Parapat

By bus

• from/to Medan: Rp 39,000 with local bus / 5hrs (every hour) or Rp 65,000 (offers start at 80,000) with tourist minibus / 4hrs (April 2016)
• from/to Berastagi: Rp 100,000 / 4hrs
• from/to Bukittinggi: Rp 180,000 / 15hrs or Rp 250,000 with tourist minibus / 15hrs
• from/to Bukit Lawang: Rp 230,000/person with tourist minibus
• from/to Sibola: Rp 75,000 / 6hrs with minibus
• from/to Dumai: Rp 150,000 / 11hrs with minibus

By ferry

The ferry dock of Parapat is the major access point for the Samosir island. From there, jump in a local mini-van (Rp 2,000) towards the Parapat bus station. From there you can reach nearly all the big cities in Sumatra and even Java

• from/to Tuktuk: Rp 15,000 / 35 min (from 8.30AM to 6PM every hour)
• from/to Tomok at the Tigaraja and Ajibata jetty: Rp 5,000 / 30 min (from 8.30AM to 6PM every hour)

By taxi

From Medan:

• Raja Taxi +62 617 366 555;
• Paradep Taxi; no contact details
• Tobatransporter; +62 85261492668 or tobatransporter@hotmail.com. Operates a 5-seater Toyota Inova, which in 2012 cost Rp 100,000 per person or Rp 50,000 for a private hiring.

By train

The next train station is located in Pematangsiantar 50 km north of Parapat. It is a long but wonderful way to travel if you like to learn more culture on their daily living and lifestyle. From Medan two or three trains leave each day for Pematangsiantar. If you want to get to the train directly from Medan airport, get a taxi to Lapangan Merdeka and Setasiun Kereta Api Medan. From the station two trains daily leave to Pematangsiantar at 11AM and 7:25PM. The fare is Rp 12,000 per person and the journey takes approximately 3-4 hr because the train stop at almost each station. From there take a Becak or walk to the bus/taxi hub to travel to Perapat. From Pematangsiantar you will need to hire a taxi or a bus for road transport to Parapat (another 1-2 hours).

Open minivans circulate around the main one way thoroughfare between the main road, port/market waterfront area, and the mountains behind Parapat. Hop on / hop off anywhere. Prices around Rp 3,000 per person.

There is a path leading up the mountains to the north of Parapat about 100 m out of the buildings down the main road. This leads up to an attractive pine forest.

• Water scooterswith a guide on-board

• Speed boat ridesPrivate boat to Tomok or Tuktuk costs Rp 700,000 and takes 10 minutes.

• Kiddle rideSelf paddle "kiddle ride" boats for Rp 40,000 per hour.

• RaftingRafting in Parhitean: Asahan River is a river in North Sumatra which flows from Lake Toba. This river passes Porsea, district Asahan, and ends at Nibung Gulf, the Strait of Malacca. The river is 150 km in length and passes through the valleys of the Barisan Mountains. The Asahan River, especially around the Tangga village, flows around 120 m / sec with grade IV-V + and has an average depth of 5 m: it is considered very challenging by whitewater rafting enthusiasts.

Most restaurants are located either on the main road or in hotels. The hotels offer some western dishes, whereas the local restaurants are either Batak (pork may be present) or Minang/Padang (Muslim). Many hotels will include a basic Indonesian breakfast of coffee and either fried rice (nasi goreng) or fried noodles (mee goreng)

• b.caro coffe shop

  phone: +62 62541306
  address: Haranggaol St. 114
  Good coffee.

• Charlie's Guesthousecheap and central. Overlooks the market (therefore a bit noisy, especially on Saturday) and is very close to the ferry station. Rooms are about Rp 70,000, pretty clean and with shower

• Niagara Hotel and ResortOne of the better hotels, although only 2 to 3 stars. Can be crowded with families and Indonesians at weekends and on public holidays.

• Danau Toba CottageOffers spacious rooms, Wifi and cable TV and a swimming pool.

• Lake Toba - Parapat is the gateway for the volcanic lake and Samosir Island
• Medan - the major city in northern Sumatra and transportation hub
• Bukit Lawang - home of orangutans in the Gunung Leuser National Park
• Berastagi - a beautiful town next to two famous vulcanos