Lake Maninjau, West Sumatera.

Lake Maninjau (Indonesian: Danau Maninjau), is a caldera lake in Agam regency, province of West Sumatera, Indonesia.  Maninjau means overlook or observation. So, Lake Maninjau means a lake that overlooked and observed by most people. It is located 16 km to the west of  Bukittinggi, a nearest city in the regency.

Jam Gadang (Big Clock) in Bukittinggi city.

Bukittinggi, in Indonesian means “high hill”, is a one of the larger city in province of West Sumatera, Indonesia. This city is popular with tourists due to its mild climate and central location. The famous icons of the city include: Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon), Jam Gadang (Big Clock), Lobang Jepang (Japanese Tunnel), and Danau Maninjau (Lake Maninjau) & Lembah Harau (Harau Valley) as the two nearby destinations.

Most of the people who live around Lake Maninjau are ethnically Minangkabau. Villages on the shores of the lake include Maninjau and Bayur. The villagers over there were very polite, and like most of moslems on the world, they always treat and serve their guests as good as possible.

Cottages at Nuansa Maninjau Resort, Maninjau.

Nuansa Maninjau Resort is a first class resort located on the 700 meter above the romantic Lake Maninjau. This hotel has 59 rooms consisting of 7 cottages and 52 hotel rooms. Multi channel TV with in-house movie, Telephone with Local and International Direct Dialing, Mini Bar and Refrigerator, exclusive rooms and suites include all the comforts which of an international resort.

If you plan to visit another exotic destination spots like Istana Pagaruyung (Pagaruyung Palace), Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon), Lobang Jepang (Japanese tunnel), Lembah Harau (Harau Valley), Pulau Sikuai (Sikuai Island), Pantai Carolina (Carolina Beach), Lembah Anai (Anai Valley), Waterboom Padang Panjang, Waterboom Solok, Selayang Pandang, Embun Pagi (Morning Dews), Danau Singkarak (Lake Singkarak), Danau

Sikuai Island, West Sumatera.

Diatas (Lake Diatas), Danau Dibawah (Lake Dibawah), Desa Pandai Sikek (Pandai Sikek Village), Sitinjau Laut, Kelok-44, Batu Malin Kundang (Malin Kundang Stone), etc., then you better to decide Bukittinggi as the “base camp”, because its location is in the central of the whole destination places above.

Lake Toba, North Sumatera.

Lake Toba (Indonesian: Danau Toba) is a supervolcano lake in North Tapanuli regency, province of North Sumatera, Indonesia. It is the largest lake in Indonesia and South-East Asia. Lake Toba has the island of  Samosir situated in the centre of the lake. Samosir is home to the hospitable tribe, Batak Toba and is well worth a visit, just to capture the traditions and culture of the tribe. Toba is a name of ethnic (Batak Toba) who lives around the lake. So, Lake Toba means a lake which belong to Batak Toba’s ethnic.

Simanindo Dance, a welcoming-guests dance of ethnic Batak.

Samosir island is a large volcanic island in the center of Lake Toba and connected to Sumatra mainland by a bridge named Jembatan Diponggol, situated at Pangururan village. The other villages in Samosir island which popular for tourists are Tomok and Tuk-Tuk Siadong. The main attraction in Samosir island is traditional dance of Batak Toba called Tor-Tor.

People who have come to Lake Toba, might have visited Parapat. But, actually Lake Toba is more than just what you can see in Parapat. It can be seen from many interesting places around the lake, like Parapat, Simarjarunjung, Tele, Tongging, and Silalahi.

Niagara Hotel, Parapat.

Niagara Hotel is one of great hotel in Parapat with a nice facilities: 73 Room’s (69 Standart room’s and 4 Suite room’s), conference room, restaurant, bar, swimming pool, telephone, coffe shop, large parking. Very beautiful hotel. The view of greatest Lake Toba can clearly seen from here.

The nearest city from the location is Parapat, a small city at the lakeside. Most of the people who live around Lake Toba are ethnically Batak and most of them are christians. Parapat can be reached about 4-5 hours by bus or car from Medan, the capital of the province of North Sumatera, with a distance of 176 Kilometers.

Sultan Deli Palace, Medan.

Medan also is the biggest city in the whole Sumatera. There are more destination places of tourism can be raeched from Medan, like Nias island which popular with its Sorake beach for surfing, Berastagi which popular with its fruits garden and mild climate, Bohorok which popular with its rehabilitation of Orangutan species, and last but not least, Medan is popular with its nicest and delicious of various foods and snacks.

Welcome to Lake Toba, welcome to Medan city, and enjoy yourself…