Taman Simalem Resort

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2024

Hannelore

Incredible Forest with nature sounds

This is amazing hotel located on the hills of Lake Toba, it takes around 4 hours from Silangit airport and 5 from Medan.
If you like nature and relax away from buzzy cities this is your spot, also inside the property are plenty activities to do as you are isolated in the middle of the forest. With incredible landscapes similar to Scotland this hotel was recomended for some friends who visited few years back. Staff makes your stay unforgettable.
Food options are limited to Indonesian, however inside the hotel facilites are food trucks and mini mart where you can opt for western alternatives. You need 3 days at least to annoy here actually the hotel has his own waterfalls and cliff if you are an avid trekker. Solos, families and friend will enjoy, not to much teenagers but there is karaoke in case. Internet speed is good. English wide spoken.
You can book tours to samosir, berastagi and piso piso; also Tongi village, it will take few hours and I got little dizzy going down by those curved hills,
But views are impressive,
Also my driver was great
Facilities are not 5 stars but within Indonesia impressed me!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2024

Lay Cheng

friendly staffs and great view

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

13 Aug 2023

TingTing

The resort feels very work in progress. It was a comfortable stay but as a resort in the wild, there were ants and bugs that could get into the room.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

01 Mar 2020

Verified traveler

Quite cold, big property to check out the place. Number of free in house activities. Nice views around the resort.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jan 2020

ISMAI

Awesome staff and services. The staff take good care of two female travellers and they always look out for us.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Dec 2019

Kess

Splendid Taman Simalem Resort

A very relaxing stay in Taman Simalem Resort. The staff were all so friendly, lead by their capable GM Benard. Special thanks to Kaban, Citra and Jessica for their exceptional services, as well as the restaurant staff at Tongqing and Waterfall venues.

The resort has nice rooms overseeing the Lake Toba.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2019

Ricky

Great escapade and affordable

the scenery is jaw dropping. The estate is big covering 1 hill i guess. But the drawback is you need car to travel from one end to another. Amenities are plenty to choose and keep you busy for few days stay.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

The room has good view for sunrise. Food selection not as much, but generally it’s delicious. The resort has tons of activities to do. Good for family and couple!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

I like how this place is so in tuned with nature. Staff were so polite and everything seems perfect. Tree planting shows how this place respect nature so much. Would be good if they have a butteefly garden to complete the feeling of the place

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Sep 2019

Verified traveler

Although the weather is nice but is better to install air conditioner in every room

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

A most amazing place to stay. Combining sustainability with

8/10

Excellent

19 Jun 2019

Sovelle

An unassuming experience

We wanted to visit Lake Toba and decided to Taman Simalem Resort (TSR) after reading much about the activities catered by the Resort. Was impressed with the homely service provided by the staff in TSR, it feels like another trip to Club Med. We decided to stay at Tongging Point Lodge as they have room for 4 twins which is convenient for me to gather my 2 teens to get moving for activities. We have great experience with the lady (forgot her name) who brought us through the coffee processing and roasting process. Definitely very enriching for city dwellers like us. The jungle treking was absolute a good workout and a refreshing one at the Twins waterfalls. We were highly encouraged those who visits TSR to go One Tree Hill for the breathtaking view though Tongging Point does have great view as well. The key highlight is the foods served in TSR, they were mainly organic vegetables and fruits. Last but least, we sincerely wanted to say a great thank you to all the staff in TSR despite there is imperfection.

Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Should have some water activities and more interaction from hotel mgt

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2019

Verified traveler

Service is great, buffet adequate, but ala cart is good. I enjoyed the mie goreng, goreng pisang and coffee.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2019

Verified traveler

A place with great nature and great services. jungle treking and the agro farm tour is a must try!

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

02 May 2019

Verified traveler

view is fantastic.

Selection of food is limited. Not suitable for gastronomic tourism

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

19 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Nice sunrise view of lake toba, staffs are friendly, and tons of activities in the resort. However, have to use public shared toilet for 4 persons room and don’t have aircond.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Most beautiful spot at Lake Toba

Really beautiful place to stay.... give yourself at least 2 nights so that you can really explore the hotel and it surroundings...

