Grassy ridge of bald green hills dropping to a narrow blue arm of Lake Toba.
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.
Cara ke sana
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.
Masa terbaik
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.
Baik untuk diketahui
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tambahkannya ke dalam laluan merentasi Indonesia dan kami akan kira masa perjalanan dan kos antara setiap hentian.
Bina perjalanan anda
