1. Lakeside serenity

With its glassy surface and surrounding mountains, it’s easy to see why Lake Toba has been included in the Indonesian government’s "10 priority tourism destinations". The lake (four hours by car from Medan) is the country’s largest to result from a crater, and it’s the largest freshwater reservoir, with a depth reaching 505 metres. Tongging Village is located on Lake Toba’s periphery and is an accessible spot to have a closer look at the lake. Stroll through the streets to enjoy the quietness of the farming community.

Lake Toba also presents a cultural side on Samosir Island, which sits in the middle of the lake. It takes about half an hour to get to the island by ferry from the main pier, in the town of Parapat. Once on the island, visitors can check out the Tomb of King Sidabutar and watch a Sigale-gale funeral dance, which involves a life-size wooden puppet as one of the characters. Inspired by the story of a king’s son who died on the battlefield, the performance is accompanied by traditional music of the Batak (a North Sumatran ethnic group).