Mongolia Ice Festival 2020 | Event Guide

Mongolia Ice festival 2020 will be held on 2-3 March.

Awarded as The Best Event of Mongolia 2019

Ice Festival was awarded as The Best event of the Year -2019 by Mongolian Tourism Association during Mongolian Tourism Awards last month.

Lake Khovsgol is one of 17 ancient lakes worldwide and is variously estimated at between 2 and 5 million years old. 

At first, mainly local nomads participated, but in the last few years, it has become an international festival and hottest winter destination.

What actually happen at Ice Festival at Khovsgol Lake?

Local communities gather on the lake for the winter ice festival, there are several winter and cultural activities hold such as ice skating, horse sleighing race, ice sumo and traditional winter games and competitions. Nomadic reindeer herders and shamans show off their cultural performances, such as arts, music and shaman rituals. 

Catch Glimpse of Khovsgol Lake covered with Thick Layer of Ice 

As the festival attracts in international travelers, and as local people of Khovsgol province and life of Tsaatan reindeer people economy grows, the events of the ice activities and ice related traditional games and exhibits keeps growing. 

Khovsgol National Park based on one of seventeenth ancient lakes of the world-Khovsgol was protected as National Park in 1992.

Marvel at detailed Ice Sculptures 

The park area, 3500 square miles is bigger than Yellowstone in the USA, the first national park of the world- The freshest and deepest lake of Mongolia-Frozen Lake Khovsgol NP is hottest and must-visit winter travel destination of Mongolia. 

Khovsgol lake, exceptionally pristine lake is 136 km long, 20-40 km wide, and up to 260 m deep; it contains nearly 70% of all freshwater in Mongolia. 

Venturing along Frozen Lake and Following Reindeer Tracks 

Tsaatan Reindeer lifestyles represent some of the most enduring traditions of Mongolia. Because the harsh climate, which is dominated by long and very cold winter, severely limits agriculture, semi-nomadic herding remains a dominant way of life. 

Herders and their animals, reindeers, sheep, goats, cattle, yaks and horses, have long been part of the ecosystem in and it is the one of the highlight experience of Mongolia Ice Festival Tours. 

Admire Mongolia Winter Life, Real Storybook Setting

With more time, you should seek out Taiga, quiet and serene, ideal for hiking and climbing in Khoridog Saridag and Bayan Mount Ranges with chances to spot wild animals such as ibex, Argali, wolf, brown bear, musk deer, Siberian moose, and many others.

Mongolia Ice Festival offers great variety of leisure or sport activities and types of tours, that are nature sightseeing and study excursions and camping. 

Travelling from Ulaanbaatar to Ice Festival on Khovsgol Lake 

What transportation you take, the tickets may be in big demand during the festival time so we always remind our customers to book their tickets in advance. If you book a tour with us, we will do all that for you.

Flights

There are limited domestic flights from Ulaanbaatar to Ice Festival during these 2 days. It takes about 1.5 hours to get to the Murun city, then you have to transfer by car to Khatgal for about 2 hours. It is the easiest way to get to the Ice Festival, however the weather and the road condition of Mongolia in winter time cannot be predicted. So, you better to should choose the well-organized Ice Festival Package Tour that includes flight tickets, an experienced driver and a good car.

Private vehicle

Another way to travel Khovsgol is by a car on new tarmac roads, 780 km from the capital city and it takes about 12-14 hours.

The domestic Bus

The domestic bus ticket is not that expensive around 38000 tug / 13.5$/, but for before and after the festival it is quite hard to find the ticket. Pre –online ticket is available and make sure to check it.

Trains

If you prefer the train, you can take the daily train to Erdenet city and then transfer by car to Khovsgol province. Compared with flights, a train trip can save a lot of money, but it takes more times of your travel. Driving by car on paved road from Erdenet city - Murun city is around 397 km and from Murun city to Khatgal soum is around 120 km.  Keep in mind. You have to manage all these transfers. 

Immerse yourself with Mongolian Winter Festivals

Crunching through crisp snow in an untouched landscape, there’s something otherworldly and mystical about Mongolian winter tours. Whatever you choose, our winter tours will bring you closer to nature, and offer some life-changing challenges.

Imagine the sense of achievement when you realize that you will have walked on a glacier Khovsgol lake, ride horse sleights across the frozen beauty and meet mystical reindeer people.  As you're curling up by the fire with a hot cup of tea—or in search of a little Instagram caption inspiration—here we invite you to Join our Mongolian Winter Festival Tour 2020.