Searching for unique destinations to explore? Tired of all the regional spots around Southeast Asia? Why not swap the concrete jungle of our Little Red Dot for an iconic natural wonder sitting just next door in Indonesia. Nestled deep within the cool, misty highlands of North Sumatra, the largest volcanic lake on Earth isn’t your typical crowded beach resort in Thailand or predictable coastal retreat in Desaru Coast. Instead, it’s a massive, water-filled caldera born from an earth-shattering prehistoric super eruption around 74,000 years ago. And the craziest part is that this gigantic lake is actually significantly larger than the entirety of Singapore. In fact, it’s twice the length of our nation. Certainly, Lake Toba is the ultimate off-the-beaten-path adventure you desperately need on your travel bucket list. Read on to find out why.
To put its sheer scale into perspective, the mind-blowing Lake Toba stretches approximately 100 kilometres in length and 30 kilometres in width—meaning it is exactly twice as long as Singapore which spans 50 kilometres from East to West. Meanwhile, the ancient crater lake’s footprint covers a staggering 1,145 square kilometres of surface area, making it just over 1.5 times larger than Singapore’s total land mass of about 744 square kilometres. Plus, it could easily house the equivalent of the entire country right in the middle of its waters.
Why is this giant crater lake actually worth a visit?
The jaw-dropping Lake Toba isn’t just a picturesque puddle: it’s an ocean-sized expanse of deep blue water and crispy mountainous landscapes. Interestingly, the volcanic island of Samosir sits entirely within the lake, measuring 630 square kilometres, and is actually nearly the exact size of Singapore itself.
This serene sanctuary offers a unique getaway steeped in rich indigenous Batak heritage, fringed by plunging waterfalls and rolling green hills, as well as offering a mystical, undiscovered vibe you can’t find anywhere else in Southeast Asia.
Additionally, this enormous lake destination offers a range of thrilling things to do for adventure lovers. For starters, you can rent a scooter to breeze around Samosir Island to see the lush hilltops, sweep past rice paddies, and snap pictures at dramatic lakeside viewpoints. On top of that, culture enthusiasts can dive deep into indigenous heritage at ancient stone trail chairs, old houses like Rumah Bolon, and traditional weaving experiences.
Those craving adrenaline activities can hike up the sacred active volcanic towering Pusuk Buhit Mountain—which is known as the legendary birthplace of Batak kings. Otherwise, opt to chase the thundering Sipiso Piso Waterfall before ending your evening soaking in the natural hot springs at Pangururan, and tucking into hearty local cuisine and a world-class Sumatran coffee while admiring a lake bigger than your homeland.
How to get there
Travellers from Singapore can reach the massive crater lake from Changi Airport much easier than expected. The quickest way is to hop on a 1.5 direct flight from Singapore to Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) in Medan. Alternatively, you can fly straight into the much closer Silangit Airport (DTB) if you can snag a direct route. Otherwise, you’ll grab a private car or bus for a scenic drive from Medan to the lakeside town of Parapat in 2 hours and 10 minutes, followed by a breezy ferry ride across the huge lake if you want to stay in Samosir.
