Bob Sumatra Tours

Based in Medan, North Sumatra, Bob has been conducting tours in English for tourist from around the world since 2006. As natives of Medan, Bob and his team know the city and all of Northern Sumatra, Aceh and West Sumatra. Currently Bob offers organized tours:- Lake Toba Package Tours, Medan Package Tours and Sumatra Package Tours. Bob Sumatra was also featured on Discover Indonesia: Explore Medan with The Smart Local.

Lake Toba

Lake Toba(Danau Toba) is the largest volcanic lake in the world and is in Sumatra, Indonesia. Samosir island within the lake is an island within the island of Sumatra. Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake covering an area of 1,707 km² (1,000 km² bigger than Singapore) with an island in its centre. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is probably the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Some studies say it might have been associated with causing previous ice age/climate change.

The island in the middle - Pulau Samosir - was joined to the caldera wall by a narrow isthmus, which was cut through to enable boats to pass; a road bridge crosses the cutting. Samosir island is the cultural centre of the Batak tribe who are now mostly Christians. The Batak Culture has a lot of Rituals and Parties.

Tripadvisor Reviews

Excellent Road Trip from Medan to Lake Toba & Berastagi with Bob

We had a 5-day private tour from Medan to Lake Toba and Berastagi, and it was a great experience overall. Our guide and driver, Bob, made the trip smooth, safe, and enjoyable from start to finish.

Bob is friendly, easygoing, and very accommodating. His driving skills are excellent — which is crucial on the narrow, winding, and sometimes hilly roads in North Sumatra. He’s also familiar with alternative routes in case of road disruptions like landslides, which made us feel safe and well taken care of.

We really appreciated that Bob could communicate in English — while not perfect, it was more than sufficient and made coordination much easier. He was always willing to help and patient in answering our questions along the way.

The itinerary was quite relaxed, giving us time to soak in the natural beauty of Lake Toba, enjoy the views at Sipiso-Piso and Lokern Barn, and take it slow at the hot springs and Seruni Café in Berastagi. If you're someone who prefers a faster-paced itinerary or wants to visit more spots, it's best to plan your own route ahead of time and check with Bob if it’s feasible — he’s flexible and willing to adapt where possible.

All in all, it was a well-organised and pleasant journey. The car was clean and comfortable, ferry tickets and hotels were sorted, and we didn’t have to worry about tolls or entrance fees. Most importantly, we felt safe with Bob behind the wheel and genuinely enjoyed his company.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a relaxed and scenic tour of Sumatra with a reliable local guide!