a Pair of Boots, a Mountain of Hopes: The Beauty of Berastagi & Danau Toba

Trip to Berastagi-Danau Toba-Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia (16th September 2025 - 21st September 2025)

Kuala Namu Airport, Medan - Berastagi : Stop by Sibolangit for a panoramic river view @ Nusantara Healing & Chill cafe

With my niece

Mikie Holiday Resort, Berastagi

Exploring the Gundaling Hill via horse riding.

Berastagi is luxury with horses which can be found in many places around the town. Visitors can enjoy the leisure horse ride in various places such as around Fruit Market and Gundaling Hill to explore the panoramic view around Berastagi.

👏👏Congratulations to everyone 👏

Ride Duration : 30minutes

Mode : Active Walk /Occasional Trot

Estimated Total Distance : Approx 2km

Rider / Horse (from left) :

Akid / Ginara
Sazlia / Pedro
Salhana / Amanda
Puteri / Bander
Farhan / Stella

The joy of riding along the beautiful lane...

Panoramic view of the Mount Sinabung and Mount Sibayak from Gundaling Hilltop

Mount Sinabung view from Gundaling Hill.

(Mount Sinabung is an active volcanic mountain)

Mount Sibayak view from Gundaling Hill

(Mount Sibayak is an inactive volcanic mountain. Our local tour guide called it as 'gunung baik' (good/behaved mountain) Hiking to the top of Mount Sibayak is possible with the local rangers guides)

Hunting the close up view of the Mount Sinabung : Sarune Coffee & Eatery

This cafe is ideal for relaxation with nature ambience, located at Simpang Empat, about 30minutes drive (13 km) from Berastagi Town. The cafe is surrounded by lavender garden with the full, perfect view of Mount Sinabung.

The lavender Garden

Evening tea catchup with a local friend, Siti. She runs a family restaurant here. We are now Sisters :)

One of the travel agendas to Berastagi is to pay a visit to my respected equestrian instructor, Eri & his family here. Siti is his wife. We had chance to catch up, the family helped me a lot the day when I fell sick here.

About 1.5hours drive from the Berastagi Town, there is such a beautiful village named Merek - one of the gateway to a picturesque lake toba.

A short drive uphill to Tongging point through a remote and private park of Taman Simalem, you can witness one of the best view of danau toba from the hill top.

Danau toba from the highest point of Taman Simalem Resort, Merek.

The Taman Simalem is blessed with mini waterfalls and river

Sipiso Piso waterfall - Just a few km from Taman simalem resort. This waterfall is also located at around the same area with Taman Simalem Resort, Tongging, Merek.

Heading back to Berastagi before descending the hilly area and back to Medan City. Final morning view of the Berastagi Town before leaving, bye bye Berastagi see you again...