Wonderful Day Joined Lake Toba Trip with 14 People Guests from Holland and Belgium

 NINNA.ID-Since July 2023, many Europeans visit Lake Toba. Until now August 2023, many tour guides especially local guides in Samosir Island, has booked by some tour travel operators.

A tour guide named Daniel Manik told to Ninna,” I got booked by some of the tour travel operators. I was so busy since July bringing European guests. It will continue until September.”

One of the writers in Ninna was invited by Nurdin Nasution to join Lake Toba Trip with 14 guests from Holland and Belgium. Friday 11th, 2023 became a wonderful day.

The trip starts at 09.00 am. We used the boat from Toledo Inn. We visited Sigapiton Village. There we trekked starting from the harbor to a school SD NO 173671 Sigapiton.

During trekking, all that joined the group listened to the explanation about this village. Here is the explanation about this village.

Sigapiton is flanked by two mountains. In Batak or Bahasa Indonesia, we called “digapit or diapit”. That is the reason it was named Sigapiton. This village was in a bay of Lake Toba.

Although it is close to Lake Toba, the people there do not use water from the lake for household.

There are some fountains that flow from the mountain and to be flowed to each house.

We can see the water from the fountains come from an irrigation ditch.

[caption id="attachment_26818" align="alignnone" width="696"] 14 guests from Holland and Belgium (photo: Damayanti)[/caption]

Worthy to be Called a Geopark

“Do you think Lake Toba worthy to be called a Geopark?” asked the guide. Some of the guests who really focusing on listening to the explanation answered,” Yes! Lake Toba is worthy to be called a national Park or Geopark!”

The guide asked the guests,” As we know water usually comes from higher to lower level. Why does water from above never stop flowing? And where does the water come from?

[caption id="attachment_26820" align="alignnone" width="696"] The guest seeing the scenery of Sigapiton Village (photo: Damayanti)[/caption]

No one can answer the guide. She (the guide) explains, “The water always flows because there is much water. The mountains are the place to store water.

Mountains save water especially when there is much rain.

Mountains in Sigapiton have forested slopes that absorb the rain like a sponge, allowing it to run downhill gently to the rivers or irrigation ditch, rather than cause devastating floods,”

After the explanation, we passed some of the trees. There are candle nuts, avocados, coffee, corn, peanuts, and other plant. The guide shows and called the name of each of them.

As Lake Toba is situated 3,000 feet or at least 900 m above sea level, there are many trees that can grow here. Palm trees, pine trees, and other unique trees flourish side by side in this temperate paradise.

Visit School

After a long explanation, we arrived at a government school, there we were welcomed by the teacher and kids in the yard. They greet us using English.

It made the 14 guests feel welcome there. Later the kids do the Tor-Tor dance. They also invited all guests to dance.

It was a wonderful day. The kids were very happy especially when they met Tibo and his brother. Tibo, a guest from Holland has a big muscle.

Most of the kids noticed it. They show their muscle to Tibo. Many funny things they did with Tibo. They were having fun together.

[caption id="attachment_26819" align="alignnone" width="696"] Kids and the guests dancing together (photo: Damayanti)[/caption]

To Situmurun Waterfall

After spending a few hours in the school, we moved to our boat and we went to Situmurun Waterfall. It took around more than one hour. When we arrived in Situmurun, we have lunch. Then all the guest swam onto the Lake Toba and get close to the waterfall.

Situmurun Waterfall is around 70 meters high. Flanked between Jonggi Ni Huta and Hutanamora village. It is in Lumban Julu district, Toba Samosir.

All the guests felt wonderful seeing the natural spectacular wealth. They really admired the scenery in Situmurun. Finally, we finished our trip. We came back to Toledo Inn. It was a wonderful day joined the Lake Toba trip with 14 guests from Holland and Belgium.

