---
title: "Lake Toba 2026: Medan to Parapat, Samosir Ferries"
description: "Medan's Kualanamu airport, its airport train, the toll road towards Lake Toba, and the ferries from Ajibata and Tigaras to Tomok, Ambarita and Simanindo."
canonical: "https://indonesiatransport.com/lake-toba/"
language: "en"
content_type: "destination"
last_checked: "2026-11-12"
confidence: "medium"
status: "published"
structured_data: "https://indonesiatransport.com/lake-toba/#webpage"
alternates: "en=https://indonesiatransport.com/lake-toba/ fr=https://indonesiatransport.com/fr/lake-toba/ de=https://indonesiatransport.com/de/lake-toba/ es=https://indonesiatransport.com/es/lake-toba/ ja=https://indonesiatransport.com/ja/lake-toba/ ko=https://indonesiatransport.com/ko/lake-toba/ ru=https://indonesiatransport.com/ru/lake-toba/ zh-Hant=https://indonesiatransport.com/zh/lake-toba/"
---
# Lake Toba and Samosir from Medan: the road, the train and the ferries

## Short Answer

Fly into Medan's Kualanamu airport, then go south by road on the Kuala Tanjung to Parapat toll road, whose Sinaksak to Simpang Panei section opened toll-free on 13 March 2026. At the lake, car ferries cross from Ajibata, by Parapat, to Tomok on Samosir 12 times a day from 05:30 to 21:00. From Kuala Lumpur, direct flights to Kualanamu take 60 to 70 minutes.

## Quick Facts

- Province: North Sumatra
- Usual way in: Flight to Kualanamu (Medan), then road
- Terminals and ports: Kualanamu airport; Ajibata, Tigaras, Tomok, Ambarita and Simanindo ferry ports
- Last checked: 2026-11-12
- Confidence: medium

## Kualanamu airport to Medan and the road south

Most trips to the lake start at Kualanamu airport, south of Medan. Here is how you get on the road.

**The airport train.** KA Srilelawangsa, run by KAI Bandara, makes 24 trips a day between Medan, Araskabu and Kualanamu airport; from Araskabu to central Medan takes about 30 minutes, and fares start at Rp 5,000. Tickets are on railink.co.id.

**Towards the lake.** The Kutepat toll road leaves the Medan side towards Tebing Tinggi, Pematangsiantar and Parapat. Its newest stretch, Sinaksak to Simpang Panei, 12.55 km, has carried traffic toll-free since 13 March 2026.

**Silangit, the airport south of the lake.** Raja Sisingamangaraja XII airport at Silangit takes flights from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (Super Air Jet, Indonesia AirAsia, Batik Air), from Jakarta Halim and Batam (Citilink), and from Kualanamu on Wings Air, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays since 23 July 2025.

**DAMRI from Silangit to the ferry.** DAMRI links Silangit with Ajibata for Rp 16,000, leaving Ajibata at 06:00 and 09:00 and Silangit at 10:00 and 13:30.

## Parapat to Samosir: ferries to Tomok, Ambarita and Simanindo

Samosir is reached by boat, and the crossing you pick depends on where you are staying.

| Crossing | Ships | Departures, January 2026 timetable |
|---|---|---|
| Ajibata to Tomok | KMP Tao Toba I and II | 12 a day from 05:30 to 21:00 |
| Ajibata to Ambarita | KMP Ihan Batak, KMP Pora-pora | From 07:30, 5 to 12 a day depending on the period, the last between 17:30 and 21:15 |
| Tigaras to Simanindo | KMP Sumut I and II | Hourly from 07:00 to 20:30 |

**Ajibata to Tomok, both ways:** 05:30, 06:40, 08:40, 10:40, 12:00, 13:20, 14:30, 15:50, 17:00, 18:20, 19:40, 21:00

**Which crossing.** Ajibata, beside Parapat, is the port for Tomok and Ambarita; Tigaras to Simanindo is the other car-ferry crossing. The Ajibata to Ambarita timetable changes with the season and holidays, with extra sailings in busy weeks.

## Royal tombs, ulos cloth and the island in the lake

Beyond the lake views, Samosir is where the Batak villages and tombs are. Here is what to see.

- **The Sidabutar royal tombs at Tomok** are the classic first stop off the ferry: the kings of Samosir lie in carved stone sarcophagi above the ground, not buried, each cut from a single block.
- **Look up at the carvings:** the top of King Naibatu Sidabutar's tomb shows the king with the long hair that, the story goes, held his power and was never cut.
- **Wrap an ulos** before you enter: the Batak woven cloth is worn at the tombs as at every important Batak ceremony, and entry is by donation.
- **Samosir itself** is the island in the middle of Lake Toba, and the Ajibata ferries run from 05:30 to 21:00, so a day trip from Parapat works.

## Medan to Lake Toba on the new toll road

Go by road: the Kuala Tanjung to Tebing Tinggi to Parapat toll road (Kutepat) runs from the Medan side towards the lake, and its Sinaksak to Simpang Panei section, 12.55 km near Pematangsiantar, has been open toll-free since 13 March 2026. Drivers from Medan still pay the existing toll up to the Sinaksak gate.

| Fact | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Usual way | Car, bus or shared car on the toll road |
| Where it departs | Medan or Kualanamu airport |
| Where it arrives | Parapat and Ajibata ferry port |

**DAMRI straight to the ferry.** DAMRI's bus runs from Kualanamu airport to Pelabuhan Ajibata (Ajibata harbour) at Parapat in three to four hours, Rp 35,000 to Rp 50,000. In March 2026 it left at 10:00, 14:00 and 20:00 from its stop on the arrivals level, to the right as you come out. The DAMRI Apps lists each day's departures both ways.

