Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to a hotel and city tour

Your guide and driver meet you at the airport and transfer to the Shangri-La Hotel/Kempinski Hotel. If the time permits, you will have a city sightseeing tour. First, you’ll visit Gandantegchilen Monastery, a monastery favored by locals as well as foreigners due to its interesting religious artifacts, and tranquility. A 26m gilded statue of a Buddha (in Megjid Janrasag sum) is another feature of interest. Next, you visit the National Museum of Mongolia followed by a visit to Sukhbaatar Square. In the evening, attend a traditional cultural performance which is one of the most interesting things in Ulaanbaatar with its play of the horse-headed fiddle, throat singing, contortion, and colorful dance.

Accommodation: 5* hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Fly to Murun, see deer stones and Khuvsgul Lake

Transfer to the airport for the Murun flight. Upon arrival in Murun, we drive to Uushgiin Uvur deer stones, dating back to the Bronze Age. Uushgiin Uvur deer stones are considered the best kept and the clearest carving stones among other 600 deer stones in Central Asia. Deer stones are the first monuments of humans; the earliest of them belong to the 13th to the 9th century BC, while most of them date to the Bronze Age. On restored, standing stones, pictures including the sun, the moon, belts, knives, and jumping deer were carved fantastically. The journey continues to the world's freshest pure-water lake, Lake Khuvsgul. This 136km-long, 38km-wide lake lies 1600m above sea level in the middle of Siberian taiga forest and among majestic sheer rock mountains. On the way, visit the Reindeer people. The Reindeer Tsaatan people live in the depths of the taiga forest. A few reindeer are the primary resource of their livelihood. In summer months, some reindeer families move down from the Taiga mountains close to the lake to supplement their income. Arrive at the lake late afternoon. Enjoy nature and relax after long driving or have some optional activities of hiking, bird watching, climb a mountain, flower watching, etc.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Boating and horseback riding

After breakfast, we will boat to Khadan Khuis, one of four islands of Khuvsgul Lake. Rerturn to the ger camp by lunchtime. Next, visit a nomad family and have 2-3 hours horseback riding along the lake’s shore and through open valleys of the mountains. You may choose the path to a higher elevated area to see the lake and its beautiful surroundings.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Fly back Ulaanbaatar

Drive to the provincial center town Murun and fly back Ulaanbaatar. Transfer to the hotel and free day.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Departure

The driver will transfer you to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Price

Background

This is a standard and easy access tour highlights beautiful, pristine surrounding and the freshwater Lake Khuvsgul located on the southern edge of the Siberian taiga. You will have a return flight to Murun (a central town of Khuvsgul) and back Ulaanbaatar. You stay 2 overnights in a ger camp at the lake and three activities packed days near the lake. The flight takes one and a half hours in one way. The driving between the provincial center town and the lake takes 2 to 2.5 hours. The tour does not include any demanding physical activities. You will have a maximum of 1-2 hours hiking at once and 1-2 hours horse riding with support of your guide and a local horse riding guide.

Tour meals are included according to the itinerary. In the countryside, ger camps serve both European and Mongolian meals. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner along with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals. A typical breakfast is tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes and more at some of the ger camps for breakfast. For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups and a main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), and dessert and tea. Salads, a main course, a dessert, and tea will be served for dinner. With nomads, you will try authentic Mongolian meals. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition. If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. We will supply two 0.5L bottles of water a day. Supplying one larger bottle (1.5 liters) of water instead of 2 small bottles of water is available upon request. More informarion on Mongolia meals

Due to the weather condition, the tourism season in northern Mongolia is short. Mongolian tourism depends highly on the season and seasonal accommodation ger camps are fully open between 1 June and 15 September. During other shoulder months, the ger camps are partially open and closed in winter. Some of the ger camps accept their clients from 15 May in the northern areas and the ger camps are still in the opening phase assembling gers. You will stay at the international 5* Kempinski Hotel (European luxury) or Shangri-La Hotel (Asian Luxury) in Ulaanbaatar. You will have 2 overnights in the ensuite ger of Naran Zangilaa Ger camp by Khuvsgul Lake. For more detailed information about the main accommodation ger camp, please visit Mongolia Ger camps and Mongolia hotels

The majority of our company's guides are English speaking. We also have guides who speak German, French, Spanish and Japanese. They are all friendly, helpful and most of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia and have at least three years or more years of guiding experience. During the camel riding, a local guide will support you.

The tour includes a return domestic flight. The domestic flights are operated between 15 May and 10 September. The flights run on certain days of May and September and every day between 1 June and 31 August. About land transport, Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps serve for you in the countryside. The vehicle type differs in the city depending on the number of participants in the tour. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation

The most suitable time to travel the lake is between 10 June and 1 September. The tour is available between 25 May and 10 September. However, the lake has its ice cover partially until 10 June and the weather will be a bit cold. The weather will be warmer and enjoyable between 10 June and 1 September. Due to the high altitude (approximately 1650 m above sea level) and relatively higher acceptance of precipitation, the weather in the area is relatively humid and cooler than the central and southern part of Mongolia. During your trip to the lake, you should expect inflexible weather hourly, daytime and at nights. Snowfall may occur in May, early June, late August and in September. July and the first half of August is the wettest period. Average day temperatures are +20°C, highest +25°C at the end of May, June, at the end of August, and September. The temperature may drop to +7°C or below in the evening and at night. July and August average daylight time temperature is +25°C, hottest +35°C and night temperature could drop into +10°C. The temperature dramatically falls if it rains. We suggest you bring clothes suitable for warm, cold and wet weather in July and August. Bringing your warm, windproof jackets, layers of trousers, nice warm woolen hat and gloves are recommendable when traveling in May, beginning of June, and September except for your light clothes. For your pre-departure preparation and an idea to prepare for this inflexible weather condition, you may check our detailed packing list of the discovery tours.

As well as, check the attractions in northern Mongolia and Central Mongolia

To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, what to do and see in Mongolia page may help you.

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