By air
Mörön Airport (MXV), ~2 h by road
East Asia · Mongolia
Khövsgöl Lake, Mongolia
A clear blue lake among larch forests and taiga
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to August — mild summer days
Don't miss
Khatgal
Uushigiin Övör deer stones
Khövsgöl Lake National Park
Things to do
Horse riding
Hiking
Kayaking
Staying in ger camps on the shore
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC0
What to pack
Warm layers, waterproof jacket, hiking shoes, insect repellent
A quieter corner
The Uushigiin Övör deer stones, carved Bronze Age monuments near Mörön
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Khövsgöl Lake?
June to August — mild summer days. What to pack: Warm layers, waterproof jacket, hiking shoes, insect repellent.
How do I get to Khövsgöl Lake?
Fly into Mörön Airport (MXV), ~2 h by road.
What is there to do in Khövsgöl Lake?
Horse riding, hiking, kayaking, staying in ger camps on the shore. A quieter find: The Uushigiin Övör deer stones, carved Bronze Age monuments near Mörön.
What should I eat in Khövsgöl Lake?
Mutton khuushuur, dairy foods from herding families, salty milk tea.
About Khövsgöl Lake
- Lakeside
- Forest
Where it is
Khövsgöl Lake lies in northern Mongolia, close to the Russian border, with the village of Khatgal at its southern tip.
History
The lake and its surroundings have long been grazing land for herding families and home to the Dukha reindeer herders in the taiga to the west. The area is protected as a national park. The lake drains south through the Eg River towards the Selenge River and eventually Lake Baikal.
People
Mongolian is spoken around the lake, where herding families raise yaks, horses and sheep, and the Dukha people herd reindeer in the forests to the west.
Known for
- Very clear blue water
- Larch forests and taiga
- Reindeer-herding communities
- A frozen lake in winter
Did you know?
Khövsgöl Lake holds much of Mongolia's fresh surface water and is sometimes called the younger sister of Lake Baikal.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.