9 Days • 8 Nights
Lake Khovsgol & Northern Mongolia
Tour Includes
About the Trip
You'll fly north to the lake, ride and hike through the taiga forest and flower-filled meadows, kayak or boat on the crystal-clear water, and meet the Tsaatan reindeer herders who live at the forest's edge. Wildlife, wildflowers and a completely different, greener Mongolia fill the days.
With comfortable ger camps, expert guides and the flights arranged, it is a refreshing, scenic alternative to the desert and steppe.
Trip Highlights
- The pristine 'Blue Pearl' of Lake Khovsgol
- Forested mountains and flower-filled meadows
- Kayaking or boating on the crystal-clear lake
- Horse riding and hiking in the taiga
- The Tsaatan reindeer-herding people
- Abundant wildlife and wildflowers
- A greener, cooler side of Mongolia
- Nights in lakeside ger camps
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 9-day journey.
Arrive in the capital and settle in, with a welcome dinner of Mongolian flavours.
The Gandan Monastery, the National Museum and a cultural show, before heading north.
Fly north to Murun and drive to Lake Khovsgol, settling into a lakeside ger camp with your first view of the vast blue water ringed by forest.
Explore the lake by boat or kayak on its crystal-clear water, with a lakeside walk and time to soak up the pristine alpine scenery.
Ride and hike into the taiga forest and flower-filled meadows around the lake, watching for wildlife and wildflowers.
Journey to meet the Tsaatan, the reindeer-herding people who live at the forest's edge, learning about their unique and threatened way of life.
A gentler day by the lake — a boat trip to an island, fishing, or simply relaxing on the shore of the Blue Pearl.
Drive back to Murun and fly to the capital for a final evening, with time for the cashmere shops.
A final breakfast before your transfer to the airport.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private airport transfers and a private guide and driver throughout
- 2N Ulaanbaatar, 6N at Lake Khovsgol (lakeside ger camps)
- Daily breakfast, a welcome dinner and full board at the lake
- An Ulaanbaatar city tour and the National Museum
- Round-trip domestic flights to the north (Murun)
- Boating or kayaking on Lake Khovsgol
- Horse riding and hiking in the taiga forest
- A visit to Tsaatan reindeer herders and all activity fees
Exclusions
- International airfare to and from Mongolia
- Any visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (essential, with evacuation cover)
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional activities and horse riding where not stated
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa: Many nationalities can now visit Mongolia visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. Your passport should be valid at least six months — we can advise
- Currency: The currency is the Mongolian Tugrik. Cards work in Ulaanbaatar, but the countryside is a cash economy with almost no ATMs, so carry enough cash for the whole trip beyond the capital
- Best season: Mongolia is a summer destination — June to September brings warm days and green steppe. The famous Naadam festival is in mid-July; winters are extremely cold and most camps close
- Ger camp life: You stay in traditional felt gers (yurts) with beds and a wood stove. They are comfortable but simple, with shared or private bathroom blocks; bring layers, a headlamp and a sense of adventure
- Long distances: Mongolia is vast and roads are often rough tracks, so expect long, scenic overland drives, with domestic flights for the Gobi and the far west, all arranged for you
- Big temperature swings: Even in summer, days can be warm and nights cold, so pack warm layers, a windproof jacket, sturdy shoes, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Nomadic etiquette: When visiting a nomad family's ger, enter with your left foot, never step on the threshold, accept offered food or drink with your right hand, and move clockwise inside
- Connectivity: Mobile signal is limited or absent outside Ulaanbaatar and the main towns — embrace the digital detox and the vast, silent landscapes
- Health: Drink bottled or boiled water, and note that facilities are basic in remote areas. Comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential
- Power: Ger camps often have limited, generator or solar electricity for a few hours a day, so bring a power bank and a universal adapter (Mongolia uses type C/E plugs at 220V)
Frequently Asked Questions
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included throughout, with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the remote ger camps where there are no restaurants, plus a welcome dinner in Ulaanbaatar. It is hearty, home-style cooking.
Are transfers and touring private?
Yes — you travel with your own guide and a 4WD driver across the countryside, with domestic flights for the Gobi and far west, all arranged for you.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia?
Many nationalities now visit visa-free for up to 30 days; others need an eVisa or visa in advance. We confirm the requirements for your passport before you travel.
When is the best time to visit?
June to September is the season — warm days, green steppe and open camps. The Naadam festival falls in mid-July, and the Golden Eagle Festival in early October. Winters are extremely cold.
What is a ger camp like?
A cluster of traditional felt tents (gers) with real beds, rugs and a wood stove, plus a central dining ger and a shared or private bathroom block. Comfortable and atmospheric, if simple — a magical way to sleep on the steppe.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. Durations, regions, camps and experiences can all be tailored, and we can add the Naadam festival, eagle hunters, Lake Khovsgol or a luxury camp. Just tell us what you have in mind.
How much driving is involved?
Mongolia is huge with few paved roads, so expect long, scenic 4WD journeys across the steppe and desert, broken by stops. Domestic flights cover the longest legs to the Gobi and the west.
Who are the Tsaatan?
The Tsaatan are a small community of reindeer herders who live in the northern taiga forests near Lake Khovsgol, one of the last reindeer-herding cultures in the world. Visiting them is a rare and moving experience, arranged respectfully.
How is the north different from the Gobi?
The north around Lake Khovsgol is lush, green and cool, with forests, mountains and a huge alpine lake — a complete contrast to the arid Gobi and the open central steppe.
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