Best Time to Visit Lake Khovsgol

When is the Best Time to Visit Lake Khovsgol?

The best time to visit Lake Khovsgol involves two periods, June to August for summer scenery as well as December to early March in winter for bule ice. 

June - August

June to August is the most recommended period for traveling to Lake Khovsgol since it offers moderate temperatures and humidity as well as vibrant views and colorful activities. 

During this time, with highest temperatures seldomly going above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) and low degrees generally in a range of 9 - 16°C (48 - 61°F), Lake Khovsgol weather is neither scorching hot around noon nor freezing cold at night, creating a favorable weather condition for outdoor visits. Due to local rainy season and high evaporation capacity, visitors don’t feel humid or dry.

In terms of natural scenery, the grasslands and forests have turned lush and welcomed their prime; the lake is in crystal blue and glittering under bright sunshine. Besides, visitors can enjoy colorful activities, such as hiking in the surrounding forest, rowing a boat or taking yachts on the lake. It is also easier to find reindeer tribes during June - August when they move out of the deep mountains. More importantly, mini-Naadam Festival is held around mid-July when various characteristic games and performances are presented, such as archery, wrestling and horse riding. 

December - Early March

December to early March is also listed as one of the best times mainly because of its well-known blue ice and interesting winter activities. It could be ensured that Lake Khovsgol has frozen thick enough during this period for visitors to walk, play and drive on. You can see the frozen lake clear like a mirror, the irregular cracks and numerous bubbles underneath like pearls in ocean. In early March, Ice Festival is usually held on the southern bank of the lake where you can appreciate ice sculptures of various shapes and participate in exciting games including archery, skiing and horse riding. However, considering the extremely low temperatures, you need to fully arm yourself with thick clothes from top to bottom.

Peak Season & Slack Season

Peak Season: Jun. - Aug.

June to August is the peak travel season of Lake Khovsgol since lots of visitors come here to escape summer heat while enjoying its vibrant summer scenery and participating in multiple activities. 

Of the three months, July is the busiest time, especially around middle July when Naadam Fair is celebrated and local residents enjoy their long holiday. After or before attending the grand festival, many visitors would choose to visit Lake Khovsgol to gain mental peace. Mini-Naadam is also held around the lake. Even in busiest time, visitors don’t need to worry about long queues nor jostle each other in the crowds. But reservation in advance is quite necessary.

Shoulder Season: Sep. - Mid Oct. & Dec. - Early Mar.

The shoulder season falls on two periods, September to middle October and December to early March because of their distinctive natural views and the high cost-effective trips.

Though vibrant Lake Khovsgol in summer is the primary concern, a number of visitors are appealed by the colorful autumn views which vary from different periods. The landscape is presented as half yellow and half green at the beginning of September, then turns completely yellow and golden which lasts till middle October. Besides, the climate hasn’t become unbearably cold and most outdoor sightseeing is still allowed.

As December to early March lies in the harsh winter, the severe coldness scares away a plenty of visitors. In the coldest days, even the max daytime temperatures are as low as -23℃ (-9℉) so that conducting activities outdoors are quite challenging. In addition, there leave only several hotels and restaurants opened during this time, so visitors may fail to have satisfying experiences of living and dining. But the frozen lake and crystal blue ice have their unique charms which attract a small number of visitors.

As every coin has two sides, shoulder season also have its advantages. The biggest one is that you can save much budget since air flights and hotels are in lower prices. Additionally, a quiet but fulfill trip is provided as well.

Slack Season: Late Oct. - Nov. & Mid Mar. - May

During late October to November and middle March to May, Lake Khovsgol receives the least tourists throughout the year mainly due to the awkward natural scenery and unstable climate.

Late October to November is the transitional period to deep winter characterized by large temperature drops. More importantly, the natural scenery is not worthwhile in spite of the much lower cost. After late October, the autumn view disappears, then a barren and brown landscape is unveiled. Very occasionally, you could see short-lived and small-scaled snowfall only covering mountain peaks. The lake has not frozen thick yet and activities on it are not allowed.

It sees the similar awkward situations from middle March to May when the temperatures rise significantly and accumulated snow starts to melt. Therefore, vast snow views become unavailable and the ice cover of frozen lake gets too thin and dangerous to walk on. At the same time, the grasslands and forests haven’t turned completely green; even during late May, it is lightly and palely green in scattered parts. What’s more, with increasingly stark temperature differences, the climate in this period is quite changeable and strong winds often occur.