Khoton & Khurgan Lakes

Khoton and Khurgan Lakes lie side by side in a steep valley in Tsengel district, in the far west of Bayan-Ölgii province, inside Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Snow-capped mountains rise to the south, rivers fed by Altai meltwater run down from the surrounding valleys, and in summer the shores fill with the gers and herds of Kazakh nomadic families.

Why visit Khoton & Khurgan Lakes

This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful corners of Western Mongolia. Many Kazakh families bring their animals here for the summer, and people from Ölgii with family ties to the area often spend their holidays by the lakes. For travellers it combines big mountain scenery with everyday nomadic life — and there are no fences or paved roads to get in the way of riding or walking.

The lakes at a glance

• Location: Tsengel district, Bayan-Ölgii province, within Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
• Khurgan Lake: about 71 km², at 2,072 m above sea level, up to 28 m deep
• Khoton Lake: about 50 km², at roughly 2,000 m above sea level
• Connection: the two lakes are joined by a short channel
• Khovd River: the lakes are part of the headwaters of the Khovd River, which flows about 516 km east to Khar-Us Lake

Rivers, landscape and wildlife

The lakes are fed by meltwater from the Altai Tavan Bogd range and by mountain rivers flowing in from the surrounding valleys, including the Ak-Su, Elikti, Jagashtai, Baga Turgen and Ikh Turgen. Around them you will find a mix of lakes, rivers, mountains and forest — a landscape that supports a surprising amount of wildlife.

From the saddle or on foot, keep a look out for ibex, Altai marmots and golden eagles. Wolves, brown bears, lynx and hares also live in the region, and the elusive snow leopard is present in the mountains, although sightings are very rare.

Things to do

• Ride horses along the shores and over open valleys, with no roads or fences
• Hike between the lakes and up to viewpoints over the Altai peaks
• Visit Kazakh families at their summer camps and share tea in a ger
• Camp beside the water and watch the light change on the mountains
• Fish for Altai osman and Mongolian grayling — a permit is sometimes required, and we can help arrange it

Best time to visit

June to September, when the valleys are green, the mountain passes are open and nomadic families are in their summer pastures. Nights can be cold even in summer, so bring warm layers.

Getting there and park permits

Trips to the lakes start in Ölgii, the provincial centre, which you can reach by domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar. From Ölgii the journey continues by 4×4 on unpaved roads into the national park. Altai Tavan Bogd is a protected area and visitors need a park permit — we arrange the permits for every traveller on our tours.

Tours that visit the lakes

Gallery

Explore nearby

• Altai Tavan Bogd National Park — glaciers, Khüiten Peak and the Tsagaan Salaa petroglyphs
• Bayan-Ölgii — Mongolia’s Kazakh province and home of the eagle hunters
• Western Mongolia — the wider Altai region