About Khovsgol Lake and its location
Located 1000 km from Ulaanbaatar by paved road, 102 km from Murun, a central town of Khovsgol province.
Khovsgol Lake lies sticking into the southern fringe of the Siberian Taiga on the northern frontier of Mongolia, at an altitude of 1645 m above sea level. The lake's name is also spelled Hovsgol, Hövsgöl, or Khuvsgul in English texts.
The lake is the largest freshwater lake in the country but the second largest in surface area of 2760sq km with a coastline of 414 km after Uvs Lake in western Mongolia. This volcanic lake reaches 262 m at its deepest, 136 km (85 miles) long, and 36 km (22 miles) wide. Over 90 rivers feed the Khovsgol Lake, while one flows out from its southern tip, the Egiin Gol River, the tributary of the Selenge River, flows into Lake Baikal in Siberia.
The lake contains 70% of Mongolian freshwater sources and 1-2% of the world's freshwater. How amazing it will be when you spend your holiday at one of the world’s freshest water lakes with a transparency of 24.5 m, which looks as blue as the Caribbean Lakes.
Things to do at Khovsgol Lake
Khovsgol Lake and its surrounding is the highlight of Mongolian nature, where many types of adventures and holidays are available.
Does Khovsgol Lake freeze?
Khovsgol Lake starts freezing at the beginning of November. The frozen surface starts melting mid-May but partially lasts till the beginning of June.
Khovsgol National Park, Flora, and Fauna
Khovsgol National Park was established in 1992, incorporating the lake and it's surrounding 70.000 sq km area to preserve the lake and its watershed, where nature and nomadic herders exist side by side.
The national park covers some parts of the 4 sum territory: Alag-Edene sum, Renchinlhumbe sum, Hankh sum, and Chandmani Undur sum, plus Hatgal village in Khovsgol province. Thick pine and larch forest-covered mountain ranges are home to 63 species of mammals, such as Argali wild sheep, ibex, bear, wolverine, sable, moose, snow leopard, lynx, red deer, Siberian roe deer, and wild boar.
The lake has 9 species of fish - Omul, Lenok, Umber, Siberian roach, River perch, Sturgeon, and Taimen.
There are 244 species of birds recorded in the Khovsgol National Park. Many of them are migratory waterfowls that spend the summer in the wet meadows and lagoons.
Khovsgol Lake National Park
Khovsgol National Park was established in 1992 incorporating the lake and the lake's surrounding 70.000 sq km area to preserve the lake and its watershed, where nature and nomadic herders exist side by side in a balance.
The national park covers some parts of 4 sum territory: Alag-Edene sum, Renchinlhumbe sum, Hankh sum, and Chandmani Undur sum, plus Hatgal village in Khovsgol province.
Thick pine and larch forest-covered mountain ranges are home to 63 species of mammals such as Argali wild sheep, ibex, bear, wolverine, sable, moose, snow leopard, lynx, red deer, Siberian roe deer, and wild boar.
The lake has 9 species of fish - Omul, Lenok, Umber, Siberian roach, River perch, Sturgeon, and Taimen. One species is a kind of grayling that is endemic, found nowhere else in the world.
There are 244 species of birds recorded in the national park. Many of them are migratory waterfowls that spend the summer in the wet meadows and lagoons.
What is around Khovsgol Lake?
Hatgal Village - When you travel to Khovsgol Lake from the south, you will see Hatgal Village along the main road. Hatgal was founded in 1727 as a camp for Manchu soldiers and later switched into a small port town for Russian trading. In 1910, the first wooden ferry operated between Hatgal town at the southern tip of the lake and Hanh town at the northern shore of the lake, 20 km from the Russian border. Hatgal was the regional center in 1921, and the provincial center between 1931 and 1933.
Sukhbaatar Ship - You will see a ferry-sized old passenger ship Sukhbaatar at the Hatgal boat dock. This 250 people-capacity ship is the later version of the ferry lines and now serves travellers.
Horidol Saridag Mountain - Khovsgol Lake borders the 30 km Horidol Saridag Mountain Range in the west, a famous adventure travel spot for hikers and mountain climbers. The peaks are all accessible from the lake in a couple of days. Some trails are dangerous. Therefore travel with a guide. Horidol Saridag Mountain Range is a strictly protected area to protect endangered species such as snow leopards, Argali wild sheep, and ibex.
Har Us Mineral Water - 65 km north of Hatgal village, along the lake's western shore is the Har Us mineral spring. The spring water gushes from a single large rock and is famous among Mongolians for its healing benefits.
Munkh Saridag mountain the north of the lake - Climbers can reach the region’s highest peak Munkh Saridag (3,492 m/457 feet) of Buran Khan Mountain from Hanh town.
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 the summer months, some reindeer families move down from the Taiga mountains close to the lake to supplement their income.
Khovsgol Lake Accommodation
The southwestern shore of the lake has several ger camps for all budgets and categories. Most of the ger camps are western friendly comfortable ones while some others are local families run small ones or just gers to sleep.
The Hatgal town at the southern tip of the lake offers an array of guest gers and guest houses.
The tourist season is short in northern Mongolia, mainly between mid-June and the beginning of September. We suggest you book accommodation in advance when traveling to this famous place, especially in July.
Camping is an alternative to enjoy the lake, but please camp in the designated areas.
How to travel to Khovsgol Lake?
The leisure travelers could reach the camp with 2-3 overnight stops along the way and the same duration when returning, but on different roads, seeing different attractions and scenery.
The lake connects to Ulaanbaatar by a 1000 km paved road. If you are in a hurry, you can reach the lake within a day, driving for 14-15 hours.
The easiest and fastest alternative is flying to Murun town, 102 km from the lake. Then drive to Khovsgol Lake for 2.5 hours. The Ulaanbaatar-Murun-Ulaanbaatar domestic flights operate between 1 June and 10 September. However, fly daily during the high season of July and August and on certain days in June and September.
