Nomadic Journeys

Lake Hövsgöl is one of the most pristine large bodies of water of Asia, situated at 1645 meters above sea level. It is the twin lake of Baikal and its waters are equally blue. The setting is spectacular with Siberian taiga and the Horidal Saridag Mountain Range to the west. The lake is almost devoid of ships, and is transparent to depth of 16-25 meters. There is lenok trout and an endemic grayling in the lake. It stretches some 125km from north to south and is 262 meters deep. It is not as deep as Baikal, but is part of the Baikal Rift system, which resulted from the pressures associated with the collision between India and Asia some 55 million years ago. 

You will fly on a domestic flight to Mörön, the aimag capital of Hövsgöl, or to the airstrip at Hatgal village, next to the lake. You will stay in a ger camp at a secluded bay on the Ardavhar Peninsula. All meals will be served in the ger camp or as a picnic.  A local guide will meet you when landing at either of the two locations. Mörön airport is 110km and 3 hours from Hatgal village (102km), which is located at the southernmost tip of the lake. Weather permitting, you will be transferred to the Ardavhar Peninsula by boat  which is a half hour north of Hatgal.

Pick up at your hotel in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the airport.  Fly approx. 1½-2 hours to Mörön or Hatgal. Transfer through Hatgal and on to Ardavhar Peninsula.

Ardavhar is a new ger camp on the peninsula, located in a secluded bay all on its own. The shoreline is spectacular, with forested hills coming straight down into the blue lake. We  will hike up the hills and over to Tsomo Had, a sacred point of rocks jutting into the lake. It is worshipped by the locals, who travel there and leave hadags and others offerings.

Day 3: Lake Hövsgöl National Park

We will hike through the forest for a few kilometers until we reach the steppe, where several nomadic families live and where we will have a visit with these hardy people.

A.m. Supported by a yak cart, which will carry our  luggage to the departure point, we will  travel by boat for about half an hour to Hatgal village. Transfer from there to Mörön airport. If you fly to Ulaanbaatar transfer on arrival to your hotel in town.

Practicalities

Transport: This journey is supported by a jeep or minibus on the jeep road tracks.

Includes: Local guide, all meals outside Ulaanbaatar, all overnights in ger camps in double occupancy. All transport and entrance fees.

Excludes: Imported drinks. Transfer and hotel nights in Ulaabaatarr are excluded, and may be added at a discounted rate USD 100 per person in shared double (2 overnights, 2 breakfasts, 2 transfers) if adjacent to the trek dates.

DATES ex Ulaanbaatar: Approx mid June to mid September daily.