Khuvsgul Lake Tour

Route:
Ulan-Bator – Darkhan – Bulgan Province – Khuvsgul Lake – Erdenet city– Ulan-Bator
Duration:
9 days, 8 nights
Region:
3
Highlights:
Khuvsgul Lake, Urantogoo Volcanic Mountain, Selenge River, Amarbayasgalant Monastery
Price from:
From USD 1950


Tour brief

Arrival in Ulan-Bator city. Ulan Bator is Mongolia's capital and largest city. Its population as of 2014 was over 1.3 million; almost half of the country's total population. This tour highlight is one of the largest lakes of Mongolia, Known as “ The Dark Blue Pearl ”. Located in the most Northern Province, raised well above sea level, is 2760ms. Its length is 136 km and width 36.5 km. It is the largest tributary stream of Lake Baikal in Russia. Khovsgol Nuur (Khuvsgul lake) is the deepest lake 262m in Central Asia, and the world's fourteenth largest source of fresh water - containing around 2% of the world's fresh water (that's 380,700 billion liters of water). Untouched by industry and modern urban life, the Khuvsgul Lake's water is unbelievably clean. The area is paradise for outdoor travelers and there are plenty of activities are available like hiking, birding, fishing, horseback travel and kayaking. Also known as land of Tsaatan nation, who keeps reindeers, which inhabitants in the northern part of Mongolia. Those people stronghold of shamanism and you may be fortunate enough to see a shaman ceremony.

Price includes
  • Accommodation (Hotel and tour camp)
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary (Breakfast and Lunch Included)
  • Snacks
  • Local transportation
  • Airport Pick-up / Drop-Off
  • Driver
Price excludes
  •   Round trip air ticket
  •   Your travel insurance (compulsory)
  •   Other personal expenses
  •   Tour guide
  •   Entertainment tickets/ entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Arrival in Ulan-Bator city. Ulan Bator is Mongolia's capital and largest city. Its population as of 2014 was over 1.3 million; almost half of the country's total population. Located in north central Mongolia, the municipality lies at an elevation of about 1,310 metres (4,300 ft) in a valley on the Tuul River. It is the country's cultural, industrial and financial heart, the centre of Mongolia.
After passing through the immigration, we will arrive at the hotel and check-in. Dinner included.

Day 2: City Tour in Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast at the hotel, we will start the sightseeing tour in Ulan-Bator city. The first destination will be “National Museum of Mongolia”. It is the largest national museum of Mongolia located in Ulan- Bator. Exhibitions cover pre-history, pre-Mongol Empire history, Mongol Empire, Mongolia during Qing rule, ethnography and traditional life, and twentieth-century history.

Then, we will visit “Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan”. The palace is the only one left from originally four residences of the eighth Javzandamba Khutughtu, who was later proclaimed Bogd Khan, or Emperor of Mongolia. The palace displays many of the Bogd Khan's possessions, such as his throne and bed, his collection of art and stuffed animals, his ornate ceremonial ger. After lunch, we will walk through the city center and visit at State Department Store, souvenir and antique shops and cashmere shop. After dinner, we will take a rest at the hotel.

Day 3:  Drive to Darkhan city - Bulgan Province

After breakfast, we will travel to Darkhan city (220km from UB) by bus/car. Darkhan is situated in northern part of the country and 2nd largest city in Mongolia. After arriving in Darkhan, we will visit “Morin Khuur Monument” (Horsehead Fiddle Monument). It is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongolian people and is considered to be a symbol of the Mongolian nation.

After lunch, we will drive to Amarbayasgalant monastery, which was not destroyed during the revolution period and one of the most beautiful monasteries in Mongolia. It was established on the order of Manju emperor King Enkh- Amgalan Khan built in between 1727-1736 to give respect to his teacher Undur Gegeen Zanabazar. After exploring this place, we will continue to drive to Bulgan and stay in Tourist Camp. It is situated in the northern part of the country. Bulgan province is surrounded by Khövsgöl in the northwest, Arkhangai in the southwest, Övörkhangai in the south, Töv in the southeast, and Selenge in the northeast. The small Orkhon Aimag forms an enclave at the border to Selenge. In Bulgan, we will visit Uran Togoo volcano and also nomadic family.

We will have a chance to explore traditional way of living and taste various kinds of dairy products and airag (fermented horse milk). Horseback riding is available. (Fee shall be charged by tourist.) After that, we will stay overnight in Tourist Camp. (breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. 2-4 people can stay in per yurt.)