Friends

8/10

Excellent

10 Jan 2019

S.AKMA

The view is really beautiful and for the future guests do not underestimate the weather, it's really cold and windy, make sure you bring long sleeves, sweater, socks etc.The staffs are friendly and helpful.

We paid 2.4 juta rupiah per night but there was no toiletries provided, only soap and shampoo in the bathroom but they didn't refill it, plus the outside toilet was so dirty and smelly in the morning and at night.There is no tv in the room and wifi is not working, every time you logged in, u must call the receptionist to get new wifi password which is so troublesome. It's very expensive for the basic room which is no tv, wifi problem, toilet outside (smelly and dirty). no toiletries provided,no iron. Just bear in mind, it's expensive because of the view with a really basic room.

8/10

Excellent

27 Dec 2018

Muhammad

A should go place!

It was an amazing stay.
The sun rise....the view. I definitely will come back here and would recommend friends and family to put it as their to go place.
However, your staff are not really helpful when i ask for information regarding my transport back to medan as i was told by the driver that i only booked a one way trip. Your staff told me that i have to wait and see whether they have a driver on that day. Which is too late, what if there is no transport? In the end i have to do everything on my own. From going online booking and confirming my trip back.

Staff during breakfast and dinner lacks the initiative to top up foods and drink before it runs out. Which would result in a long queue and too long of a waiting time.

Apart from this eveyone there have been friendly and helps out in everyway.

Thank you so much for your hospitality!

Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Dec 2018

Rosneh

Staff are very helpful and efficient. Need to improve on the hotel restaurant menu and food since the resort is very big and far , won't be a le ri find food outside

Family

8/10

Excellent

17 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Nice and pleasant stay . Hotel supervisor Mr Kamar done a well job .. the only thing is I request for simple decoration for room , the management just ignore . This is the first hotel that i request for simple decoration for celebration that just ingnore my concern.. some more ask me to take anniversary package.. And i request for double bed, they give me a tripe bed which I doesn’t request , say that the extra bed if I use would be additional charges. Pls listen to customer concern, don’t be so money minded.

8/10

Excellent

02 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Great place to be near to nature especially in the morning having breakfast. Nice cool air and beautiful scenery couple with sincere services and honesty from the staffs working at T. Simalem resort

10/10

Exceptional

22 Nov 2018

HongDe

This resort is not just only clean and beautiful, the staff working there were one of a kind that I have never seen anywhere else. Jesika (Guest Relation Officer) of the resort was super helpful and kind during our trip there. She had taken care of all our needs even went above our expectation! Kudos! Without her help my wedding proposal wouldn't be so successful!

I can only describe this place as heaven on earth.

The only downside of this trip was that there are some part of the resort that are under construction hence there's a little noise disturbance once in a while but once again Jesika managed to help us minimize it by shifting us to a room that are much further to the construction.

Once again, thank you Taman Simalem Resort Team for making my stay there unforgettable!

8/10

Excellent

22 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Good resort to chill out and relax with variety of activities.

8/10

Excellent

20 Aug 2018

Bebin

Spectacular view of Toba lake from this hotel

Nice and polite staff, clean room, we get spectacular view, amazing experience...

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jul 2018

Verified traveler

Pay for view but it's worth it!

We initially booked 2 nights for Waterfall Lodge Hotel - Superior. When we arrived and check-in, we found out that it was actually quite inconvenient to travel around Taman Simalem for activities (e.g: sunrise at amphitheatre or yoga). You need at least 30-45mins to get around by foot or 10-15mins by buggy. So, the front desk staff was very kind to recommend us to upgrade our room at Tongging Point. Thankfully, there were rooms for us. We decided to stay 1 night at Tongging Point Deluxe (with view of Lake Toba) and 1 night at Superior (garden view). The view was one of breath-taking beauty and the air was so fresh. We watched the sunset just outside our room and even spotted a rainbow! There was no air conditioning in the room as the hotel is situated on the mountains but it can be quite stuffy on a sunny day. We were pleasantly surprised to have different dinner menu for 2 nights. First night was BBQ selection and second night was steamboat. Sumptuous breakfast was mostly organic.

