Bulbul Beach is a typical beach located on the south shore of Lake Toba, a 30-minute ride from downtown Balige. Visitors come to Bulbul Beach to escape from their routines or spend their holidays. To see it on the map, click here.
What’s Special
Bulbul Beach is the only white sand beach available to visitors in Balige. The beach is rich in hills and trees views as well as water sports such as banana boats, doughnut vessels, water bicycles, and canoes. Play, rest, eat and drink with your friends or families at Bulbul Beach all day long. In the afternoon, enjoy the coconut water while looking at the rosy sunset.
What to Enjoy
Bulbul Beach offers fun rides including banana boats, solu-solu (vessels), and passenger boats that you can rent to get around Lake Toba. There are also mats for group sitting. Prices of the facilities and rides at Bulbul Beach are relatively affordable. For instance, renting small and large canoes only cost around Rp 20,000 ($1.30) to Rp 30,000 ($2.00) a trip. The passenger boat rental to tour Tambunan (a village opposite the beach) costs only Rp100,000 ($7.50). Mat rental costs around Rp 20,000 ($1.30). The rental price of a float tire is only Rp 5,000 ($0.30).
Other facilities include a playground for children. The field has swings, diving boards, and others. There are also huts or tents and other resting places for visitors. Local residents use their houses as homestays for tourists who want to spend overnight at Bulbul Beach. The homestay rates start from Rp 200,000 ($15.00). You can choose a homestay that is close to the beach, which may cost a bit higher than those without a direct access to the beach.
You can also order food and drinks at Bulbul Beach. The meal prices are relatively cheap. They start from Rp 5,000 ($0.30). Try them. Order gomak noodles, fried noodles, fried foods, and other Balige specialties.
What to Expect
If you bring children, you need not be afraid to let them play on the beach because the water depth is only to their waist. There is no entrance fee, but parking costs Rp 2,000 ($0.30) for a motorbike and Rp 5,000 ($0.40) for a car. If you are renting a motorbike to Bulbul Beach, make sure you book your return trip as well. It is difficult to find alternative transportation back to your hotel or airport if you don’t book anything in advance. The best arrangement would be a full-day car or motorbike rental.
Accommodation facilities from hotels, restaurants to souvenir shops are available near the beach. Some accommodations are available for online booking, but the majority aren’t. If you need one, try to book online or immediately upon arrival (i.e. don’t wait until afternoon) especially during high seasons.
What Visitors Say
“This is a great white sand tourist location in Toba. Unfortunately the access road is not wide enough. If a big bus enters, it will overwhelm the others.” Monang Naipospos (Source)
“The scenery and Lake Toba are interesting to look at and offer some water game experiences. Just need to be careful when ordering food. You have to be careful to check the price so you are not surprised that the high price can be doubled.” Farida S (Source)
“Lake Toba, every corner, always presents a panoramic beauty that is definitely beautiful. One [way] to enjoy the beauty of Lake Toba is from Balige, at Bulbul Beach to be precise. Beautiful panorama with white sand and Lake Toba which is still beautiful and clean. The location is also equipped with bathroom facilities and a prayer room so that Muslims do not experience difficulties in carrying out prayer services. This location is also equipped with games such as APV, banana boats and boat rides at an economical price.” Sryatman (Source)
“… But in my opinion, this beach also still has shortcomings. For example, this place is still less clean, the beach is also still not neatly arranged, and the beach is also quite far from the city center so it requires a vehicle to reach it. In addition, the rides of the games and rides to take pictures are still less diverse. But, I think this beach is suitable to be a tourist destination because it has its own distinctive beauty.” Natalya S (Source)
“Bulbul Beach is a sloping white sand beach that is rare to find along the shores of Lake Toba, and we can see the beauty of the panoramic view of Lake Toba and become the main attraction for visitors to Lumban Bulbul Beach.” pardalan (Source)
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