Medan Surrounding Area

Parapat and Lake Toba
The town of Parapat is the main tourist resort and lies on the very shore of lake Toba. Parapat is 176 km from Medan and can be reached in 4 hours by bus or car. The climate in Parapat is cool and dry, making Parapat an ideal place to relax. Many hotel, bungalow, villas welcome visitors.

In Parapat live Batak Toba and Batak Simalungun tribes, they are happy and easy going people. They are known for their lively and sentimental love song. Recreational sports in Parapat are among others swimming, water skiing, motor boat, canoeing, fishing at lake Toba. This lake is the largest freshwater lake in south east asia and one of the deepest in the world. It was formed by a monumental volcanic eruption which is about 30miles along and 10 miles wide.

Samosir Island
The island of Samosir is right in the middle Lake Toba, , covering an area of 329 square mile. This island is the original home of the fiercest but kind hearted Toba Bataks. It can be reached in half an hour by boat from Parapat. The villages of Tomok, Tuk Tuk, Siallagan, Ambarita are recommended for traditional Batak Toba houses and local dances. This island has many hotels, bungalow and rest house.

Pematang Siantar
Pematang siantar is the second largest city, lying 128 km to the south of Medan. On the way you will pass through many rubbers, cocoa, palm oil, tobacco and tea plantations. This is the richest part of North Sumatra, because these plantations produce the main export commodities. Then onward to Lake Toba you will see a vast of stretch of land covered with thick forest, plantation, terraced rice field, lush vegetation, green hills and mountains.

Great Bukti Barisan Forest Park
Located at Tongkoh village in the district of the Karo highlands, approximately 59 km from Medan. Formerly Tahura bukit Barisan since 1916, known for its location called Arboretum Tongkoh Berastagi, however since 1989 renovated and renamed Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park. Found there is the zoological museum and a gazebo with Karo ornaments designed on the top of the roof, painted with various writing of typical welcome greetings in Tapanuli, which is Horas.

Brastagi, a tourist town is another lovely town located in the Karo highlands. The town is known for its plantations and various kinds of flowers, vegetables and fruit, most famous of fruit is the Marquise, passion fruit.
Its 66 km south west of Medan and is 4.594 feet above sea level. There is pleasant colonial style hotel with a golf course. Other new hotels can also be found. Gundaling hill clear view of mountain Sibayak and Mt Sinabung volcanoes can be seen.

The Village of Lingga
Located some 15km from Brastagi is unique Batak Karo village where traditional houses are still well preserved and inhabited today. Five to six families live in each house, un separated by any partision, but each family have their own stoves.