Mongolia Ice Festival Tour

Sunday 1st March – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

• Arrive at your convenience into Ulaanbaatar – the capital city of Mongolia which is well connected from many countries within Asia, and the rest of the world.
• A pre-tour meeting will be held at the lobby of our hotel at 6:00pm to discuss tour itinerary and to meet your fellow travelers and YPT guide.
• Head out for dinner where you’ll get to know the other members of the group and have our first look at the nightlife of Ulaanbaatar
• Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

Monday 2nd March – Ulaanbaatar – Murun – Lake Khovsgol

Morning

• In the early morning board a flight departing Ulaanbaatar at 7:25am and arriving in Murun at 8:35am
• Here you will meet your local team and drive to Lake Khovsgol (approx. 2 hours)
• Attend the grand opening of the Khovsgol Ice Festival on the frozen lake! 

Afternoon

• After lunch, we will head out onto the frozen surface of Lake Khovsgol for the long-anticipated Blue Pearl Ice Festival – one of the most unique cultural experiences in Mongolia, if not the world.
• Held each year in the depths of winter, the festival brings together local nomadic families, and herders to celebrate life in one of the planet’s harshest but most beautiful environments. With temperatures dropping as low as –30°C, it’s a test of endurance and a full-on celebration of Mongolian resilience, tradition, and creativity.
• After the grand opening ceremony, featuring music, speeches, and traditional performances right on the frozen lake. From there, we dive into a whirlwind of sporting competitions, cultural displays, and adrenaline-pumping winter games.
• Enjoy dinner at the lake and stay overnight in our cosy ger camp, located right by the frozen lake itself. These traditional gers (yurt-like felt tents) are still used by nomadic families across the country. Simple, warm, and atmospheric. Our camp is right on the lake’s edge, putting us in prime position for the upcoming festivities and local gatherings that take place on the frozen surface.

Tuesday 3rd March  – Khovsgol Lake: Mongolia Ice Festival

Morning

• After breakfast, we will dive deep into the Blue Ice Festival Events. Today’s events includes a variety of activities that highlight both traditional skills and quirky cold-weather contests:
• Ice Archery – a precision sport with deep nomadic roots
• Horse Sled Races – locals show off speed and control across the ice
• Reindeer Performances – hosted by the Dukha (Tsaatan) reindeer herders, showcasing their unique bond with these mystical animals
• Ice Cube Stacking & Skating Races – light-hearted but competitive local games
• Winter Fashion Show – a showcase of traditional and modern winter clothing worn by herders and locals alike
• Tug of War – Whether one-on-one or in teams, this is a raw test of strength, grit, and crowd-pumping enthusiasm.
• Mongolian Wrestling (Bökh) – No weight classes here. Wrestlers of all sizes compete in a show of skill, balance, and sheer power. This is the sport of Mongolia – national champions are treated as heroes, often rising to fame in sports or even politics.
• Sumo on Ice – Exactly what it sounds like: sumo-style wrestling, but with the added challenge of a slippery surface. It’s a crowd favourite for its chaos and laughs.
• Horse Sledding – A throwback to traditional winter transport. Fast, bumpy, and exhilarating.
• Smoked Fish Tasting – Sample traditional local delicacies that form a staple diet among northern tribes. It’s not for the faint-hearted — but where’s the fun in playing it safe?
• Craft Shopping – Wander the vendor stalls for hand-crafted souvenirs, felt goods, wood carvings, and other Mongolian keepsakes.

Afternoon

• We will enjoy lunch by sampling some of the local food on offer. Most will be hearty meat and soup dishes consumed by the locals to keep warm over the chilly winters.
• As night falls and the stars light up the frozen sky, we’ll take part in something truly unforgettable – a shamanic bonfire ceremony performed by local spiritual leaders. Gathered around the fire, we’ll witness age-old rituals meant to honour ancestors, ask for protection, and bless the coming year.
• Overnight at Lake Khovsgol

Wednesday 4th March – Horse Sledding – Husliin Khad – Lake Khovsgol

Morning

• After breakfast, we will take in the beautiful sites of the festival from our cabins
• We’ll head out on the ice ourselves, experiencing a horse sled on the ice of Lake Khovsgol! This is a unique experience to sled on one of the world’s most ancient lakes, formed over 2 million years ago!
• After sledding, we will enjoy some local delicacies for lunch

Afternoon

• In the afternoon, we will head to Husliin Khad – also known as ‘Wishing Rock’ Island, this rocky promontory juts out into the lake.
• This is the best viewpoint to see Lake Khovsgol from above. In the winter time, it looks even more impressive as all the water is completely frozen around the rock formation.
• Many Mongolians come to the rock to make wishes as they believe there is some spiritual significance and some even make the pilgrimage to the rock in order to make their wish come true.
• In the evening, we will return to our cosy cabins, have dinner and stay overnight!

Thursday 5th March – Khovsgol Lake – Erdenet

Morning

• After breakfast, we will check out of our cabins and begin making our way back to Ulaanbaatar
• We will say goodbye to Lake Khovsgol and begin the journey south back to Erdenet. As we leave the ice and snow behind, the landscape slowly opens into rolling steppes and quiet provincial towns.
• On the way we will visit the Uushigiin Uvur Deer Stone Complex. This is Mongolia’s best-preserved Bronze Age deer stones. The site is an array of intricate carvings of deer, sun symbols & warrior belts. Here you can learn about ancient nomadic spiritual beliefs.

Afternoon

• We will drive through Northern towns such as Murun on our way to Erdenet and take in the beautiful views and landscapes of Northern Mongolia.
• We will continue to the 50° North – 100° East Geographic Marker. A unique photo stop at the exact crossing point that symbolises site representing Mongolia’s position on the globe
• On the way back to Erdenet, there will be photo stops and stops for warm tea.
• In the evening, you will arrive to Erdenet. Here you will have dinner and stay overnight.

Friday 6th March – Erdenet – Ulaanbaatar

Morning

• After breakfast, we’ll make a special stop at Amarbayasgalant Monastery, one of Mongolia’s most serene and architecturally significant Buddhist sites. Nestled in a quiet valley, this majestic monastery was built in the 18th century to honour Zanabazar, Mongolia’s first spiritual leader and a revered scholar, artist, and philosopher. Once home to over 600 monks, Amarbayasgalant was one of the few monasteries to survive the Stalinist purges relatively intact, making it a rare and precious cultural treasure.
• We will continue our drive south towards Darkhan

Afternoon

• We will arrive in Darkhan, a well known transportation hub. On arrival here we will have dinner before boarding the train.
• We will board the train for a 11:20pm departure
• Overnight on the sleeper train

Saturday 7th March – Ulaanbaatar

• Arrive back into Ulaanbaatar at 9:00am. Though please note that weather conditions and rail delays can sometimes affect timing.
• Tour concludes – but your adventure doesn’t have to end here. If you’re keen to see more of Mongolia, we can help arrange customized extensions such as riding horses across the Gobi Desert, camel trekking with local herders, or spend more time lodging with nomadic families.