Danau Toba or Lake Toba is one of the most popular destinations in Indonesia, especially Medan in North Sumatra. Toba Island is the largest volcanic lake in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Samosir Island, an island located in the middle of the lake, makes Lake Toba even way more astonishing.
Lake Toba covers 1707 square kilometers, which is said to be 1,000 square kilometers larger than Singapore. It was formed by a huge volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago and may be the largest resurrection crater on earth. Pulau Samosir or Samosir Island, the island in the middle of this lake, is connected to the crater wall by a narrow isthmus cut to allow ships to pass; a road bridge passes through the cut.
Samosir Island is the cultural center of the Batak tribe, which may be the digenous people of North Sumatra. It is estimated that the eruption of a supervolcano (Mount Toba) caused several organisms’ mass death and extinction. The eruption of the Toba volcano caused changes in the earth’s climate and the beginning of the ice age that affected world civilization.
Lake Toba looks more like the sea than the size of the lake. Therefore, the lake is listed as the largest lake in Southeast Asia and the second largest lake in the world after Lake Victoria in Africa. Lake Toba also includes the deepest lake in the world, which is roughly 450 meters.
Why travel to Lake Toba?
- Nature and tranquility: imagine spending a week or two doing nothing, enjoying nature, and rejuvenating yourself from the social interactions that usually are essential in our daily lives. This is the kind of tranquility you will find on Lake Toba! Does this sound amazing?
- Cold weather: Sometimes we take time off to travel abroad just to get out of daily life. We found nothing better than the beautiful cold weather of Lake Toba. The climate here is perfect for snuggling amongst the beautiful scenery.
- Stunning scenery: If you are interested in staying away from the hecticness in the city, enjoying panoramic views and an exceptional fresh air, then this huge crystal clear lake almost twice the size of Singapore is what you are looking for.
- Here you will find spectacular scenery because it is located on a supervolcano in North Sumatra, which has been dormant for the past 74,000 years, nestled between towering mountains and flowing clouds!
- Batak people and culture: It is not just a place that could make you appreciate and love yourself more, but will probably make you appreciate and even fall in love with the friendly Batak people and culture, who make their home on Samosir Island, a small island in the center of the lake. Although Samosir has a reputation for its beautiful surroundings, all the nature and vegetation of the island remain intact. Quit your job and fly. Now is the time to recover physically and mentally.
The Best Time to Visit
1. September to November *
At this time of year, you can join the locals at the Lake Toba Festival, an annual event showcasing local arts, music, and sports; includes exciting activities like dragon boat races, art performances, and even fashion shows. Note: Be sure to check the festival time before planning a holiday, as the date changes every year.
2. May to September
Don’t like hanging out with the crowd? The dry season occurs between May and September when the landscape is at its best, and there are no hard clouds to (literally) rain on its parade. May is also the “golden” month whose weather is very warm, we don’t like swimming in sweat and rain do we?
Like everything else in this world, there are some things you should do and some things you should not do:
When not to ask your boss for permission
1. Winter
In the winter months, the weather tends to rain cats and dogs. Visiting Lake Toba during this period is not a good idea, unless you like gray skies and umbrellas as permanent accessories.
2. Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is a season when lots of tourists flock to Lake Toba, everything literally is going up — the prices, crowds, and whatnot. The only thing that falls is your satisfaction. So keep those in mind.
Vacation is more than just the scenery/food/accommodation, it’s about making long-lasting memories. Discover more adventures in Lake Toba by visiting Wonderful Indonesia.