There were many complimentary (free of charge) activities organized by the hotel. The staff were very friendly and called for buggy pick-up every time they see their guests at the lobby. Overall, we enjoyed our stay very much but please bear in mind this hotel is about 4-5hrs drive (subjected to traffic conditions) from Medan Airport.

Friends

8/10

Excellent

09 Jun 2018

Robert

Stunning location, great hotel

The resort is set on the edge of Lake Toba with stunning views of the lake and surrounding area. The hotel staff were exceptional, probably the best I have ever experienced and in particular Jesika and Kaban. They could not do more for us and we’re always checking we were ok. The only negatives to our stay were:
1. The resort had not fully opened and a number of the activities (including the golf and yoga) were not available, which we were unaware of when we booked the hotel.
2. There is a very limited selection of food across the resort particularly for a vegetarian. The staff did do all they could to try and provide meals to suit, however I do feel that this could be improved.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 May 2018

Kit Meng

Great choice

We enjoyed our stay. The room was clean and the bed comfortable. With a bit of patience, there was adequate hot water which is very important as it is cool in this hill resort. The staff were friendly and accommodating and most of all, we were treated to excellent views of Lake Toba. It was the correct choice for us.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 May 2018

Rachel

Nice hotel surrounded by mountain and hills...

Staffs are friendly, especially theri GRO...activities are very attractive. weather is superb...food is good, and nearby Toba lake, there is fantastic Kelong Seafood

Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2018

Janice

Resort with an awesome view of Lake Toba!

Check in was smooth & fast. Staffs were friendly and helpful. The rooms were rather spacious and very clean. Definitely request for a lake view room!

Nightly rates included dinner as well, which was a pleasant surprise! The views from the dining areas were amazing!

Location is slightly further from the other attractions but the great views made up for it. Would have gone for the activities (jungle trek etc.) if we had more time!

Will definitely be back again!

6/10

Pleasant

06 Apr 2018

J

Oversized and unfinished

The view to Lake Toba, preserved forest & climate is very nice.
The hotel room and meals are very nice too. But the whole development is way too big that you see unfinished projects everywhere and the current facility needs a bit more tender loving care.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Really exciting and awesome view.
The hotel is excellent and the staffs are very friendly.
The hotel need to improve on food.

8/10

Excellent

04 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

nice place for refreshing with couple but not with family or friends because one room is only for two persons with expensive rate but it is suitable for honeymoon with nice view of mountain n also lake toba. the room is very nice clean n comfort.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Oct 2017

Joanna

Big Compound. Breathtaking Views.

Excellent views. But expensive hotel food.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

07 May 2017

Verified traveler

Ok but not 5 star

Great location but no western comforts...only buffet meals, lots of rice....place badly needing upkeep...seems owners keep building but no maintaining of existing rooms....beautiful forest and gardens

6/10

Pleasant

26 Mar 2017

JC

Awesome view of Lake Toba

One of the best places to view Lake Toba. Enjoyed the sunrise at One Tree Hill, and Lake view at the breakfast area and room. Fresh air every day.

Staff are friendly but communication could be a problem as they speak little English (most of the guests who stay there are locals). Look for Oliver or Kaman if need to converse in English.

Room cleanliness is tip top. As the resort is at the top of mountain, weather is pretty cool hence there's no air conditioning in the room which could make it stuffy at times. Non soundproof too.

In house activities are available ie jungle trekking, obstacles adventure, pony riding (for kids) etc.

Breakfast spread is reasonable, and we had different types of dinner every night - bbq/grilled, steamboat and hotplate. There is band entertainment during dinner.

Overall a pleasant experience. Good for 1-2 nights stay. Be sure to hire a car for convenience.

2/10

Poor

07 Jan 2017

Verified traveler

Stunning view but not worth it at all

The taxi ride from the airport to the hotel took 6.5 hours (traffic was bad) The view was stunning and the staff tried very hard and were extremely friendly, however overall this visit was a fail. I suspect that hotel staff have not been trained properly and thus cannot be blamed for what they do not know. We ordered room service twice and both times it never came. Our room had a higher up window without a curtain, so from 6am the room was very bright. It was also very loud from 6am with guests in other rooms yelling and children screaming. Sleeping in was impossible. You also had to run the shower for a good 10 minutes to get hot water. The room had only the bare minimum for towels and pillows. We tried to book massages at the spa and were told that it was only available for men. Arranging for transportation back to the airport was almost impossible, making us wonder how the other guests get to the airport once they check out. One person told us that most people arrange the transport back to the airport from the airport when they first arrive, but we had no idea we had to do that. The buffet meals provided 3 times a day were very basic and repetitive. We tried eating at a coffee shop at the hotel and literally half of the items on the menu were actually not available. On our last night were were told about another restaurant on the property with a la carte menu and the food was quite tasty. However, we were not aware until our last night that this restaurant was even there.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jan 2017

