Wondering
where to go and what to do during the long weekend at Tsagaan Sar, which is
just in a couple of weeks? We are suggesting you to visit the beautiful Lake
Huvsgul – so called the Blue Pearl of Mongolia. And I know it’d sound quite
extreme - it must be freezing cold out there!
The
pristine Lake Huvsgul is 2 million years old, and makes up to 1% of the world’s
total fresh water reserve. The Huvsgul stretches for 136km in the Alpine-like
mountains, and the deepest point of the lake is 262m. The Huvsgul region itself
is a home to the Tsaatan – Reindeer Herders of Mongolia, an ethnic group famous
for their distinctive lifestyle based on keeping reindeers in the depth of the
Taiga.
The
Huvsgul Lake is a part of the Huvsgul National Park. A small village Hatgal is
at its southern shore and is a popular destination among locals and visitors
both in summer and winter. Located at an altitude of 1645 meters above sea
level the Lake freezes over from December until April or May revealing
fantastic lacy ice patterns. Some visitors even imagine that the Lake ice
doesn’t melt away even in summer!
You
can enjoy spending a few days at the beautiful Lake and do some winter hiking
in the woods, reindeer sledding, ice fishing, and horse or yak riding, besides
visiting a nomad family or two to see their lifestyle in the winter.
Moreover, when the large lake is frozen solid up to 3 meters
deep, that Huvsgul’s most famous event takes place – the Ice Festival! At the
beginning of March the two day Ice Festival is held on the frozen lake with
locals and visitors partaking. Events include a gala opening ceremony on the
ice, a folklore concert, shaman ceremony and many competitions featuring ice
sculptures, ice ankle bone shooting, plus horse, reindeer sled, jeep and ice
skating races. Winter sports include downhill and cross-country skiing,
ice-fishing contests, a 100 kilometre ice-skating marathon and a 12 kilometer
horse sleigh race.
Where
to stay:
·
Ashihai Resort is operating this
winter by the shore of the Lake (106km from Murun), and provides comfortable
traditional Ger accomodation and luxury wooden house starting from 100
USD. Ashihai Resort contact number is: 7000-5459; 9926-4484 (English &
Mongolian speaking) Or you can email at info@ashihai.mn
·
MS Guesthouse in Khatgal village
(100km from Murun) is open all year around, and offers bed & breakfast at
20000 MNT per person (charges extra for other meals & activities). You can
get more info from Mrs. Batchimeg (her mobile is 8836-7666, English &
Mongolian speaking).
Getting
there:
·
You may want to drive yourself, in
this case, from Ulaanbaatar to Murun is 760km. And from Murun to Khatgal it’s
100km, and to Ashikhai Resort it’s 106km.
·
Or you can take the Ulaanbaatar –
Murun bus service at 3pm everyday (arrives in Murun by 10am next day) – the bus
leaves from Dragon Centre (ticket price is 32000 MNT one way. Tel: 70174902).
Both Ashihai Resort & MS Guesthouse offer pick up & transfer service
from Murun.
Prepared
by Zola, Managing partner of Selena Travel for GoGo Travel. © All rights
reserved 2015.
