In this episode, we journey to the breathtaking Lake Toba, a place shaped by one of the most cataclysmic volcanic eruptions in history.
Lake Toba: A Volcanic Legacy 🌎🔥
Around 74,000 years ago, a supervolcanic eruption here was so powerful that it caused one of Earth’s largest mass extinctions, plunging the planet into darkness and triggering a temporary ice age. Today, all that remains of this colossal explosion is a massive crater, which has since filled with water—creating Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world.
At its centre lies Samosir Island, an "almost island" formed by the uplift of magma beneath the lake. Most travellers stay here, and to reach it, we first took a shuttle to Parapat, followed by a boat ride across the lake.
First Impressions of Lake Toba 🚤🌅
The first thing that struck us was just how huge the lake is—it feels more like an ocean than a lake! It’s 100km long, making it one of the largest lakes in Southeast Asia, and the views across the water are breathtaking.
Most accommodation is in the small town of Tuk-Tuk, located on a peninsula within Samosir Island. This is where we stayed for two nights, but honestly, we wish we had longer!
Exploring Samosir Island 🏝️🏍️
With only one full day to explore, we decided to rent a tiny tuk-tuk instead of a motorbike. It wasn’t much more expensive, and it seemed fitting to explore Tuk-Tuk... in a tuk-tuk!
Toba Batak Cultural Centre 🏡🎭
Our first stop was the Toba Batak Cultural Centre, which, although quite touristy, was really interesting. Here, we learned about the unique traditions of the Batak people, who have a distinct language, architecture, and even their own traditional rituals and dances.
One of the highlights was chatting with locals—a group of Indonesians visiting for a team-building exercise and learning about their own cultural heritage. It was really nice to connect and share the experience with them.
Tamok Markets & Viewpoint Over Tuk-Tuk 🏔️🛍️
Next, we drove up to a scenic viewpoint overlooking Tuk-Tuk, passing through Tamok Markets along the way. We stopped for a bit to explore the market stalls, which sold fresh produce, traditional crafts, and souvenirs.
The viewpoint itself was spectacular, offering a panoramic look at the peninsula of Tuk-Tuk, surrounded by the vast waters of Lake Toba.
Final Thoughts on Lake Toba 🌊✨
We absolutely loved our time at Lake Toba, but two nights wasn’t nearly enough. We could have easily spent a week here, relaxing by the lake, exploring the island, and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere.
However, with our tight schedule, it was time to head back to Medan to catch our flight to Java—where more adventures await!
Join us in the next one, and don’t forget to check out my blog for more travel stories. See you soon! 👋
www.oceantojungle.com
__________________________________________
Check out my blog for this post and much more content!
https://oceantojungle.com/asia/fascin...
__________________________________________
All content by Libby
Video created in Canva and Capcut
🎶 From Uppbeat, feel free to use my referral code https://share.uppbeat.io/au3q0hpn5dg4
#laketoba #travelindonesia #sumatra
Информация по комментариям в разработке