Peter

Spectacular view overseeing Danau Toba

Living in Jakarta it was a really retreat to stay at a higher ground to enjoy the cold and dry climate there. The view from the resort overseeing the north of Danau Toba is spectacular. Green hills and forest surrounded. We went one day to Samosir Island taking the longer west -side route but have to say it was worth to do. The view along the road sneaking down from the top is as well spectacular and a must see.
What makes me always sad is to see that the local people do not care about the environment. Left and right the roads there is a lot waste plastic bottles, bags, etc. througing to of the car and often saw dump sides. On sightseeing spots as well, people just left their waste on the spot or through it down.
When this will be change?
We stood 5 nights in the resort with our 10 years old daughter. It is a large resort with a lot of activities for children. There is also a Jungle trekking for a couple of hours possible. We went with Pak Kaban the tour guide to a twin waterfall and explained a lot of things in the forest. Very intersting. He also gave a lot of tips what to see or to eat around the resort.
You need to consider that the region arround Danau Toba is not yet so much developed for international tourist and good hotels are limited. So do not expect 4 to 5 star hotels. Consider this I think the Hotel is one of the best one at this region. The resort is still under development and some construction works are ongoing.

Family

8/10

Excellent

28 Feb 2025

Helmut

Schöne Anlage, jedoch etwas in die Jahre gekommen. Sehr freundliches Personal. Fantastischer Blick auf den See.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2019

Jean-Claude

A must-stay

Wonderful place with so many activities included. Differents type of rooms, staff very welcoming, good good. It's really worth it!

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

07 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Kamar tidak ada toilet dalam

Kamar ini tidak memiliki toilet di dalam tapi tidak ada deskripsinya. Saya mengajak ke 2 orang tua saya yg berumur 80 tahun dan malam mereka sering hrs ke toilet. Waktu mau upgrade ternyata mereka tidak mempunyai kamar 4 orang dengan toilet di dalam. Saya terpaksa menghabiskan 3 jura rupiah untuk sewa 1 kamar yang ada toilet dan dikenakan harga walk in yang mahal lagi.

Family

8/10

Excellent

10 May 2019

koji

ファミリーに最適！

大自然の中の大規模な施設。
ロッジは清潔で、シャワー良し、ベッド良しで快適に過ごせた。
アクティビティはファミリー向け。
もう少し大自然のアクティビティ、例えば火山の見学ツアーとかあれば幅は拡がると思った。

8/10

Excellent

06 Nov 2018

Polina

Toller Ausblick

Das Hotel verfügt über einen wunderbaren Blick auf Tobasee und bietet viele Aktivitäten vor Ort (vor allem für Familien geeignet). Allerdings wird es VIEL gebaut, von einem einsamen Rückzug kann nicht die Rede sein. Für indonesische Verhältnisse ist das Hotel auch recht teuer (eine Nacht kostet 3-4 mal so viel wie ein vergleichbares Resort auf Samosir). Das Personal ist sehr freundlich und liebenswert, aber nicht besorders erfahren.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jul 2018

Ruslina

Nice view of Lake Toba ..comfort and clean, lot of fun outdoor activities

Family

8/10

Excellent

10 May 2018

H. Sun

Very good hotel with very nice view

Who we are:
One group of two persons staying for one night
Positive:
+ Friendly staff
+ Free accommodation within the resort
+ Very nice view and relaxing
+ Nice breakfast buffet
+ Room is very clean and very well equipped
+ Different kind of activities with guide service, some are free of charge
Negative:
- Bed with king size is only 1,8m for the long side, so that it will be problem for tall people
- Breakfast buffet does not have vegetarian dishes, so we had to order separately