Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 46 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan worth booking?
Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan is a 9.5-hour experience in Medan, Indonesia, from $88 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 46 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 70 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (46)
- Duration
- 9.5 hours
- From
- $88 per person
Experience a full-day sightseeing on this private tour from Medan. You will visit Brastagi in the Karo Highlands which has two active volcanoes being Sinabung and Sibayak. Visit the fruit market and traditional Karo Bata
What you get
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Experienced Private Driver
About this experience
Experience a full-day sightseeing on this private tour from Medan. You will visit Brastagi in the Karo Highlands which has two active volcanoes being Sinabung and Sibayak. Visit the fruit market and traditional Karo Batak Village with authentic houses which are still occupied by 8 families before continuing onto Sipisopiso waterfall where you can enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Toba.
What's included
Included
- Private transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Experienced Private Driver
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
What you'll see and do
Sipiso Piso Waterfall
You will enjoy the spectacular view of the northern part of Lake Toba after 3 hours driving from Medan. The Sipiso piso waterfall is at the right side of lake Toba. You can enjoy the view of this waterfall. If you walk about 1 hour you can go down and reach the waterfall.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Gundaling Hill
When we reach Brastagi and the weather is clear you can view the Sibayak volcano from Gundaling Hill
30 minutes here · Admission included
Dokan Batak Village
You will visit the authentic Karo Batak houses with its unique architecture and see how the local lives
20 minutes here · Admission included
Brastagi Highland
Brastagi highland which is 1400 meters above see level has a nice subtropical climate. Surrounded by two active volcanoes. Very fertile region is North Sumatra
30 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, nl
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Tri Jaya Tour and travel
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- This is a private tour with a minimum of 2 participants
- If you require a pick up from the Kualanamu Airport please note your flight must arrive before 8am.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 46 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
46 verified traveler reviews for Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Very bad place
Don't buy this trip guys. It's a scam! The travel it's not worth it in the vacation
Response from the operator: Dear Reviewer, We are concerned by your comment, as we have NO record of you ever booking or traveling with Tri Jaya Tour & Travel. We could not locate any booking under your name and believe this review may have been posted in error. We pride ourselves on delivering trusted and professional services, and labeling our company as a ‘scam’ without any verified experience is misleading to other travelers. Tri Jaya Tour & Travel is a verified operator on Viator, and we are committed to providing reliable and authentic travel experiences. Please contact us or Viator support to clarify your booking, as we would be happy to investigate this further.” Kind regards, Roderick T.J. Buiskool
via Tripadvisor
excellent
9-day round trip. Everything was perfectly organized and very flexible with tailoring the tour to suit our needs. Good car. Friendly operators with a lovely hotel in Medan. Would book again.
via Tripadvisor
A Must Do Day Out
It was a long day, but very worth while. We saw a lot more than we were expecting. We had a very good driver/ guide, very calm and did not use the horn at all. We wish we had had more time.
via Viator
Medan Trip
Good trip but some stops were waste of time ..especially the fruit shop and panoramic view nothing to shout about.Instead could have added Lake Toba in the list would be great
via Viator
The tour was not as described
The tour did not match the description. It was written that I could view the Sibayak volcano from Gundaling Hill for 30 minutes but we did not stop there. It was mentioned that we would stop for 30 minutes at Brastagi Highland, surrounded by two active volcanoes, but we did not stop there and did not see the volcanoes. We stopped at the Sipiso Piso Waterfall and Lake Toba was visible too. We visited Lingga Cultural Village, which according to the map is not Dokan Batak Village but quite similar. We stopped to see a fruit market, Taman Alam Lumbini Temple and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church which were not mentioned in the description. The tour was interesting and gave a good insight into local culture but I cannot give five stars because I paid for a different tour. Another thing – the driver made me feel uncomfortable, so I am supposed to remove another star. He asked for a tip aggressively. At first, he was pretending that he was joking but after that he asked insistently and persistently. I have spent nine weeks in total in Indonesia, visiting five different islands, and this was the first time when something like this happened.
Response from the operator: Dear Ieva , Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback about your recent tour experience. We genuinely appreciate you taking the time to let us know your thoughts, as it helps us improve and refine our services. We are sorry that the tour did not meet all your expectations and that parts of the itinerary did not align with what you anticipated. Regarding Gundaling Hill, your driver Erwan, informed us that he did take you there as planned, but unfortunately, the weather was very cloudy at the time, and the views of the volcano were obstructed. We understand how disappointing this can be and truly regret that the experience fell short. We also wanted to clarify that the views of Berastagi Highland, as mentioned in the description, include those seen from both Gundaling Hill and Sipiso Piso Waterfall. While you were able to enjoy these views from Sipiso Piso, we regret any misunderstanding about how the itinerary was structured. The visit to the fruit market was indeed part of the itinerary, but we understand that the additional stops, such as Taman Alam Lumbini Temple and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, were not clearly communicated. These stops were intended to enhance your experience, but we will ensure better communication in the future. Lastly, we are deeply concerned about your experience with the driver’s behavior. It is completely unacceptable for any guest to feel uncomfortable due to inappropriate conduct. We take this issue very seriously and will address it with the driver directly to ensure it does not happen again. We appreciate your kind remarks about the cultural insights the tour offered despite the challenges you faced. Please accept our sincerest apologies for any frustration or disappointment caused. We hope you might consider giving us another opportunity in the future to provide you with an improved and truly exceptional experience. Warm regards, Diana Pardamean Tri Jaya Tour & Travel
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 9.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 1+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $88 to $94
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 16
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 70
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Medan.
How much does Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan cost?
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Prices start at $88 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Medan usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan take?
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Plan for about 9.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Medan is not rushed.
Is Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 46 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Medan, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 1. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 9.5-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan?
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Around 16 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Medan can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Medan and add a light layer if any part of the 9.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Private Tour: Karo Highlands and Lake Toba from Medan start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Medan within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Medan?
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On Outty we rank every Medan experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include 3-Day Ethical Orangutan Jungle Trek | Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, 2 Days and 1 Night Ethical Jungle Trek, Monkey Business 3 days - 2 nights Jungle trekking (including rafting). The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Medan?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Medan?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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