Horas Family Home :: Route from Medan via Berastagi

NOTE: JULY 2022

After more than two years of limited operation the Airport is being serviced again by International Flights from Kuala Lumpur since the end of April 2022. One may expect that this is the start of what we like to see as back to normal.

Unfortunately, it will take some time before road transportation to and from the Airport will be back to normal. Though, due to heavy competition between transportation provider survivers, transportation costs can be extremely cheap but also very tricky, if not dangerous, for reason of unreliable cars and drivers.

We recommend to arrange for your transportation, before your arrival, with a reliable transporter/driver, even if this costs a bit more.

INFO and WARNING JULY 2022

Info:

Meanwhile the Tol Road has been extended 5 km and now connects with the Trans Sumatra Highway much closer to Tebing, saving another 30 minutes on traveling time from Medan/Airport to Parapat. Traffic conditions permitting.

Warning:

During major public holidays traffic conditions can get completely out of control. For example at Hari Raja, the celebration of the End of Ramadan, the travel time from Medan to Tebing via the Tol Road was 7 hours as compared to the normally 45 minutes.

At the same time the normal route Medan to Berastagi was used for what I now refer to as practicing Gridlocks. Normal travel time via this route is about two hours, the more than one Gridlock conditions resulted in a travelling time of more than 20 hours.

Guests coming for Samosir via Tebing and Parapat still had to schedule a 12 hr waiting time for the car ferry crossing of Lake Toba to either Ambarita or Tomok.

Advice

While on your way to us please do contact us for Information on Traffic Conditions. We may be able to suggest alternative routes or in the end much faster long cuts.

(For Horas Guests only as we are not a free of charge tourist/travel/traffic information office)

Travel time, Places to See or Stop en route MEDAN – Parapat via Berastagi.

Updated August 31, 2018

The moment you are in your car and on the road from any Hotel in the City Centre of Medan the clock starts ticking at Time is Zero. (T=0)

The following time schedule is based on normal traffic conditions

1 T = 0 On the Road in Medan

2 T = 33 min Marian Shrine Of Annai Velangkanni church.

3 T = 1 hr Pancur Bato

4 T = 1 hr + 21 min Vihara Pagoda Tri Dharma Sakti

5 T = 1 hr + 51 min Green Hill Park Sibolangit

6 T = 2 hr + 14 min Simpang Hotsprings Berastagi

7 T = 2 hr + 20 min Simpang Shwedagon Pagoda Replica at Taman Alam Lumbini

8 T = 2 hr + 30 min Fruit, vegetable and flower market. Berastagi

Traditional market Berastagi

Simpang Gundaling Hill to view Mt Sibayak and Mt Sinabung from a distance.

9 T = 2 hr + 48 min Kabanjahe

10 T = 3 hr + 10 min Simpang Dokan. Dokan : Original Batak Village

Dokan is more or less the replacement of what was earlier on display in Peceran.

11 T = 3 hr + 25 min Simpang Merek

12 T = 3 hr + 30 min Simpang Si Piso Piso Waterfall

Going down the waterfall and coming back up takes about 1.5 hr

Detour Tongging. A nice ride down to Lake Toba.

13 T = 4 hr + 5 min Pematang Purba. Simalungun Palace

14 T = 4 hr + 26 min Kandang Babi

15 T = 4 hr + 35 min Simarjarunjung. The highest point along Lake Toba. Ginger tea and fried banana

16 T = 4 hr + 44 min Simpang Tiga Ras. Ferry to Simanindo on Samosir.

Simpang Siantar

17 T = 4hr + 50 min Simpang Sidamanik

Detour to Tea Plantation. Travel time 2 hours

18 T = 4 hr + 57 min Simpang Tanjung Unta

Detour Tanjung Unta. Travel time 1 hour

19 T = 5 hr + 12 min Abandoned Fish Restaurant. Photo stop on the road

20 T = 5 hr + 27 min Simpang Tanjung Dolok

21 T = 5 hr + 45 min Arrival Parapat. Tiga Raja Harbour

Normally, we suggest to stop at the Nrs 2 or 7, and 8, 12 and 15

RESTAURANTS EN ROUTE

Unfortunately the number of Restaurants en route from Medan to Parapat via Berastagi which we dare to recommend is rather limited.

There are quite a few Restaurants just outside the Green Hill Park in Sibolangit, some two hours from Medan on the road to Berastagi. On regular and ‘low season’ days most of the restaurants seem to be closed except the Garuda Nasi Padang and the Sunrise Seafood Restaurant.

The Garuda Nasi Padang is one of the Garuda chain. Food is served very fast, food is quality wise very good but rather expensive as compared to regular restaurants.

We found the Sunrise Seafood Restaurant a Top Restaurant, thinking in terms of ‘extreme’. Extremely long waiting time, extremely expensive, extremely well food. The Steamboat is a real and very special treat. If you have the time, think in terms of minimum 1.5 to 2 hours, and money ‘Give it a try !!!’.

The Restaurant Asia in Berastagi is many times referred to as the best restaurant in that area. We have tried it a couple of times but were not really impressed.

There are quite some Restaurants at Si Piso Piso and in Tongging. For just simple fast food the restaurants at Si Piso Piso will do. For a fried or BBQ’d fish and a better view you will possibly prefer a restaurant in Tongging. Be there around midday or otherwise you may find the restaurants already closed.

Simarjarunjung, The Siantar Hotel, is best known for ginger tea and fried banana’s which come quite expensive. But one of the best views over Lake Silalahi, the northern part of Lake Toba, comes free of charge.