Winter in Mongolia is cold, but incredibly beautiful. Temperatures here typically ranging from -20°C to – 45°C degrees. Traditionally, it is a quiet season for tourists. In a country still largely undeveloped, and with a rudimentary infrastructure, many parts of Mongolia are difficult to negotiate in the winter. The extreme cold dissuades visitors further. But this is exactly how we like it. Mongolia’s winters are home to incredible landscapes for those who are prepared.
We offer a unique opportunity with Mongolia’s dramatic winter landscapes to attend a festival held on the frozen surface of Lake Hovsgol, and join a celebration in honor of the Gobi’s Bactrian camel.
ICE FESTIVAL
Date: March 2nd -3rd
Venue-: at Khuvsgul lake, Khuvsgul province
Have you ever dreamt of experiencing one of the coldest, but still mild winter on earth or wanted to explore a mystery of how nomads survive within temperature as low as -30 degree or tried to ride Mongolian horses and horse sleigh in the snow covered vast white steppe or skated on frozen fresh water lake? If so, your winter dream may come true in Mongolia during its Ice festival!
Ice festival, annually held at Khuvsgul lake-fresh water lake, khatgal village of Khuvsgul province, is a famous celebration or entertainment among locals and visitors organized by local community and government. This festival has been held one of the biggest events to promote the winter tourism in Mongolia. The “Ice festival” highlights tradition, customs of reindeer herders, Shaman rituals, competition of horse sleighs and skating, ice ankle bone shooting game and offers great opportunities to take part in optional trips of dog sledding, horse sleighing, horse riding, visiting reindeers and nomad families as well.
CAMEL FESTIVAL
Date: 6th and 7th of March
Venue: Bulgan village, South Gobi
Camel festival, annually held in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, is a celebration of the endangered Bactrian or 2 humped camels. It is already one of the most famous winter festivals in the world. This festival was first initiated in 1997 by the locals of Umnugobi (South Gobi) province to conserve the 2-humped Bactrian camel species, pass the rich Mongolian camel and to promote winter tourism in Mongolia. In other words, “Thousand Camel Festival”-winter celebration inspires the Mongolian traditional festive spirit through cultural winter experience for last 20 years due to increase the population of two humped - Bactrian camel and inherit camel breeding to the next generation.
TSAGAAN SAR (Lunar New Year)
Date: 20th of Feb, 2023
Venue: Throughout Mongolia
The Mongolian Lunar New Year, commonly known as Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian: Цагаан сар / is the first day of the year according to the Mongolian lunar calendar. The festival of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by the Mongols
The customs of Tsagaan Sar is much different depending on the region. In Mongolia around the New Year for example, families burn candles at the altar symbolizing Buddhist enlightenment. Also people greet each other with holiday-specific greetings such as Амар байна уу? (Amar baina uu?), meaning "Are you living peacefully? Mongols also visit friends and family on this day and exchange gifts. A typical Mongol family will meet in the home dwelling of the eldest in the family. Many people will be dressed in full garment of national Mongol costumes. When greeting their elders during the White Moon festival, Mongols perform the zolgokh greeting, grasping them by their elbows to show support for them. The eldest receives greetings from each member of the family except for his/her spouse. During the greeting ceremony, family members hold long, typically blue, silk cloths called a khadag. After the ceremony, the extended family eats sheep's tail, mutton, rice with curds, dairy products, and buuz. It is also typical to drink airag and exchange gifts.
