I am looking for information about travelling in Sumatra Indonesia. I would like to go from Medan to Pulau Samosir then Bukit Lawang and back to Medan. I will have 9 people total so I have some bargaining power. I've emailed local agents who all seem to charge ridiculous amounts for private hire.
My question is do I need to prearrange the transport? Can I risk just showing up at the Pinang Bus station and speaking with minivan drivers? Is just showing up a bad idea for the Samosir to Bukit Lawang leg?
Alternatively, is the train from Medan to Sinjar worth a try?
