Our first stop ashore is at Ambarita village where the ancient Siallagan King held conferences on stone chairs under a huge banyan tree and decapitated and consumed his enemies

Our next port of call is Simanindo, where Batak Toba villagers reenact their ancient dances and ceremonies in an ancient village setting. Nearby is the village of Suhs-suhi, where time-honored traditions in weaving are kept alive .

We then cruise on to the base of Pangururan Volcano where we will study the fascinating geology of geothermal springs issuing from a gaping, pumice strewn gorge on the flank of the mountain