Writer: Damayanti Sinaga that also work as Lake Toba Tour Guide

Travel Guide, The Cheapest Way to Get from Kualanamu Airport to Samosir Island

 NINNA.ID-There are several ways to get from Kualanamu Airport to Samosir Island. But the cheapest one Ninna recommended using a taxi to Kualanamu Airport. There are several taxis served or available at Kualanamu Airport.

The cost to get into a taxi is IDR 150.000 per person. The taxi can load 6 people including the driver. It means for 5 people IDR 750.000.

But just say there are only 1-2 people that are ready to go to Samosir Island. You will need another passenger until it loads 5 passengers from Kualanamu Airport to Samosir Island.

Otherwise, you can book one taxi that cost IDR 750.000. If only 2 people that ready to go and you agree to share IDR 750.000 for both of you. Each of you costs IDR 375.000.

[caption id="attachment_25974" align="alignnone" width="696"] Kualanamu Arrivals Area
Photo: Damayanti[/caption]

The distance between Kualanamu to Samosir Island is 120-130 km.

It takes approximately 4 hour and half to 5 hours to get from Kualanamu Airport (KNO) to Samosir Island, including transfers from Ajibata or Tigaraja Harbour crossing the lake to Samosir Island.

[caption id="attachment_26780" align="alignnone" width="696"] Small Boat in Simanindo that bring passangers (photo: Damayanti)[/caption]

There is also another way, from Kualanamu Airport to Samosir Island from Tigaras Harbour. It will be faster or short way rather than from Ajibata or Tigaraja. You will arrive in Simanindo Harbour using Ferry or boat from Tigaras.

For transferring from Ajibata/Tigaraja or Tigaras Harbour crossing the lake to Samosir Island as usual the passengers using small boats for faster. It takes 30 minutes to cross the Lake Toba to the island. The cost of IDR 25.000 per person.

Take Break

As usual, on the way to Tigaraja/Ajibata, the taxi driver will stop in one shuttle stop because they need to take a break for a while in Siantar, depending on the situation.

It is just normal for a long journey the driver and passangers must take a break. But we do not have any obligation to give meals or pay for the driver meal’s because as usual, the driver is responsible for his meal.

As usual, foreigners concentrate located in TukTuk. But, so many homestays, and hotels around Simanindo.

You can ask the tourist information centre which homestay or hotels has staff that speak English so you can do all things you want easily.

[caption id="attachment_26781" align="alignnone" width="696"] Tourist in Kampung Ulos Hutaraja, Lumban Suhi-Suhi, Samosir (photo: Damayanti)[/caption]

But if you have difficulty on how to communicate with the hotel staff or the owner of the homestay, feel free to call the Tourist Information Centre telephone number.

[caption id="attachment_10588" align="alignnone" width="696"] One of great spot Samosir, Lake Toba (photo: Damayanti)[/caption]

Car Rental to Samosir

If you want to have more space and privacy, you can rent a car to Samosir. But you need to do research first to find the best company for you. Or you can order the car when you arrive in Kualanamu Airport.

[caption id="attachment_26782" align="alignnone" width="696"] One of famous fruits originality from Samosir is this manggo (photo : Damayanti)[/caption]

The comparison. It must be cheaper using a taxi rather than rent a car. If we rent a car, it will cost more expensive. A day for rent is around IDR 350.000+ the wage of the driver is IDR 300.000+ fuel maybe cost IDR 200.000 + the driver might be asking us for cigarettes and food/meals every day if he follows us to Lake Toba.

[caption id="attachment_6604" align="alignnone" width="535"] Buffalo is one of biggest livestock in Lake Toba. (photo:damayanti)[/caption]

It will cost more than IDR 1.000.000/day. We also must give a down payment to the owner of the company by transferring before the driver picks you up. So, which do you prefer? Using using taxi or rent a car?

If you need assitance, feel free to contact me for more information +62 852 9773 2855

[caption id="attachment_29346" align="alignnone" width="1280"] People from Belgium visited Samosir Island[/caption]

Writer: Damayanti Sinaga that also work as Lake Toba Tour Guide