Khövsgöl Ice Festival

The Khövsgöl Ice Festival is held on the frozen surface of Lake Khövsgöl in northern Mongolia, usually in early March, near the lakeside village of Khatgal at the lake's southern tip. Over a few days there are ice sculptures, horse-sled races, skating, tug-of-war and knucklebone games on the ice, along with cultural performances. It is a chance to see one of the world's clearest lakes locked under thick blue ice, surrounded by snowy taiga.

Lake Khövsgöl in winter

Lake Khövsgöl lies close to the Russian border and is Mongolia's largest freshwater lake by volume, holding around 70 percent of the country's fresh surface water. It is about 136 km long and more than 260 m deep. In winter the lake freezes solid, the ice is often more than a metre thick by late winter, and local people use it as a road between lakeside settlements. The ice is famous for its clarity, with cracks, pressure ridges and trapped air bubbles, and on cold nights it can boom and crack loudly as it shifts.

Events at the Khövsgöl Ice Festival

The programme is set by local organisers and changes from year to year, but commonly includes:

• Ice sculpture: carvers turn blocks cut from the lake into figures that glow in the low winter sun.
• Horse-sled racing: horses pulling wooden sleds race across the ice, and visitors can often take a sled ride.
• Skating and ice games: speed-skating races, tug-of-war on the ice and knucklebone (shagai) shooting.
• Reindeer and northern culture: in some years Tsaatan (Dukha) reindeer herders from the nearby taiga attend with their animals, and there are folk music, dance and costume displays.

Most events are free to watch and very relaxed, with families from the area coming out to compete and cheer.

Getting to Khatgal and Lake Khövsgöl

Khatgal is in Khövsgöl province, about 100 km north of the provincial centre Mörön. Mörön is roughly 700 km from Ulaanbaatar by road, a long day's drive, and is also served by domestic flights, which shorten the trip considerably; schedules change, so check with the airlines. From Mörön, a driver can take you to Khatgal in a couple of hours, depending on road and snow conditions. Most travellers come with a tour operator that arranges transport, accommodation and guides.

Safety on the frozen lake

Driving and walking on the ice is part of local life, but it carries real risk. Ice thickness varies, especially near river mouths, springs and pressure ridges, and vehicles fall through the ice in some years, particularly later in the season. Travel on the lake only with experienced local drivers who follow known tracks, stay within the areas that organisers mark out, and do not wander onto the ice alone.

Practical tips for the Khövsgöl Ice Festival

• Prepare for severe cold: night temperatures of minus 20 to minus 30 °C are common in early March. Bring a down jacket, insulated boots, mittens, a hat and a face cover.
• Camera and phone batteries drain quickly in the cold; carry spares in an inside pocket.
• Accommodation in Khatgal is limited to a small number of ger camps and guesthouses that open in winter, so book well ahead.
• Confirm the festival dates each year with your tour operator or local organisers; they are usually set for early March.
• Combine the trip with dog sledding or horse riding in the area, both offered by some winter operators.