Green hills
Rolling crests above the lake.
Francis Hartanto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Francis Hartanto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mahmur Marganti — CC BY-SA 4.0 · IHLubis — CC BY-SA 4.0
Rolling green grassy hills in the south of Samosir Island, looking down on Lake Toba, which in recent years have become one of the area's favourite photo spots, likened by visitors to the hills of fantasy films for their smooth green and rolling crests. Visitors climb a fairly short dirt path to the top in about half an hour, and from above the broad blue lake opens out, ringed by the walls of the old caldera, with small villages along the shore. The best times are sunrise and sunset, when the light colours the hills and water. Entry and parking are a token fee of about ten thousand rupiah. There is no shade on the hills, so the midday sun is fierce, and the grass is slippery after rain. It is about an hour and a half by car or scooter from Tuktuk, so pair it with the Tele viewing tower on the same road. Bring water, a hat and shoes that grip on slopes.
Rolling crests above the lake.
The lake inside the old volcano.
The best times for photos.
Southern Samosir Island
No: a short path of about half an hour, but steep, exposed to the sun and slippery after rain. Fine for families with care.