Day 4: Bulgan Province-Khuvsgul Lake

After breakfast, we will travel to Khuvsgul Lake, a biggest fresh water lake in Mongolia (300 km from Bulgan). Khuvsgul Lake is the largest fresh water lake in Mongolia by volume, and second largest by area. It is nicknamed as “Switzerland of Mongolia”. Khuvsgul lake is located in the northwest of Mongolia near the Russian border, at the foot of the eastern Sayan Mountains. It is 1,645 metres (5,397 feet) above sea level, 136 kilometres (85 miles) long and 262 metres (860 feet) deep. The lake area is home to a variety of wildlife such as ibex, argali, elk, wolf, wolverine, musk deer, brown bear, Siberian moose, and sable. We will pass through Murun city, capital city of Khuvsgul Province. You can take pictures and make a video as you wish. In the evening, we will stay overnight in Tourist Camp. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. 2-4 people can stay in per yurt.)

Day 5: Khuvsgul Lake – Reindeer Herders or Tsaatan 

After breakfast, we will visit Tsaatan Family to explore their traditional way of living. Tsaatan is a small Tuvan (Tozhu Tuvans) Turkic community of reindeer herders living in northern Khövsgöl Aimag of Mongolia. The name Tsaatan, which means „those who have reindeer‟ in the Mongolian language, were originally Tuvinian reindeer herders. Dukhan language, an endangered Turkic variety spoken by approximately five hundred people in the Tsagaan-Nuur county of the Khövsgöl region of northern Mongolia. Dukhan belongs to the Taiga subgroup of Sayan Turkic. Their language is similar to Tuvan language.

After lunch, we will travel by boat on the Khuvsgul Lake. You can enjoy fishing if you like.(Fee shall be charged by tourist.) We will have a Khorkhog for the dinner. Khorkhog is a barbecue dish in Mongolian cuisine. It is made by cooking pieces of meat inside a container which also contains hot stones and water and is often also heated from the outside. Khorkhog is a popular dish in the Mongolian countryside but usually, is not served in restaurants. After dinner, we will stay overnight in Tourist Camp. (breakfast, lunch and dinner included. 2-4 people can stay in per yurt.)

Day 6: Khuvsgul Province – Erdenet city

After breakfast, we will travel to Erdenet city (450 km). Erdenet is the third-largest city in Mongolia and the capital of Orkhon province. Officially known as Bayan-Öndör sum. Located in the northern part of the country, it lies in a valley between the Selenge and Orkhon rivers about 150 miles (241 kilometres) (as the bird flies) northwest of Ulaanbaatar, the capital. The road length between Ulaanbaatar and Erdenet is about 230 miles (370 km). The city was founded in 1965, when the copper mining industry was opened. After arriving in the city, we will stay at the hotel. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.)

Day 7: Erdenet city – Ulan-Bator

After breakfast, we will start our city sightseeing tour in Erdenet. You can purchase souvenirs. After lunch, we will travel back to Ulan-Bator city. (350km)

Day 8: Ulan-Bator

After breakfast, we will continue our city sightseeing. Firstly, we will visit Parliament House and Chinggis Square, located in the center of the city. There is General Sukhbaatar Statue, situated in the middle of the square. He was a founding member of the Mongolian People's Party and leader of the Mongolian partisan army that liberated Khüree during the Outer Mongolian Revolution of 1921. Enshrined as the "Father of Mongolia's Revolution", he is remembered as one of the most important figures in Mongolia's struggle for independence. After that, we will visit “Gandantegchilen Monastery.

The Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a Tibetan-style Buddhist monastery in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar that has been restored and revitalized since 1990. The Tibetan name translates to the "Great Place of Complete Joy". It currently has over 150 monks in residence. It features a 26.5-meterhigh statue of Avalokiteśvara. Then, we will visit Buddha Statue Garden Complex.

The complex was built in 2005 by the fundraising, lead by Gurudava Rinbuchi.The Buddha Statue is 23 m in height. Then, we will see a concert of Mongolian National Song and Dance Assembly at 6:00 pm. The entertainment includes traditional song and dance, Buddhist dance and acrobat show. After the show, we will have a dinner at the local restaurant in Ulan-Bator. After dinner, we will walk through the Ulan- Bator city to explore the city night. (breakfast, lunch and dinner included. 3-star hotel.)

Day 9: Departure day

After breakfast, we will go to the airport for our flight back home. (Breakfast included.)

 

Map

Review

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Alan Baker

Wall Street Journal

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Sara Scott

the washington post

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Jenny Allen

New York Times

Packing List

This is a suggested packing list, which you should feel free to adjust to suit your needs. Please refer to our travel guide for more detailed information.

  •   backpack or soft bag
  •   day pack
  •   head lamp/flashlight
  •   spare batteries/bulb
  •   personal medications
  •   hiking boots/shoes
  •   rain jacket with hood
  •   fleece jacket or wool jumper
  •   cotton t-shirts
  •   long sleeve shirts
  •   lightweight trousers
  •   shorts
  •   warm hat
  •   socks
  •   underwear
  •   sun hat
  •   sandals
  •   sun glasses
  •   sun cream
  •   spare glasses
  •   insect repellent
  •   plastic bags
  •   binoculars/camera
  •   wet tissues
  •   watch/ alarm clock
  •   money belt/ pouch
  •   insurance confirmation copy
  •   emergency contact number

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