**Shared cars from the airport.** Nice Trans, Exnevia Travel, Paradep and Artha Trans run shared cars from Kualanamu to Parapat, door to door, for Rp 80,000 to Rp 150,000 a person depending on the company and the season. They leave when full, so book a seat ahead by WhatsApp.

**The cheap, slow way.** DAMRI from the airport to Terminal Amplas (Amplas bus terminal) in Medan, about Rp 15,000, then an intercity bus such as Sejahtera to Parapat for Rp 40,000 to Rp 60,000. Those buses wait to fill, so allow seven to eight hours in all.

**By train as far as Pematangsiantar.** KA Siantar Ekspres leaves Medan once a day, at 14:00, and takes 2 h 53 min, Rp 22,000 on Access by KAI; a DAMRI or local bus covers the last hour or so to Parapat for about Rp 10,000.

**Before the toll road,** the drive from Medan to the lake took up to six hours; the toll road is expected to bring it down to about two.

## Kuala Lumpur to Medan: the 65-minute flight

Fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Medan's Kualanamu airport: Indonesia AirAsia, AirAsia, Batik Air and Malaysia Airlines take 60 to 70 minutes, with seats sold from about Rp 853,000 for November 2026. The first flights leave Kuala Lumpur at 08:40 and the last at 21:20.

| Fact | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Usual way | Direct flight |
| Typical time | 60 to 70 min |
| Where it arrives | Kualanamu airport (KNO), Medan |

**Kuala Lumpur departures (November 2026):** 08:40, 09:10, 10:25, 12:10, 14:30, 15:30, 15:50, 17:15, 19:30, 21:20

**Malaysian time is an hour ahead,** so a 09:10 departure lands at 09:15 Medan time.

## Lake Toba: what travellers ask

### Which airport is closest to Lake Toba?

Medan's Kualanamu airport, with direct flights from Kuala Lumpur in 60 to 70 minutes; from there the toll road heads south towards Pematangsiantar and Parapat.

### How do you get to Samosir Island?

By car ferry: from Ajibata, by Parapat, to Tomok 12 times a day from 05:30 to 21:00, or to Ambarita; from Tigaras to Simanindo every hour from 07:00 to 20:30, on the January 2026 timetable.

### Is there a train from Kualanamu airport to Medan?

Yes, KA Srilelawangsa runs 24 trips a day between Kualanamu, Araskabu and Medan, with fares from Rp 5,000; from Araskabu to central Medan takes about 30 minutes.

### Do I need to wear anything special at the Sidabutar tombs?

Yes, an ulos, the Batak woven cloth, which visitors put on to enter the royal tombs at Tomok. Entry is by donation.

## Sources for Lake Toba

1. [detikFinance: Sinaksak - Simpang Panei toll section open free of charge (15 March 2026) — news](https://finance.detik.com/infrastruktur/d-8400662/tol-sinaksak-simpang-panei-dibuka-gratis)
2. [IDN Times Sumut: seven ways from Kualanamu to Lake Toba (21 March 2026) — news](https://sumut.idntimes.com/travel/destination/7-cara-lengkap-ke-danau-toba-dari-kualanamu-dari-irit-hingga-elite-c1c2-01-2j5kq-rf1yv8)
3. [Kompas TV: DAMRI timetables and fares to and from Lake Toba (16 November 2025) — news](https://www.kompas.tv/ekonomi/631146/jadwal-dan-harga-tiket-damri-dari-dan-menuju-danau-toba-terbaru)
4. [detikSumut: public transport to Lake Toba (9 February 2025) — news](https://www.detik.com/sumut/wisata/d-7770178/rekomendasi-transportasi-umum-ke-danau-toba-ongkos-mulai-rp-30-ribuan)
5. [Kemenhub DJPU: Raja Sisingamangaraja XII airport, Silangit — official](https://hubud.kemenhub.go.id/bandara/66)
6. [Pemkab Tapanuli Utara: new Wings Air Kualanamu - Silangit route (2 July 2025) — official](https://www.taputkab.go.id/berita/v/rute-baru-wings-air-kualanamu-silangit-kualanamu)
7. [detikFinance: Kutepat toll road to open for the year-end holidays, Medan to Toba in two hours (21 July 2025) — news](https://finance.detik.com/infrastruktur/d-8021771/tol-kutepat-dibuka-nataru-perjalanan-medan-toba-tinggal-2-jam)
8. [detikSumut: Lake Toba ferry timetable, January 2026 (9 January 2026) — news](https://www.detik.com/sumut/berita/d-8298820/jadwal-penyeberangan-kapal-ferry-di-danau-toba-pada-januari-2026)
9. [RRI: KAI Bandara strengthens mobility with fares from Rp 5,000 (2 August 2026) — news](https://rri.co.id/bandung/bisnis/2619723/kai-bandara-perkuat-mobilitas-masyarakat-bertarif-mulai-rp5000)
10. [RRI: the royal tombs of Raja Sidabutar at Tomok (25 December 2023) — news](https://rri.co.id/nataru/493249/mistis-dan-megah-jejak-sejarah-makam-raja-sidabutar)

## Places to combine with Lake Toba

- [Indonesia's trains: what runs, which class to buy, how to book](https://indonesiatransport.com/trains/)
- [Flying around Indonesia: airlines, airports and when a flight beats the boat](https://indonesiatransport.com/flights/)
- [Fast boats, car ferries and Pelni ships: crossing Indonesia by sea](https://indonesiatransport.com/ferries/)
- [Jakarta: Soekarno–Hatta airport, the stations and the trains out](https://indonesiatransport.com/jakarta/)