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Crafts & Textiles

Ulos Weaving by Lake Toba

Samosir, North Sumatra

Photo: Nocomentapapun · CC BY-SA 4.0

Duration
1 day
Group size
Max. 8 people
Category
Crafts & Textiles
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for almost everyone; plenty of stops and light walking.
Language
Indonesian, English

About this journey

A day with ulos weavers on Samosir: spinning, weaving on a backstrap loom and the meaning of ulos in Batak custom.

For the Batak, ulos is more than cloth. It is draped over the shoulders, given as a token of care at ceremonies, and used at weddings to bind bride and groom together. At a weaver's home on Samosir you follow the process from thread to cloth: spinning, setting up the warp and weaving on a backstrap loom held taut by the body. You try a few rows yourself and end the day at a Lake Toba viewpoint.

Hosted by the local community in Samosir

What you'll experience

  • Learn from an ulos weaver at home
  • Spinning and weaving on a backstrap loom
  • The meaning of ulos in Batak ceremonies
  • Sunset at a Lake Toba viewpoint

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    From thread to ulos

    09:00 meet at Tomok, travel to the weaver's home, weaving class until late afternoon with a lunch break, 16:30 lake viewpoint, 18:00 back at Tomok.

What's included

  • Local guide from the community
  • Weaving class and materials
  • Batak home-style lunch
  • Local transport on Samosir
  • Bottled water and traditional snacks

Not included

  • Ferry to Tomok
  • Purchase of ulos cloth
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs

Before you go

Practical notes so your trip is comfortable and your hosts feel respected.

What to bring

  • Sunscreen and a hat
  • Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees
  • Some cash; ATMs are scarce on site
  • Refillable water bottle

Local etiquette

  • Ulos is a ceremonial cloth; ask about a motif's meaning before wearing it
  • Respect the weavers' time; one cloth can take weeks
  • Ask before photographing people, homes or ceremonies
  • Use your right hand to give or receive things

Getting there

The closest airport is Silangit (Sisingamangaraja XII), about 1–1.5 hours from Parapat. From Kualanamu Airport near Medan it is about 4–5 hours by road to Parapat. Ferries from Ajibata or Parapat to Tomok or Ambarita on Samosir take roughly 30–60 minutes.

Meeting point

Pelabuhan Tomok, Samosir

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