Khuvsgul Lake Journeys
Introduction
This journey will take us to the magnificent Lake Khuvsgul (Khövsgöl) in the northern Mongolia, the “Blue Pearl” as it is respectfully called by locals. It is the twin lake of nearby Baikal Lake. En route we will visit the Amarbayasgalant Monastery to see more of Mongolian Buddhist religion and it’s culture. Khuvsgul (Khövsgöl) Lake freezes over rapidly and displays an amazing crystal clear ice. The lake is situated at an altitude of 1,645 meters above sea level at the foot of the eastern Sayan Mountains, close to the Russian border. It is one of the most ancient lakes in the world, being more than 2 million years old. It is the second-most voluminous fresh water lake in Asia, holding almost 70% of Mongolia’s fresh water. The lake and its pristine surroundings are protected in the Lake Khuvsgul (Khövsgöl) National Park, home to a variety of wildlife such as ibex, argali, elk, wolf, musk deer, brown bear, moose, and sable. On the way to the north, we will visit Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of the largest and most important centers of Buddhism in Mongolia, located in a broad, secluded valley far off the main road. It is one of only few monasteries to have largely survived the purges of the 1930s. The journey will lead us through the city of Erdenet, built within just a few years to support one of the largest copper mines in the world and onwards through beautiful northern Mongolian landscapes with densely forested hills, wide open valleys and across mighty streams.
| Trip Details |
|---|
| Khuvsgul Lake Journeys |
| 6 Days / 5 Nights |
Trip Details
Day 1: To Erdenet
Pick up from your hotel, and transfer to the railway station of Ulaanbaatar. We leave Ulaanbaatar in northerly direction for the city of Erdenet on the domestic night train which leaves at 20h35. Erdenet, situated in a valley between the Selenge and Orkhon rivers, is the third-largest city of Mongolia although it was founded as late as 1974. It owes it’s existence to the discovery of large deposits of copper in the 1950s. Just outside of the city operates the fourth largest copper mine in the world.
Day 2: Amarbayasgalant Monastery
At 07h40 in the morning our train will arrive in Erdenet. After breakfast we will depart to Amarbayasgalant Monastery located 110 km to the northeast. The monastery was established and funded by order of Manchu Yongzheng Emperor (and completed under his successor the Qianlong Emperor) to serve as a final resting place for Öndör Gegeen Zanabazar (1635–1723), the first religious leader of Lamaism in Mongolia. It is unique among Mongolian monasteries in that it was erected in a consistent style between 1727 and 1736. After visiting the monastery we will head back to near Erdenet for our private tentipi tent camp
Day 3: To Mörön
Today we will use the day to drive to Mörön, the small provincial capital of Mongolia’s northernmost province Khuvsgul. We will cross Bulgan province where we will visit the Uran Togoo Mountain, an extinct volcano named for its characteristic crater, well visible in the forested landscape. Hike around the area. On arrival to Mörön we may visit the so-called Black Market, one of the largest of its kind in northern Mongolia and enjoy the bustle of commerce.
Day 4 To Lake Khuvsgul
From Mörön to Hatgal is one and half hour drive, once arriving in Hatgal, one of 24 soums and located at the edge of southern west of the lake, you will travel by boat to Ardavkhar, a simple ger camp on the peninsula, located in a secluded bay all on its own. The shoreline is spectacular, with forested hills coming straight down into the blue lake. We will hike up the hills and over to Somo Had, a sacred point of rocks jutting into the lake. It is worshipped by the locals, who travel there and leave hadag and others offerings.
Day 5 Lake Khuvsgul
We will hike through the forest for a few kilometers until we reach the steppe, where several nomadic families live and where we will have a visit with these hardy people.
Day 6 To Ulaanbaatar via Mörön
A.m. Supported by a yak cart, which will carry our luggage to the departure point, we will travel by boat for about half an hour to Hatgal village. Transfer from there to Mörön airport. If you fly to Ulaanbaatar transfer on arrival to your hotel in town.
DATES ex Ulaanbaatar
Approx mid June to mid September .
PRICE ex Ulaanbaatar:
2 – 8 members: USD 1750 per person
Single supplement (4): USD 160
Practicalist
Transport:
This tour is supported by a jeep or minibus depending on number of travelers. Overnight domestic train to Erdenet.
Accommodation:
During this trip we will stay in spacious tentipis, with foldable bed-cots. We take along a Mongolian tent to serve as our mobile restaurant, as well as showers and compost toilets housed in traditional marquee style tents.
Staff:
An English-speaking Mongolian guide will accompany you at all times. Other language guides such as Russian, French, German, Italian, Korean etc. available at additional cost, upon request.
Meals:
Our cook will prepare the meals. We pride ourselves in having excellent cooks adept at both western and Mongolian cooking on our trips. There is no problem accommodating vegetarians on our trips.
Trip Extension:
Before heading back to Ulaanbaatar you may add days to the trip by turning north to the Hövsgöl River canyons, this very exclusive river adventure is a great addition to any Mongolian holiday.
Includes:
Guide, all meals outside Ulaanbaatar. All overnights in tents. All local transport and entrance fees. Domestic flight ticket and train ticket. The luggage allowance (incl. hand luggage) is 15 kg, and above that overweight must be paid in domestic flights.
Excludes:
Beverages. Transfers and accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Air or train tickets in and out Mongolia.
What our guests say
We appreciate your feedback about our tours and services.
Great place to stay and experience mongolian way of living, no tv, wifi, phone. Just nature and great company of the staff and livestocks of mongolia. The toilet is a hole in the ground covered by a shed. It is clean, but can be smelly to those used to city life. Not hot water supply, inform the staff that you like to hot water half an hour earlier so that they can boil it over camel dung 🙂
Great place to stay and experience mongolian way of living, no tv, wifi, phone. Just nature and great company of the staff and livestocks of mongolia. The toilet is a hole in the ground covered by a shed. It is clean, but can be smelly to those used to city life. Not hot water supply, inform the staff that you like to hot water half an hour earlier so that they can boil it over camel dung 🙂
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