Ambarita lies on the bay just north of the Tuk Tuk peninsula. Its draw is Huta Siallagan, a compact Batak village enclosed by a wall of large stones, once topped with bamboo, that was the seat of the Siallagan chiefs. Inside, a row of traditional houses faces a courtyard shaded by a sacred tree.
Beneath that tree stands the Batu Parsidangan, a ring of stone chairs around a stone table, usually said to be more than two hundred years old. Here the chief, his advisers and the village elders met to settle disputes and try serious offences. A second group of stones behind the houses is presented as the place of execution — and the guides relish telling how the condemned were prepared, beheaded and, according to tradition, eaten. Whatever the exact truth of the details, the practice ended when Christianity arrived in the nineteenth century.
Top things to do at Ambarita & Huta Siallagan
Hear the story at the stone chairs
Local guides wait at the gate and work for a tip or a small fixed fee. Take one: the stones mean little without the explanation of who sat where, how the calendar was consulted to pick an auspicious day, and how a trial proceeded.
Look closely at the houses
The houses stand on wooden pillars with steep saddle roofs and gables carved and painted in red, white and black — the three colours of Batak gorga decoration. One is furnished as a small museum, and you can climb the short ladder to see how a whole extended family shared a single room.
Try on an ulos
Stalls inside and outside the walls lend or sell ulos cloths, and there is often a chance to join a short tor-tor dance in the courtyard. It is touristy, cheerful and over in ten minutes.
Carry on up the coast
From Ambarita the lake road continues north-west past rice fields, churches and family tombs shaped like miniature houses to Simanindo, one of the prettiest rides on the island.
How to get to Ambarita & Huta Siallagan
- From Tuk Tuk: about fifteen minutes by scooter. Follow the lane out of the peninsula and turn right on the main coast road; Huta Siallagan is signposted on the lake side.
- From the mainland: a vehicle ferry runs between Ajibata and Ambarita’s harbour several times a day, an alternative to the Tomok boat.
- On a tour: one day trip from Medan is built specifically around Huta Siallagan.
Insider tips
- A small entrance fee is charged at the gate; guides are extra.
- The site is small and can be seen in 45 minutes — early morning is far quieter than midday.
- The execution story is told with theatrical detail. With young children, you may want to ask the guide for a shorter version.
- There are simple cafés by the car park and a few on the shore for lunch with a view.
Best tours & tickets for Ambarita & Huta Siallagan
These experiences are the easiest way to see Ambarita & Huta Siallagan:
Day trip from €78 From Medan: Day Trip to Lake Toba & Huta Siallagan
A twelve-hour trip from Medan to Lake Toba and Samosir Island, built around Huta Siallagan — the walled Batak village in Ambarita with its ancient stone chairs — and the stories that go with it.
- Samosir Island in a day
- The stone chairs of Huta Siallagan in Ambarita
- Local legends and volcanic landscapes
Day trip from €118 Medan: Lake Toba Day Trip with Ferry and Lunch
A full day from Medan that actually sets foot on Samosir: you drive to the lake, take a ferry across to the island, visit historic villages and learn about Batak culture, with lunch included, before returning to Medan the same night.
- Ferry across the lake to Samosir Island
- Historic Batak villages with a guide
- Lunch included
Multi-day tour from €233 3-Day Lake Toba with Samosir Island, Waterfall & Culture
Three days from Medan to Lake Toba and Samosir Island, with Batak villages, a waterfall and unhurried time by the lake. Three days is the length we recommend for a first visit, because it gives you a full day on the island rather than a few hours.
- Three days from Medan to the lake and Samosir
- Traditional Batak villages
- Time to relax by the water
