Tsenkher Hot Springs

Tsenkher Hot Springs rise at about 1,850 m in a forested valley on the northern side of the Khangai Mountains, around 27 km south of Tsetserleg. The water emerges at up to 86 °C, the second-hottest spring in Mongolia after Shargaljuut, and flows at roughly 10 litres per second. Several ger camps pipe it into indoor and outdoor pools cooled to bathing temperature.

The water and the valley

Tourism sources describe the water as alkaline and rich in sodium bicarbonate and sulphate, with fluoride and hydrogen sulphide, which explains the faint smell of sulphur near the source. Mongolians have long used it for joint and nerve complaints, though these benefits are traditional rather than medically proven. Steam drifts from the pipes and channels between the camps, and around them forested slopes and open meadows rise from the valley floor.

When to go

The springs are open all year. June to August brings green valleys and wildflowers, but also afternoon rain, mud on the track and crowds at weekends. September and early October are cooler and quieter, with the forest turning yellow. In winter, night temperatures fall far below freezing, and sitting in a hot outdoor pool under a clear, starry sky is the main attraction. The track from Tsetserleg can then be snowy or icy, so travel with a driver who knows it.

Bathing safely

Water at the source is close to scalding, so never touch open pipes or channels, and test each pool before you get in. Keep soaks to 15 to 20 minutes, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol before bathing and get out slowly, as heat and altitude together can make you dizzy. Anyone with a heart condition or high blood pressure, and pregnant women, should check with a doctor first. Shower before entering shared pools.