Pusuk Buhit, a volcanic cone of almost two thousand metres on the western shore, is the holiest place in the Batak world. According to tradition, the first ancestor, Si Raja Batak, came down to earth here, and all Batak clans trace their descent from the village at its foot, Sianjur Mula-mula. Families still come to pray, and sacred stones and springs dot the lower slopes.
For visitors the mountain is mostly something to look at — and the best place to do that is the Tele viewing tower on the caldera rim, where the road from Berastagi and Sidikalang begins its long descent to the lake. Completing the western circuit, Lake Sidihoni lies up on Samosir’s plateau: a small lake on an island in a lake.
Top things to do at Pusuk Buhit, Tele & Lake Sidihoni
Take in the view from Tele
The tower stands at a bend high above the lake, with tiers of viewing platforms looking down on Pangururan, the strait and the green cone of Pusuk Buhit. Clear mornings are best; by early afternoon cloud often rolls up the slope.
Visit Sianjur Mula-mula
In the valley behind Pusuk Buhit, a reconstructed traditional compound and several sacred sites commemorate the origin of the Batak people. It is quiet, rural and little visited by foreigners; a local guide helps a great deal with the stories.
Hike Pusuk Buhit
The climb to the summit takes most of a day there and back and should be done with a local guide, both for route-finding and out of respect for a mountain many people consider sacred. Ask in Pangururan or through your guesthouse.
Detour to Lake Sidihoni
On the plateau road between Pangururan and the east coast, Sidihoni is a calm sheet of water among pasture and pine trees where buffalo graze on the shore. There are no facilities to speak of — that is the point.
How to get to Pusuk Buhit, Tele & Lake Sidihoni
- Tele: about 45 minutes by road up from the bridge at Pangururan. Buses between Pangururan and Medan pass the tower.
- Sianjur Mula-mula: a side road from the mainland end of the bridge, past the hot springs, reaches the valley in around half an hour.
- Lake Sidihoni: roughly twenty minutes uphill from Pangururan on the cross-island road.
- On a tour: one three-day cultural tour on GetYourGuide is built around Sianjur Mula-mula and ulos weaving.
Insider tips
- The road to Tele is steep with many hairpins and occasional landslips after heavy rain. Ride it only if you are an experienced scooter rider; otherwise hire a car and driver.
- It is noticeably colder on the rim than at the lake. Take a jacket.
- At sacred sites, follow your guide’s lead, dress modestly and ask before photographing people praying.
- There is a small charge to climb the tower.
Best tours & tickets for Pusuk Buhit, Tele & Lake Sidihoni
These experiences are the easiest way to see Pusuk Buhit, Tele & Lake Sidihoni:
Multi-day tour from €259 Samosir: Sianjur Mula Mula and Weaving Ulos Tour
A three-day cultural trip to Sianjur Mula-mula — the valley Batak tradition names as the people’s place of origin — with traditional villages, ulos weaving, waterfalls, Samosir Island and Berastagi. No reviews yet.
- Sianjur Mula-mula at the foot of Pusuk Buhit
- See ulos cloth being woven
- Samosir, waterfalls and Berastagi
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
Multi-day tour from €317 Medan: 4 Days 3 Nights Lake Toba Tour Package Including Hotels
A four-day, three-night loop from Medan covering Parapat, Samosir and the Karo highland town of Berastagi, with hotels included in the price — the simplest way to see the classic North Sumatra circuit without booking each night yourself.
- Parapat, Samosir and Berastagi in one loop
- Hotels included
- Rated 4.7 by its first reviewers
