-jmuAOtlowZp0xfLLLREH1o1c5GlQTXQRnJ6KbK6DBOUkvaREQR q7k4OAcM_5Jgr2ERX4YbOerbn8RF7BJI2UK2BPHIcaVEuMTf77 lnJcR-tBSFRUuahxoLuBYN-FPA1gWbIcX_R_ChSpPAvE4ZpoW_JuFxQ8mW_M2Eeb43uY3hgpD KInQzdszSIT4TdxwoDOIaebpS_C8ANwxPAUj1udQojSZfH7IBP cgoknsEJkEet7f3ppHOyDjzdVLA=w1850-h1266-no [/IMG]
#4. Sun beams streaming into the valley through the clouds.
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fl...w1898-h1266-no [/IMG]
#5. An invite into the Lake Toba, dock from Horas Family Home.
[IMG] https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Bb...w1898-h1266-no /IMG]
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