About
Khatgal is a small lakeside town on the northern shore of Lake Khövsgöl in Mongolia. The lake, often called the Blue Pearl of Mongolia, is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, and Khatgal is the main gateway for visitors who come to explore it.
What a visit is like
Most people come to Khatgal to be on or near the water. The town is a base for boat trips across the lake, and its clear waters and surrounding mountains make the setting the main attraction. Because the town is small, it is easy to get around on foot and to settle into a slower pace than in Mongolia's larger cities.
Around the town
- Guesthouses, where visitors can stay close to the shore
- Local markets, a good place to see daily life in the town
- Boat trips out onto the lake and along its shores
- Surrounding mountains, which give walkers and photographers views back over the water
Khatgal suits travellers who want to combine time on the lake with simple, local accommodation. Its appeal lies in the landscape and in the easy access it gives to a large, clear body of water, rather than in a long list of sights within the town itself.
