Exploring Mongolia's “Dark Blue Pearl”
Lake Hovsgol Extension
Overview
Mystical Lake Hovsgol (“Blue Water Lake”), sacred to Mongolians, is 85 miles long and 18 miles wide, and ringed by 9,000-foot peaks, pristine larch forests, and wildflower-filled meadows. Home to traditional nomad families and their herds, the lake is a sublime place to enjoy nature walks and cultural interactions. Hovsgol lies at the southern end of the Baikal Rift zone and is a sister to Baikal in Siberia.
Arrive: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Depart: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Highlights
- Discover Lake Hovsgol, a vast alpine lake known as Mongolia's “dark blue pearl”
- Explore on foot, by horseback or by kayak
Itinerary
Note: This itinerary is for a post-trip extension; call us for details regarding a pre-trip extension
After a morning at leisure, take a quick flight to Muron, capital of Hovsgol Province. From here, we drive to our ger camp at remote Lake Hovsgol (drive time: ~2-2.5 hours), one of the most beautiful regions of Mongolia. This crystal-clear alpine lake, known as Mongolia's “dark blue pearl,” remains untouched by industry and is set among some of the most pristine forests and mountains in the world. Accommodations at the lake are in welcoming gers, specially designed for visitors and modeled after the traditional tents of nomadic herders. There is typically a large lodge or tent that provides the dining room and shared bathrooms for all travelers (please note that there are no private, en-suite bathrooms at the Lake Hovgol ger camps), Overnight in ger camp...LD
Explore the lakeshore on foot or by horseback, with optional kayaking excursions. Overnights in ger camp...BLD each day
Return to Muron on Day 4, with a picnic lunch en route at beautiful Lake Irkh, and fly to Ulaanbaatar. Overnight at the Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel. The next day, transfer to the airport for your departing flight...BLD on Day 4, B on Day 5
A visa is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Mongolia. However, if you are traveling via China, a Chinese visa might be required (obtained in advance) depending on the duration of your stay. Please call for details.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.