Festivals & Events

ICE FESTIVAL 2019

An exploration of Mongolia’s dramatic winter landscapes, this journey is a unique opportunity to attend a festival held on the frozen surface of Lake Khovsgol. Each year in February or March, local people from Khovsgol celebrate the Festival of Ice at -35°C on the Khovsgol Lake or along the shores of the lake. 

Lake Hovsgol, located in the pristine alpine forests and mountains of Mongolia’s northernmost province, is the site of the Ice Festival, featuring horse sledding races and traditional games as ice wrestling, ice skating, competition and Ankle Bone Shooting. Spending the night in a ger amidst the lake’s winter scenery is just one of this expedition’s unforgettable experiences.
 
There is also a shamanist offering ceremony that offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the Tsaatan people’s way of life and the shaman culture. 
 
Area: Ice Festival in Khowgol 2019

Date: March 3 - March 4

Duration: 5night/ 6 days

Total distance: 2000 km

Accommodation: Ger guesthouse prepared by Nomads

 

Day 1. 01Mar. Start trip to Uran Togoo Volcano                    

Day 2. 02Mar. After breakfast continue trip to Khowsgol Lake

Known as “The Dark Blue Pearl”, Lake Khuvsgul is Mongolia's largest and deepest pure lake. Located in the northernmost province, it is the largest tributary stream of Lake Baikal in Russia. Lake Khuvsgul is 136 km long, 36 km wide, 262 meters (for known measurement) deep and is located at an altitude of 1645 m above sea level and is frozen from January until April or May. It's the second largest fresh water lake in Central Asia. It's inhabited by nine species of fish including the Siberian grayling and lenokLake Khuvsgul is on the important migration route for birds from Siberia, thus facilitating marvelous opportunities for bird watching.

Day 3-4. 03-04Mar. ICE FESTIVAL days. 

The festival involves ice sumo wrestling, international skating marathon and horse sleigh races, displays of ice sculptures, shaman ceremonies and visits by reindeer herders who make their way south to the festival from their northern taiga. On 4th continue driving to Murun city.

Day 5. 05Mar. Amarbayasgalant Monastery

Today’s destination is the second largest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, the ‘Monastery of tranquil felicity’, is located near the Selenge River. The Manchu empire Yongzheng built the monastery between 1727 and 1737, and dedicated it to Zanabazar, Mongolia’s first Bogd Gegeen (sacred king who ruled the country by the Buddhist teachings) and a famous artist and the inventor of the vertical Mongolian script. His mummified body was moved here in 1779. Amarbayasgalant Monastery is one of the few monasteries in Mongolia to survive from the purge of the 1930’s.

Day 6. 06Mar. Drive backto UB city