Ice Festival winter trip in Northern Mongolia

Highlights: Winter in Mongolia, Eerie creaking of Khuvsgul Lake’s frozen surface, Ice Festival with ice sculpture, racing and sledding

Day 1 - Arrive in Ulaanbaatar

Your guide and personal driver will meet you from the airport or train station and help you to check in to your 3 star city centre hotel.

After a rest, you will enjoy an evening meal in a traditional Mongolian restaurant to fortify you for the journey ahead!

Day 2 – Fly to Murun city in Khuvsgul Province

In the morning your guide and driver will take you to the airport once again and you will board a domestic flight to Murun city in the north of Mongolia. The flight takes around 2 hours and upon arrival at the regional airport you will be met by a new guide and driver. They will take you further north to the shores of the frozen Khuvsgul lake. You check into your accommodation at a winter guesthouse and enjoy the frozen, silent countryside in this remote region.

Day 3 – Ice Festival

The first day of the winter ice festival comprises a grand opening ceremony, wrestling, traditional Mongolian games, a Shaman ritual and finally a bonfire all set right on the ice. There will be much singing, dancing and excitement from both locals and travellers alike at this spectacular event. In the evening, you will return to your winter lodge guesthouse for a hearty Mongolian supper.

Day 4 – Ice Festival

The 2^nd day of the festival is much more active. There will be an ice-skating competition with racing and show of skills followed by a horse sled race across the ice. Finally you will enjoy the closing ceremony before returning to your guest house.

Day 5 - Ulaanbaatar

Leaving with your guide and driver in the late morning you return to Ulaanbaatar via a 2 hour domestic flight. At Ulaanbaatar airport you will be met by your guide and driver, travel to your hotel and then enjoy a short city tour before supper in a city restaurant.

Day 6 - 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 visit the immaculate temple and possibly some of the gardens depending on the snow cover. Afterwards we will visit some herders and enjoy a sauna in our award-winning spa.

Day 7 – Mongolian Secret History Travel Complex

Today you will enjoy camel and horse riding across the spectacular frozen landscape. Spending most of the day with herders you will help them with their work during the difficult lambing season. In the evening, you will once again enjoy a sauna to relax your tired muscles from a day of riding and outdoor activities.

Day 8 – Terelj

From the Mongolian Secret History Travel Complex you will travel with your personal guide and driver south, through Ulaanbaatar city, and into Terelj national park. On the first day in the park we will visit Tsoonjin Boldog Chinggis Khaan equestrian statue and the beautiful Tuul river valley before we head deeper into the national park to your ger camp within sight of the world famous Turtle Rock.

Day 9 - Terelj

On your final full day in Mongolia we take a full tour around the national park including a hike to turtle rock and a trip to Aryapala meditation temple, a spectacular and peaceful temple right in the heart of Terelj. You spend your final night in Mongolia snug under felt and the winter sky full of stars.

Day 10 - Depart

Your guide and driver will take you back to the city and then on towards 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,