Skip to content
Explore

Explore the Karo highlands

Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, traditional villages and fruit markets — places worth visiting in the Karo highlands, with a map.

Gunung SibayakFoto: Palma Bernardo Alexius Hutabarat · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 — kawah Sibayak dengan Sinabung
Mountain

Gunung Sibayak

📍 Merdeka

A volcano of about 2,212 m north of Berastagi. Its Karo name means 'king', and the climb is one of the most beginner-friendly in North Sumatra.
Danau Lau KawarFoto: Bangbeni · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Lake

Danau Lau Kawar

📍 Naman Teran

A mountain lake of about 200 hectares right at the northern foot of Mount Sinabung. Calm water, surrounding forest and the volcano behind make it a favourite camping spot.
Air Terjun Sipiso-pisoFoto: Hendypernando · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Waterfall

Air Terjun Sipiso-piso

📍 Merek

A waterfall about 120 m high dropping from the Karo plateau into the valley at the northern tip of Lake Toba. The viewpoint shows the falls, Lake Toba and Tongging village.
Bukit GundalingFoto: Christian Advs Sltg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Viewpoint

Bukit Gundaling

📍 Berastagi

A park hill on the edge of Berastagi at about 1,575 m, with views over the town and the Sibayak and Sinabung volcanoes behind.
Pasar Buah BerastagiFoto: Astari28 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food & market

Pasar Buah Berastagi

📍 Berastagi

A market on Jalan Gundaling selling produce from the Karo highlands: oranges, passion fruit, strawberries, avocados and fresh vegetables.
Taman Alam LumbiniFoto: Kenrick · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Religious site

Taman Alam Lumbini

📍 Dolat Rayat

A Buddhist temple complex at the foot of Mount Sibayak with a golden pagoda modelled on Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda; open to visitors.
Desa Budaya LinggaFoto: Agus Damanik · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cultural village

Desa Budaya Lingga

📍 Simpang Empat

A traditional village at about 1,200 m with Siwaluh Jabu houses more than 250 years old — one of the best places to see Karo architecture and traditional life.
Desa Budaya DokanFoto: Christian Advs Sltg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cultural village

Desa Budaya Dokan

📍 Merek

A village in Merek district with Karo houses over a century old, on the route between Berastagi and Lake Toba.
Air Panas Semangat Gunung & Lau Sidebuk-debukFoto: Christian Advs Sltg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hot springs

Air Panas Semangat Gunung & Lau Sidebuk-debuk

📍 Merdeka / Berastagi

Sulphurous hot pools of about 40–45 °C on the southern slope of Mount Sibayak — a favourite soak after the climb.
Air Terjun SikulikapFoto: IHLubis · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Waterfall

Air Terjun Sikulikap

📍 Berastagi

A waterfall about 30–40 m high in a forested valley below Penatapan Doulu on the Medan–Berastagi road; a stepped path leads down to it.
Bukit KubuFoto: Astari28 · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Viewpoint

Bukit Kubu

📍 Berastagi

About five hectares of grassland at the entrance to Berastagi, with an old colonial hotel on top — ideal for family picnics and kite flying.
Museum Pusaka KaroFoto: Christian Advs Sltg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Museum

Museum Pusaka Karo

📍 Berastagi

A museum in the former Catholic Church of St Mary in central Berastagi, holding hundreds of Karo heritage objects.