Pulau Samosir, nestled in the stunning Lake Toba region of North Sumatra, has officially been selected as one of the 54 hosts for the prestigious Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) World Series 2025. Renowned as the most competitive and esteemed trail running event globally, the UTMB will take place in Indonesia exclusively at Lake Toba from October 17 to 19, 2025. Participants can choose from six categories: 5K, 10K, 28K, 60K, and 100K, with an anticipated turnout of between 2,000 to 50,000 runners.
“This event is not just a competition; it represents a significant opportunity to showcase the richness of North Sumatra,” stated North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution during a press conference in Medan. He expressed hopes that the UTMB would surpass last year’s trial run in both execution and success, while also boosting the local economy through increased tourism. “As one of the 54 official UTMB series worldwide, this event is expected to attract more international visitors, stimulate economic growth in North Sumatra, particularly around Lake Toba, and elevate Lake Toba as a symbol of Indonesia’s resurgence in sports tourism on the global stage,” he added.
Jeffrey Edwards, Executive Director of Asia World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), highlighted the event’s extraordinary potential within the UTMB World Series 2025 calendar. He emphasized that the breathtaking beauty of Lake Toba would be a major draw for participants. “The landscape of Lake Toba offers a unique running experience, and the vibrant local atmosphere adds a distinctive value to the Trail of the Kings that other trail running events lack. This unique terrain will be a significant attraction for the global trail running community,” Edwards remarked.
During the event, the official logo for the Trail of the Kings-Lake Toba by UTMB 2025 was unveiled, alongside a destination identity campaign titled ‘North Sumatra: The Majestic Escape.’ This campaign aims to highlight the natural wealth of Lake Toba, the spirit of adventure, the potential for sustainable tourism, and the active role of local communities in positioning North Sumatra as a host for world-class events.
Jimmy Panjaitan, CEO of BPODT, expressed pride in Lake Toba being chosen as a venue for an international trail running competition. “This is a tremendous opportunity to promote tourism in Samosir Island and Lake Toba on a global scale. The event will have a direct impact on the local community, with increased tourist visits expected to stimulate the economy across transportation, culinary, hospitality, and local crafts sectors,” he noted.
Moreover, environmental issues are being taken seriously. Last year’s Trail of the Kings saw the organizers plant a tree for each participant as a commitment to nature conservation, a tradition that will continue in this year’s edition.
