Samosir is a lake island located in the middle of world’s largest volcanic lake, Lake Toba. A lake island seems to be a very remote spot in the middle of nowhere, as it is surrounded by lake water with no road access to the mainland Sumatra Island. You might be surprised to learn that this island has a developed society that has lived there for centuries. It is also one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations, where many hotels are thriving on the island. One of such hotels is the Carolina Hotel, located in Tuk Tuk. Providing excellent lake view accommodation at affordable prices, Carolina has much to offer. Read on to find out more!
A hotel by lake
Carolina Hotel is located right by the lake, elevated 900 meters (2952 feet) above sea level. So you can imagine what kind of view you’ll be able to see from most parts of this hotel. Not only will you be able to see the lake, you will also see a stretch of mountains surrounding the lake! Moreover, there are things you can do here that you can’t do at other hotels. One of them is going to the hotel by a ferry from the Sumatra mainland. Where else can you find such an incredible experience? Surely you can reach the hotel by land, but what is more fun than reaching the hotel by sea? Take a regular ferry from Parapat in the mainland, and ask the ferry driver to bring you here after the other passengers have disembarked in other parts of Samosir (Tomok village).
Swim in the lake right from your hotel
This is not even a 3-star hotel, so don’t expect to find a man-made swimming pool in the area. However, fret not if you like to spend your time swimming, as this hotel gives a better alternative: swimming in Lake Toba! It’s really a big WOW! When, and where else, can you have this very rare chance to swim in a volcanic lake? Swimming here is safe, even for children, as there have never been any crocodiles, or other dangerous animals known to be living in Lake Toba. The water is deep, but for beginners or children, there is no need to worry as there are floats you can rent from the hotel.
Simple but beautiful rooms
All rooms are facing the lake, so wake up in the morning and start your day with the magnificent view of Lake Toba! Rates here are incredibly cheap! Rooms with the lowest rate are the economy rooms, which cost 100,000 IDR (7.50 USD) per night, and with that price you will stay in a Batak cottage (wooden with 2 pointed ends on its roof) with a private bathroom, double beds, and a view of the lake . It doesn’t have TV, Wi-Fi, a hot shower, or air conditioning, but for that price, who would want to complain? You can stay in a deluxe room for 400,000 IDR (30 USD) if you want a room with the same facilities, as well as with a fridge, hot shower, and a living area. There is no air conditioning in any of the rooms as the weather is pretty cold at night (15ºC / 59ºF).
Affordable food at in-house restaurant
The hotel also has a restaurant, which faces the lake. They have good western cuisine, but also serve Indonesian and Chinese food at reasonable prices that range from IDR 10,000 (0.75 USD) to 25,000 IDR (1.85 USD). I highly recommend having their pancakes and beef steak. Although foods here are not five-star quality, they are not bad at all for such prices. Unfortunately, there is no vegetarian menu served here, but if you are a vegetarian, you can order foods like the meatless omelette or fried rice with eggs.
Jet skis, bikes and motorbikes to rent!
This hotel also rents out a jet ski for you to venture out on the lake near the hotel area; departing from the hotel’s private pier. It takes about 30 minutes for the water adventure, and you may be wondering how safe the ride is. Well, you are not the one who is going to drive the jet ski, someone else will do the driving. The vehicle can only be loaded with 2 adults, or 1 adult and 2 children under 12, including the driver. So if there are 2 adults wanting to ride, you need to rent 2 jet skis. Do you want to explore Tuk Tuk or other parts of Samosir island from the hotel? Fret not as besides jet skis, the hotel also rents out a bicycle and a motorcycle!
A hotel with the best deal in the island
Carolina Hotel is one of the most affordable hotels on the island, but with excellent lake view and facilities where you can experience things that most other hotels don’t offer. They’re really worth the money spent! If I were you, I would not hesitate to book this hotel!
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to