Tuk Tuk is a small peninsula on Samosir's eastern shore and the hub of traveller life on the island. The peninsula is ringed by guesthouses, restaurants, and small cafes, all oriented toward the lakeshore — the standard activity is swimming from the rocky or sandy edges of the lake, watching the late afternoon light change the colour of the water, and eating ikan mas (the local lake fish) for dinner.
The atmosphere is relaxed, unhurried, and has been unchanged in character since Samosir first appeared on the traveller circuit in the 1980s. It is the kind of place where people intend to stay two nights and stay five. The guesthouses are simple and cheap; the restaurants serve a mix of Indonesian food and traveller staples; the lake is dark and cool and utterly peaceful in the early morning before the day-trippers arrive.
Scooter hire is available from multiple points on the peninsula and is the recommended way to explore the rest of the island.