11 days Khuvsgul Lake Shamanism and boating Tour

Highlights: Crystal clear blue lake, Mongolian Shamanism, Crafts and antique market, Meeting with Tsaatan Reindeer Herders

Day 1 – Ulaanbaatar

Upon arrival in the Mongolian capital you will be met by your English-speaking guide and personal driver. You will travel into the city centre, check in to your hotel and rest after your long journey. In the evening you will enjoy a traditional Mongolian meal.

Day 2 – Mongolian Secret History Travel Complex

Travelling north from the city on good roads you will arrive at the Mongolian Secret History Travel complex. On the way you will stop at Aglag-Buteel Monastery where you will tour the beautiful, manicured gardens and immaculate temple, afterwards you will visit the camp where you meet with herders, visit a shaman shrine, ride camels and horses. In the evening you will enjoy a sauna in our hotel spa.

Day 3 – Murun City

Your guide will wake you at 8am after breakfast and you will set off together on the long drive north. Along the way you will stop off at various sights including Erdenet city, where you will eat lunch, and Uran-Togoo extinct volcano for some quick sightseeing. You will arrive in Mörön city at approximately 6pm and check into a beautiful but old and slightly worn Soviet built hotel for the night.

Day 4 – Shamanism, local crafts fair and lakeside barbecue

Early in the morning you drive even further north to the shore of the beautiful lake Khuvsgul passing through Khatgal city along the way. After you have settled into your ger camp and relaxed after your travels we will take you to visit a famous shaman, Enkhtuya who lives nearby. Enkhtuya is an ethnic Tsaatan who now lives year round on the shores of lake Khuvsgul. Locals crowdaround her tent in a permanent festival like atmosphere with local crafts, food and games for you to enjoy. Returning to the camp before sunset we will enjoy a barbecue on the lakeshore.

Day 5 – Boat trip to Tsaatan Reindeer herders

In the morning, after your breakfast, you will board a boat directly from the camp on the lakeshore, which takes you across the lake to the east coast where you will meet a Tsaatan reindeer herder family who spend the summer season on the lake to meet with travellers. The boat you board is a relic from the times when the lake was a useful route for hauling freight to and from the Soviet republic and is a fantastic piece of working social history. The ride will take approximately 2 hours across the beautiful pristine lake culminating with a fascinating meeting with a Tsaatan family at the other end.

Day 6 – Hiking and bonfire

In the morning your guide will take you for a hike up a mountain trail high above the lake to a point from which you can view the beautiful panorama stretched out below you. You will eat a picnic lunch and then return to the camp to relax . In the evening we will organise a bonfire after dark to commemorate your penultimate night in Khuvsgul.

Day 7 – Khatgal Boat Museum

In the morning we travel south to the foot of the lake and to the rustic city of Khatgal that sits there. In Khatgal we will visit a fantastic boat museum that showcases some of the old hulking cargo boats that used to run up and down the lake in Socialist times. Afterwards you will take a walk through the surrounding town and countryside before you retire to your guesthouse for the evening.

Day 8 – Bulgan Baatarvan Spa

An early start sees you on the road by 8am. You will make the drive down to Bulgan province in around 5 hours of driving with a picnic lunch along the way. In the afternoon you will arrive at Baatarvan health treatment spa. This luxurious hotel and spa has been setup to cater to people who want to undergo holistic, curative treatments in a professional and comfortable setting. The spa offers treatments ranging from acupuncture and cupping to ice water treatments and neck pulling all performed by expert professionals. If you are not keen to take advantage of these treatments then the resort is also beautiful and offers a range of activities to keep you entertained and relaxed.

Day 9 – Mongolian Secret History Travel Complex

Today we rest in the morning and set off after lunch taking the drive south slowly arriving at around 7pm in the evening in time for dinner in the Mongolian Secret History’s award winning restaurant VIP room.

Day 10 – Ulaanbaatar

In the morning we will set off early back to the city where we stop for lunch followed by a city tour. We’ll take in Gandan monastery, Sukhbaatar Square, the Choijin Lama’s Palace, The Bogd Khaan’s winter palace, Zaisan Monument, cashmere shopping and the iconic State Department Store. In the evening you will enjoy a traditional show and meal in town.

Day 11 - Depart

Your guide and driver will take you to the airport or train station and wish you well on your departure and future travels!

Included in the price: All of your Mongolian accommodation in hotels and ger camps; all breakfast, lunches and dinners whilst in Mongolia; bottled drinking water is also provided throughout the tour; Mongolian local transport, personal guide, translator, driver and entrance to all attractions mentioned in the itinerary.

Not included in the price: International flights, train tickets, travel insurance, international phone calls, alcoholic drinks, laundry service, souvenir shopping,