If you are looking for a real adventure, the Mongolian winter is the perfect opportunity to experience it on the frozen lake. The Ice Festival is one of the most attractive winter festivals and offers a unique chance to discover this fascinating and mysterious corner of the world in the deep winter.

The event takes place on the beautiful Khövsgöl Lake. The dark blue lake is about 130 km long and up to 40 km wide. It lies at the foot of the always snow-covered Choridol-Saridag mountains and offers a breathtaking view. It is the largest freshwater reservoir in the country and is said to be over a million years old. The Mongols affectionately call it "Dalai Eej," meaning Mother Sea.

Although it is icy cold outside and temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees, locals gather at Khövsgöl Lake at the beginning of March to celebrate the long, cold season. For two days, you can enjoy exciting activities such as horse sled racing, ice sumo, archery, ankle bone shooting, a competition for artistic ice sculptures, ice skating, tug-of-war, dog sledding, and much more.

Here you can experience the traditions and lifestyle of Mongolian reindeer herders. They descend from the taiga to the lake while local shamans perform a fire ritual.

If you are looking for traditional clothing and boots, this is the place. To avoid catching a cold in March, be sure to pack warm winter jackets, gloves, and hats. Layered clothing is exactly right for this.

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Day 1

You can arrive in Ulaanbaatar at any time. A city tour can be arranged depending on your arrival time. Your tour guide will explain the itinerary and answer your questions. Afterwards, we will get a first impression of Mongolian cuisine in one of Ulaanbaatar's well-known restaurants.

Ulaanbaatar is a rapidly growing modern city with over 1.5 million inhabitants. Attractions include the Winter and Summer Palace of Bogd Khan, a series of beautiful traditional buildings where the eighth living Buddha and the last king resided. Today, it houses a museum with fascinating artifacts and costumes of the last king, as well as his collection of stuffed animals. We visit the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the largest and most important monastery in Mongolia. We pass by various monasteries and admire the magnificent statue of Migjid Janraisig, gilded and covered with silk scarves. To conclude the city tour, we ascend Zaisan Memorial Hill, offering a breathtaking view of all Ulaanbaatar. The city tour takes about 5 hours.

Day 2

From Ulaanbaatar to Khövsgöl Lake / Long drive / Domestic flight is also possible.

Today we have a long drive of about 800 km to the provincial capital in northern Mongolia. We experience the beautiful snow-covered mountain landscapes of Mongolia. Our route passes through several provinces and the important industrial cities of Darkhan, Erdenet, and Bulgan. After arriving in Murun, we can rest at the hotel and enjoy the evening.

Day 3

Continue to Khövsgöl Lake. After breakfast, our journey continues to Khövsgöl Lake, also known as the "Blue Pearl of Mongolia." The drive takes about two to three hours. Khövsgöl Lake is a huge lake surrounded by mountains over 2,000 meters high, dense pine forests, and lush meadows. Over 100 small rivers and streams feed the lake with crystal-clear water. Only one river, the Ejin, flows out of the lake and eventually empties into Lake Baikal.

We spend the afternoon hiking along the lake shore and ice skating on the thick ice. If you like, you can also ride horses, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride, experience dog sledding, or visit a nomad family. Locals in thick furs and colorful costumes on the dark blue ice of the lake against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains. Plenty of photo opportunities.

Day 4

Rest day at Khövsgöl Lake. After breakfast, we attend the opening ceremony of the Ice Festival. The beautiful, colorful costumes representing the different tribes and ethnic groups of Mongolia will amaze you. Afterwards, there is an ice skating competition in which you can participate if you like. If you don’t want to skate, you can also watch the horse sled races of the nomads. Before the race starts, the horses pose briefly for the audience, and guests can bet on the winner.

Other activities: figure skating competition, ankle bone shooting, shamanic rituals, traditional performances by singers and dancers, elaborate ice sculptures.

In the afternoon, we head into the mountains to visit a reindeer herder family and learn about their unique nomadic lifestyle. In the evening, a cozy campfire.

Day 5

Rest day at the lake. Various competitions and activities on the ice: ice sumo, horse sledding, reindeer sledding, jeep driving on ice, tug-of-war, ice skating, and much more. In the evening, the closing ceremony announces the winners.

Day 6

Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Early morning departure to Ulaanbaatar. Rest at the hotel.

Day 7

From Ulaanbaatar to Terelj National Park. Visit Tsonjin Boldog, Genghis Khan Monument, souvenir shops. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner together at one of the city's best restaurants.

Day 8

From Ulaanbaatar back home.