Go To Mongolia Next February

Hello,

We want to go to Mongolia, but probably in the next February. What do you think if this winter time is ok to go to visit Mongolia?

Thanks

Freya

Please read this thread which asks almost the identical question (difference between December and February is that the latter will be even colder but the amount of daylight will be more): Mongolia in Winter

Ruth

Dear Freya

Mongolia temperatures are below freezing in February. Although not many tourists around, you will get to drive over beautiful frozen rivers and lakes, and be invited into warm nomadic Gers where ever you go. Following are a few attractive Mongolian festivals during February 2010.

Tsagaan Sar Festival
13-14 February 2010 - Tsagaan Sar (white moon/month in Mongolian) is the Mongolian lunar new year.
Tsagaan sar is a family festival, it marks the beginning of spring. Everyone dresses in their best clothes to visit family members. Huge amounts of traditional food is prepared including steamed dumplings, fermented milk,vodka, milk tea, and sweets. Nomadic families will invite you to join in. After feasting it will be time for singing and story telling.

One Thousand Camel Festival
17 February 2010 - A nomadic festival of the Mongolian two-humped Bacterian camel. Celebrated in the Gobi, including camel racing, camel shows, and camel trading.

Khovsgol Lake - Ice Festival
21-22 February 2010 - on the frozen Khovsgol lake in North Mongolia.
Celebrating the end of the frozen winter before the ice starts to break up.
The festival includes ice skating, 200km skating Marthon, ice sleds, driving across the lake, and nothing like warming up around the fire with nomads as they invite you in their “Ger”.

Enjoy a warm welcome in a frozen nature.

Dan

Hello from Mongolia,
You need really warm clothes and boots. (specially fur clothes much better)

If you visit Mongolia during February, then you can have a chance to experience the Mongolian Lunar New called Tsagaan sar!

You need to have a warm clothes in Mongolian winter!

you can have great experience and discover mongolia from different corner expect cold. i guess
travel buddies tour operator in Mongolia

Sorry it is so so late to say Thanks for all you suggestions. It sounds a bit exciting even in winter to visit Mongolia.

The final decision is made. I will go to Mongolia next January. It is still cold for me, but I am sure the trip there will be amazing and interesting and it will be the new experience for me.
I am looking forward to exploring Mongolia, probably just a small part of it. But I am happy.

The Lake Hövsgöl (Hövsgöl Nuur) is located in the northwest of Mongolia near the border to Russia, and 700 km from Ulaan Baatar. It is 1,645 m above sea level, 136 km long and 262 m deep. With 2,760 m2, it holds almost 70% of Mongolia's freshwater.

The lake is surrounded by several mountains ranges, coniferous Siberian Larch trees, Taiga and rich pastures. The highest mountain is Munku Sardyk (3,492 m), which has its peak north of the lake on the russian-mongolian border.

The lake area is a national park bigger than Yellowstone and strictly protected as a transition zone between Central Asian Steppe and Siberian Taiga. The name Hövsgöl is derived from the turkic words for "blue water lake", and is traditionaly considered sacred.

The surface of the lake freezes over completely in winter. The ice cover gets strong enough to carry heavy trucks . However, this shortcut to normal roads is now forbidden to prevent pollution the lake.

he minority ethnic Dukha (Tsaatan in mongolian).

The Tsaatans are a Turkish people of reindeer herders. Only 44 families remain, totalling somewhere between 200 and 400 people.

They live in huts instead of gers and ride, breed, milk, and live off reindeer.
They possess a social and material culture which has remained unchanged since the Ice Age. Shamanistic or totemic rituals and symbolism are central to their social organization.

15-18hours drive from Ulaanbaatar to Muren
100km drive from Muren to Khatgal about 2.30 hours
1.20 hours by plane to Muren

ICE FESTIVAL CEREMONY HAPPENS IN FEBRUARY from 28th to n1st of March offially with goverment..
Other dates has changed

It sounds cool. I will consider this and keep updating about all the events happened during that time.

But it is really cold! I have never experienced the coldness like that. So much minus! Haha! We will see how I work this out. Probably warm up from now.

Thanks for saridag's detailed information on the festival.