Bukit Holbung
Grassy ridge of bald green hills dropping to a narrow blue arm of Lake Toba.
At a glance
- Entry fee
- Around IDR 5,000 per person, with parking charged on top. Consistently reported at that level through 2025 and 2026. Bring cash, there is nothing to buy at the top and nowhere to pay by card.
- Opening hours
- Open around the clock. Camping on the ridge is allowed and popular at weekends, with an overnight fee on top of entry. There is no tent hire on site.
- Time needed
- Half a day from Tuk Tuk, since Holbung sits on the far side of Samosir in Harian district. The climb from the car park to the ridge is ten to fifteen minutes each way.
About Bukit Holbung
Bukit Holbung is a run of bare, grass-covered hills on the western side of Samosir, above a narrow blue arm of Lake Toba. Locals and visitors alike call them the Bukit Teletubbies, after the smooth green humps, and the nickname has stuck firmly enough that you will see it on signs.
A cemented footpath runs up from the car park through waist-high ilalang grass, and the walk to the ridge takes ten to fifteen minutes. It is steep enough to get you breathing but it is not a hike. Once you are on the crest the land falls away on both sides and you can walk along the ridgeline for as long as you like, with layered hills receding in both directions.
From the top the view takes in the Tano Ponggol bridge at Pangururan, the Sibea-bea hill with its enormous Jesus statue, and the village of Sampur Toba directly below on the water. There is essentially no shade anywhere, which is precisely why the views are unobstructed and also why midday is miserable.
The site is open around the clock and camping on the ridge is popular with Indonesian visitors, particularly at weekends, for the sunrise. There is no tent hire on site, so you bring your own kit or you do not camp.
It is on the far side of Samosir from Tuk Tuk, in Harian district, so this is a half-day outing rather than a quick hop.
Getting there
Bukit Holbung is in Harian district, Samosir regency, above the villages of Dolok Raja and Janji Martahan on the western side of the island. From Pangururan it is about an hour by road, heading towards Tele and passing Sibea-bea and Bukit Cinta on the way, with several tight bends on the climb. From Tuk Tuk you first have to cross Samosir to Pangururan, so allow roughly two to two and a half hours each way and treat it as a full outing rather than an afternoon detour. There is no useful public transport, so you need a scooter or a chartered car. Coming from Medan you can drive the whole way without any ferry: the Tano Ponggol bridge at Pangururan, finished in December 2022, is Samosir's land link, and the alternative route runs via Siantar and Parapat.
Best time
Early morning or late afternoon. The hills have no shade at all, so the middle of the day is hot, flat-lit and unpleasant on the climb. Sunrise is the popular slot with campers and photographers, and the light along the ridgelines just before sunset is nearly as good. The dry season keeps the grass path firm and the panorama clear; after heavy rain the slope gets slippery and the cloud often sits on the ridge. Weekends bring Indonesian day-trippers and campers, so a weekday morning can leave you close to alone up there.
Good to know
Entry is around IDR 5,000 per person, with parking on top of that, consistently reported through 2025 and 2026. Bring cash, water, sun cover and shoes with grip, because there is nothing to buy at the top and the grass gets slick when damp. The wind along the crest can be strong enough to take a hat or a hand-held phone, so secure loose gear before you start photographing. If you want to camp, bring everything: there is no tent rental on site and an overnight fee applies. The final approach road is rural and narrow, and riding it back after dark is not fun, so leave yourself daylight for the return.
Things to do at Bukit Holbung
Walk the ridgeline as far as you like
The cemented path from the car park takes ten to fifteen minutes and is steep enough to get you breathing without being a hike. Once you are on the crest the land drops away on both sides and you can keep walking along it, with layered hills receding in both directions.
Pick out the landmarks across the water
From the top the view takes in the Tano Ponggol bridge at Pangururan, the Sibea-bea hill with its enormous Jesus statue, and the village of Sampur Toba directly below on the water.
Camp on the crest for sunrise
Camping is popular with Indonesian visitors, particularly at weekends. Bring everything: there is no tent hire on site and an overnight fee applies on top of entry. The wind along the ridge can be strong, so pitch accordingly.
Shoot the late light along the humps
There is no shade anywhere, which is why the views are unobstructed and why midday is flat and miserable. The hour before sunset rakes across the grass humps and is nearly as good as sunrise, with far fewer people.
Bukit Holbung FAQs
How hard is the walk up Bukit Holbung?+
Ten to fifteen minutes up a cemented path through grass. It is steep in places but short, and most reasonably mobile people manage it. The lack of shade makes it feel much harder in the middle of the day than it actually is.
How much does it cost to visit?+
Around IDR 5,000 per person for entry, plus a parking charge for a motorbike or car. Camping attracts an additional overnight fee. Bring cash, as nothing here is cashless.
Can you camp on Bukit Holbung?+
Yes, the site is open 24 hours and camping on the ridge is popular, especially for sunrise. There is no tent hire on site, so you need to bring your own tent and everything else, including water.
How far is it from Tuk Tuk?+
It is on the opposite, western side of Samosir in Harian district. Reckon on roughly two to two and a half hours each way from Tuk Tuk, going via Pangururan, so plan a half day rather than a quick trip.
Why is it called the Teletubbies hill?+
Because the treeless, rounded green hills look like the landscape in the children's programme. The nickname Bukit Teletubbies is in common local use alongside the proper name.
More to see in Lake Toba
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