Our website is funded by adverts and affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. If you find the content useful, please consider disabling your adblocker and booking through these links! Thank you!
Written by Hannah McKinsey, Jake Evans, Budi Santoso
16/08/2025
Afif Ramdhasuma, Pexels
Lake Toba offers a selection of affordable guesthouses, primarily concentrated in Tuktuk on Samosir Island, providing a welcoming environment for budget travelers to connect and relax.
1. Reggae Guesthouse
Type: Guesthouse
Situated directly on the lake in Tuktuk, this guesthouse offers comfortable and clean budget-friendly rooms, some even within a traditional Batak house. Its restaurant serves delicious, home-cooked meals, and the communal areas foster a friendly atmosphere where it is easy to meet other travelers. It feels like a welcoming home away from home.
2. Bagus Bay Homestay
Type: Guesthouse
Known for its lively backpacker vibe, Bagus Bay Homestay provides an inexpensive and social experience. Located conveniently close to the ferry drop-off, it features a restaurant with great food and offers opportunities to socialize, including pre-COVID Batak dance and music performances. The setting is more appealing than photos suggest.
3. Romlan Guesthouse
Type: Guesthouse
This highly-rated budget guesthouse is located on the lakefront, offering a restaurant, a shared lounge, and a pleasant garden. Guests can enjoy direct access to the lake for swimming and rent kayaks. Romlan provides a peaceful yet engaging environment, with reliable Wi-Fi for those needing to work online.
At TFA Travel we believe in travel for all. Our mission is to enable people to explore the world as easily as possible without having to pay a travel agent a huge commission.
Our typical audience are those that want to see something new and get involved with authentic experiences of a country. Whether you are a backpacker, solo traveller, solo female traveller, straight or LGBTQ+ couple, family, you will find local and authentic experiences here.