LAKE KHUVSGUL HIKING TOUR

ITINERARY

• Arrival to Ulaanbaatar, guided city tour

  Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB), the capital of Mongolia and transfer to a centrally located 4 star hotel. Afternoon guided city tour will introduce you to the highlights of the city: the Gandan Temple - city's main Buddhist center, the central city square with a grand statue of Genghis Khan and the Zaisan Memorial, an elevated hill on the city's edge providing a panoramic view of UB. Then choose to visit one or two museums from the following: National Museum introducing Mongolia's history from early humans to modern era, Dinosaur Museum with a unique collection of dinosaur fossils, Choijin Lama or State Oracle Residence-museum displaying best samples of Buddhist artwork and religious masks. Winter palace of Bogd Khan showcasing rare statues of Buddhist deities and items of personal use of this last theocratic ruler of Mongolia is also worth considering. An evening folk show of music, throat singing and contortion will be followed by a welcome dinner. (Dinner, hotel))

• Flight to Khuvsgul lake

  A brief flight to northern Mongolia brings you to the country’s deepest lake, the Khuvsgul. It’s the second-most voluminous freshwater lake in Asia and holds 70% of the country’s fresh water reserves. This 265m deep lake sits in a tectonic rift amidst the great Siberian taiga forest. Upon landing we drive for over an hour to a cozy resort on the lake shore. Enjoy the rest of the day by hiking along the shoreline and savoring stunning landscapes reflecting in crystal clear waters. A boat trip to an island in the middle of the lake or kayaking can be booked optionally. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp)

• Hike to bird-eye viewpoint of the lake

  After breakfast we take a short drive to the base of Bayan mountain range that skirts along the whole length of the lake. It’s densely coated in primeval larch forests but ridgetops sit well above the tree line. Zigzagging on steep slopes we hike for 7km/4.35mi on faint tracks laid by surveyors during socialist period preceding 1990s. Past the tree line the forest is replaced by a rugged ridge, barren and rocky. At the day’s high point at 2380m we relish a well-deserved lunch with awe-inspiring views of the great water expanse and green slopes down below. We return to the camp in the late afternoon. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp)

• Hike in Tola mountain ridge and visit Deer Stelae complex

  Leaving the lake behind we drive to a small mountain range where each small hilltop is marked with spectacular granite outcrops. We spend 2-3 hours hiking in the tranquil natural setting. Our next stop is a remarkable historic site consisting of 30 Deer Stelae and burial mounds. The Deer Stelae are megaliths covered in carvings of flying deer. These artistically made tomb stones mainly signify ritual sites of Bronze age noblemen. This evening we settle in a cozy resort perched on a high bank of Delger river. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp)

• Hike in Erdene mountain

  On our last day in northern Mongolia we explore one of the least visited parts of the Khuvsul lake region by hiking in the eastern spur of Erdene mountain. It is made of deep V-shaped valleys coated in rich coniferous forests. Throughout the hike we negotiate steep slopes alternated by spectacular limestone ridges to catch breathtaking views of the virgin Earth. At the end of the day, we return to the comfort of the riverside resort. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, ger camp)

• Return flight to Ulaanbaatar

  After days of experiencing diverse landscapes of northern Mongolia it is time to return to Ulaanbaatar. We catch a flight back to the capital and celebrate the memorable holiday with a traditional meal. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, hotel)

• International departure

  Time to say goodbye to Mongolia. We will transfer you to the city airport for you journey home.