Lake toba

  This is taken/cop from this Batak Culture on Samosir Island – frombluetogreen.com   Nestled at the edge of Lake Toba, our time staying in the Toledo hotel on Samosir Island was the perfect, peaceful closing chapter to our unforgettable journey through Sumatra. Nearly as big in area as Singapore, Samosir, the ‘island within an island’ is the fifth largest lake island in the world. The island had a laid-back way of life and a rich history. We had the opportunity to delve into the culture of the Batak people which offered a unique and different side of Indonesia. Our stay on Samosir Island, in the heart of Lake Toba, was the perfect way to end an unforgettable journey through Sumatra. Surrounded by peaceful waters, dramatic landscapes, and a slower pace of life, Samosir offered us something more than beautiful scenery. It gave us the opportunity to step into the world of the Batak people and discover a rich culture shaped by history, tradition, art, and community. Samosir is of...

       Damayanti’s Guests Explore Girsang Village NINNA.ID -When you think of Sumatra, you may picture the vast volcanic Lake Toba , the lush jungles of Gunung Leuser , or the graceful Minangkabau houses of West Sumatra . But to truly experience this island, you need someone who can bring its stories to life. That is where Damayanti Sinaga — warmly known as Butet — steps in. Who is Butet? In Batak culture, Butet is a loving name for baby girls. For Damayanti, the name has become part of her identity and her guiding spirit. Born in Medan and raised in the Batak heartland, she now lives in Kampung Ulos Hutaraja , a traditional weaving village on Samosir Island, at the heart of Lake Toba. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and a community rich in tradition, Damayanti’s passion for guiding was born. She often says: “Lake Toba is not just a place, it’s a story waiting to be told.” For her, guiding is not only about showing destinations, but about connecting people, ...

      Samosir, NINNA.ID – Juara Trail of the Kings 100K asal Jepang Hiro Yuki mengaku takjub dengan panorama Danau Toba dan antusiasme masyarakat Batak di sepanjang lintasan. Ia baru pertama kali datang ke Danau Toba. Meski hanya berada di Samosir selama tiga hari, kesan yang didapatnya sangat mendalam. “Pemandangannya sangat indah. Alamnya benar-benar luar biasa,” ujar Hiro Yuki kepada NINNA.ID, Sabtu 13 Juni 2026 sesaat setelah lepas dari kerumunan orang banyak. Sebelum mengikuti Trail of the Kings, pelari yang saat ini bekerja sebagai manajer proyek di sebuah lembaga kerja sama internasional Jepang di Jakarta ini sudah berpengalaman mengikuti berbagai lomba trail di Jepang dan Indonesia. Ia pernah menjadi juara di beberapa ajang trail, termasuk lomba trail run 100K di Bali. Dalam waktu dekat ia juga akan ikut lomba trail run 100 kilometer di Borneo. Namun menurutnya, Trail of the Kings memiliki pengalaman yang berbeda. Ia menjelaskan bahwa banyak lomba lari lintas alam...

     Samosir, NINNA.ID -One of my biggest motivations for becoming a tour guide was simple: I wanted to have friends from different parts of the world. At the same time, I wanted to help promote Lake Toba, the place I proudly call home. I am proud to be a guide. Over the years, I have come to believe that one of the most important parts of traveling is not the scenery, the hotels, or the attractions. What matters most is how local people treat visitors and whether they feel safe and welcomed. Tourism has a unique power to build understanding and friendship between people from different backgrounds, creating connections that sometimes seem impossible. As time goes by, I notice more and more solo female travelers visiting Samosir and Lake Toba. I have been fortunate to guide many of them, and each journey has left me with memorable stories. Sabine from Germany At the beginning of the year, I received a message from Sabine, who found my contact through Exploring Sumatra. It...

      NINNA -Malam 4 Mei 2026, Bandara Kualanamu masih sibuk dan penuh suara orang berlalu-lalang. Aku berdiri menunggu tiga tamu spesial dari Slovakia dan Republik Czech. Tak lama kemudian, muncul tiga perempuan dengan koper besar dan wajah lelah setelah perjalanan panjang: Maria, Pavla, dan Hana. Kami langsung berfoto bersama. Foto pertama dari perjalanan sebelas hari yang nantinya dipenuhi cerita, tawa, dan banyak kejutan kecil. [caption id="attachment_37297" align="alignnone" width="1280"]  Menjemput Maria, Pavla, dan Hana di Bandara Kualanamu bukan sekadar awal perjalanan, tapi awal dari sebelas hari cerita, tawa, dan persahabatan baru yang tumbuh di Sumatra. (foto ©Damayanti)[/caption] Malam itu kami menuju hotel di Kota Medan. Awalnya suasana di mobil sedikit canggung, seperti orang-orang yang baru saling mengenal. Tetapi Maria mulai banyak bertanya, lalu percakapan mengalir begitu saja. Saat itu aku mulai merasa, perjalanan ini pasti akan menyenang...