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The blue pearl & taiga · Mongolia

Khövsgöl Lake

Mongolia's deep northern lake — the 'blue pearl', ringed by taiga forest, mountains and the reindeer-herding Tsaatan people.

Getting there

By light flight to Mörön, then road to the lake in northern Mongolia

Best for

Lake scenery, taiga forest, reindeer herders, waterbirds, elk, northern wilderness

The land

A vast, deep alpine lake ringed by taiga forest and mountains

Good to know

Khövsgöl holds nearly two percent of the world's fresh water

What it is

Khövsgöl is Mongolia's deep northern lake — the 'blue pearl', ringed by taiga forest, mountains and the reindeer-herding Tsaatan people.

In Mongolia's far north, Khövsgöl Lake — the 'blue pearl' — is a vast, deep alpine lake holding a huge share of the world's fresh water, ringed by taiga forest and mountains. Its shores and forests hold elk, ibex and waterbirds, and the nearby Tsaatan reindeer herders keep a way of life found almost nowhere else — a serene northern counterpoint to the Gobi.

PhotoKhövsgöl Lake — the blue pearl & taiga.

The reason to come

The blue pearl

Khövsgöl offers a pristine lake, taiga forest and reindeer herders.

The lake

A vast, deep, crystal-clear alpine lake.

Taiga forest

Northern forest with elk, ibex and waterbirds.

Reindeer herders

The Tsaatan, one of the last reindeer-herding cultures.

Worth knowing

The blue pearl

Khövsgöl, holding a vast share of the world's fresh water, is one of Asia's most pristine lakes, ringed by taiga and reindeer herders.

PhotoKhövsgöl Lake ringed by taiga forest.

When to come — honestly

A northern lake and taiga.

June – September

Best

The mild season — the best lake and forest access.

Year-round

Good

A year-round lake; winters freeze it solid.

July – August

Best

Warmest weather and active wildlife.

Remote and far north; the season is short and the lake freezes deep in winter.

Context

The northern lake

Khövsgöl adds a pristine northern lake, taiga and reindeer herders to a Mongolia trip.

It contrasts wholly with the Gobi and the steppe.

We add Khövsgöl for the northern lake, taiga forest and the Tsaatan reindeer herders.

Beyond the obvious

More to Khövsgöl Lake.

PhotoThe lake

The lake

Crystal alpine water.

PhotoTaiga forest

Taiga forest

Elk and waterbirds.

PhotoReindeer herders

Reindeer herders

The Tsaatan.

Why Wild Voyager

We reach Mongolia's remotest wildlife.

From the Gobi to the Altai snow leopards, Mongolia's wildlife is far-flung, seasonal and logistically hard. We handle the ger camps, light flights, permits and the specialist local trackers who find the wildlife.