NINNA.ID-Do you plan to get to Samosir Island? There are several ways to get from Medan to Samosir Island. The fastest way to get to Samosir Island from Medan is by passing Tigaras-Simanindo Harbour. You can use either by taxi for private or group. You can also using public transport.
There are several taxis served or available at Kualanamu Airport. The cost of taxi is around 200.000 IDR per person. The taxi can load 6 people including the driver. It means for 5 people 1.000.000 IDR.
Using Private Taxi or Group
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 costs IDR 900.000. If only 2 people that ready to go and you agree to share IDR 900.000 for both of you. Each of you costs IDR 450.000.
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.
Using Public Transport
You can use public transport. There are two kinds of public transport available in Amplas Medan to Samosir Island—Parisma and Sampri. Both transportations regularly bring passengers to Samosir Island from Tigaras-Simanindo.
Parisma start at 07.00 am till 01.00 get into Samosir. The last departure is 01.00 pm from Medan to Samosir Island.
The distance between Kualanamu to Samosir Island is 120 km.
It takes approximately 4 hour and half hours to get from Kualanamu Airport (KNO) to Samosir Island, including transfers Tigaras-Simanindo Harbour crossing the lake to Samosir Island.
Transferring from Tigaras-Simanindo Harbour to Samosir Island cost 150.000 each car including the passengers. It takes around less than 30 minutes to cross Lake Toba to the island.
If you use a motorbike to cross the lake it costs just 30.000 per person including a motorbike.
As usual, on the way to Tigaras, 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 hotel has staff that speak English so you can do all the things you want easily.
But if you have difficulty with how to communicate with the hotel staff or the owner of the homestay, feel free to call the Tourist Information Centre telephone number.
Many Hotels in Simanindo
After arriving at Simanindo Harbor, there are so many inns, hotels, and homestays. It is not difficult for travelers to find affordable homestays.
Almost every village has homestays. Starting from homestays around Simarmata Village, Parbaba Village, Lumban Suhi-Suhi Village, and other villages.
If you love beach, since getting off from Simanindo Harbor, there are so many beaches that you can choose from. If you need assistance, you can contact the writer that also work as Lake Toba Tour Guide.
Writer: Damayanti Sinaga that also work as Lake Toba Tour Guide
