We meet at the group hotel in Ulaanbaatar. A single timed airport transfer is provided. KE Land Only package services begin with this transfer. After lunch we take a stroll in the city centre, which is close to our hotel. The Naraantuul market is a must-see. This is the largest market in the city and an authentic taste of traditional Mongolian life. Everything is sold here, from small spoons to antique cups. We'll meet together for dinner in the early evening before retiring for the night. We'll want to get some rest after our long journey and before our early start in the morning.

After an early breakfast we begin our long drive north to Lake Khuvsgul, we have around 470km to cover today. Bulgan is a beautiful village with around 12000 inhabitants. The village was built on the site of the Daichin Wangiin monastery, which was destroyed during the Soviet purges. We overnight in a small hotel.

Our second day of driving will take us through Moron to Khatgal on the edge of Lake Khuvsgul. This is a stunning drive and we will cross a variety of terrain, including a volcanic park. Today's scenery will give us some perspective on the vastness of Mongolia's countryside. We will pass through several small villages, such as Ikh Uu, which is built on a rocky outcrop. We'll also stop at the city of Moron, which sits at the bottom of the valley, before completing the last 200km section to reach Khatgal. Khatgal, a small town at the edge of Lake Khuvsgul, was once a prosperous Russian colony thanks to trade between Mongolia and Russia. This is where we will have our first view of the lake. 135km long and 35km wide, with an average depth of 100m; Lake Khuvgul is one of the biggest fresh water sources in the world. We arrive at our accommodation in the late afternoon, with time to get settled in at our yurt and prepare for the beginning of our expedition. Our guide will take this opportunity to check over our cold weather kit to ensure we have everything we require ahead of our departure.

This morning we will finish packing, prepare our sleds and meet our dog teams for the first time. We receive instruction from our guide on how to look after our team of dogs, and how to operate the sled. The first day will be short, as we travel up the long estuary to reach the larger part of the lake, allowing us time to adjust to the behaviour of the dogsled, and learn how to manoeuver it effectively and safely. We will make a small stop at a famous mineral water spring, before crossing to reach the small family-run yurt camp at Haluun Zaing on the western shore, where the family will be waiting to welcome us. In winter we will likely be their only visitors so we are sure to receive a warm welcome.

Today we will find ourselves at the widest part of the lake as we head to the village of Jigleeg. Even close to the lake's edge, we can appreciate its vastness. It is not uncommon to come across a horse sleigh in this area and it is unexpected encounters like this that make our time on the lake more interesting. We will make a stop where the lake joins with another smaller lake, Khar Uss. This smaller lake is formed by water from a mineral spring and does not freeze even on the coldest days of winter. Khar Uss is home to many species of birds; it is a place of rare and wild beauty. Strong winds rushing through the corridors of the Hjorido Saridags mountain range can make it difficult to reach Jigleeg, however, our guide knows the area well and will find an alternative route if necessary.

We head north, up lake, to the Dolon Uul peninsula and camp at Zemianii Bulan. Today could be a long day as we navigate our way around the ice labyrinth created by the cracks and ridges. Khuvsgul's ice is incredibly pure, with thousands of air bubbles locked inside it. As we travel along we will be able to hear the dim rumbling of the ice shifting and cracking. We follow the coast until Khashim, from where we cross the Gulf of Doloon uul to reach Zeminanii Bulan at the eastern tip of the peninsula. We'll arrive at Zemianii Bulan in the late afternoon. The northern part of the lake is almost completely snow-covered, and the landscape is very different here with the peaks of Khorido Saridag as a back drop. We'll spend the night camped next to a pebbly beach, from where we can take in the view.

We cross the lake to the east to reach Khankh, formerly called Turt. It is only 30km from Dolon Uul to Kankh, however we have to make a much wider loop to avoid the pressure ridges, which form in the same area every year. Khankh village, our objective for the day, will soon come into view far off in the distance sitting at the foot of the cliff. We will take today's picnic lunch in the middle of the lake, before completing the final stretch to camp. Khankh, a small border port, is a magical place with a real ambience, almost as if it is lost in time. The village is overlooked by Monkh Saridag (3500m), which is considered sacred by the villagers, and marks the border with Russia. Tonight's heated yurt accommodation will be a welcome luxury after two nights in our tent. We will be staying here for two nights, so we can settle in and enjoy the facilities, which include a 'banya' (Russian sauna).

Ice fishing is one of the specialities of the Khuvsgul region. Our camp is at the northeast end of the lake, where the Ikh Khoroos river flows into the lake. With the river water comes a large food reservoir for fish. We will drill holes in the surface of the lake and spend some time practising the art of ice fishing and discovering the quiet charm of this pastime. We should hopefully catch enough fish for us to feast on grilled fish for the rest of the circuit. In the evening we will prepare for our departure.

Today we will pass the foot of the mountain where 13 Ovoos (sacred stone altars) stand, these are traces of the Mongolian Empire's boundary at the time of Genghis Khan; vestiges of a glorious past. The ovoos date from a time when the empire consisted of 13 provinces; any traveller passing the altars would know they were entering the 13 Aimags (provinces). The east coast of Khuvsgul is a rugged landscape, a succession of inlets and coves, sandy beaches and small cliffs. The condition of the ice will dictate the route we take to the small cove of Maint, where we will be sheltered from the wind. We camp here for the night with breath-taking view of the Khorido Saridag massif.

We head towards the centre of the lake and the 3km wide island, Dalayn Modon Huys ('Wooden Son of The Ocean'). This is one of the most protected areas of the lake and the view from the island is impressive. On a good day you can see all the 3000m high summits that separate Khuvsgul from the Darkhad Depression. It is not uncommon to see signs of wolves on the island, they come to hunt the Siberian roe deer that reside in the wooded interior. Tonight we will bivouac on the south side of the island, not far from a shamanistic site consisting of a tomb and wooden totems, conjuring up a mystical ambience. During the night we might feel vibrations from the cracking ice and hear strange noises resonating from deep within the lake. An unforgettable experience.

A long stage today as we continue around the eastern coast until we reach the cove where the Kheg Tsar River flows into the lake. It is not long before the small island named Radan Khuy ('Son of Stone'), appears as a focal point on the horizon. This small stone island looks barren in winter, but during spring and summer it is alive with seagulls and cormorants. We continue on to Khelengiin Uzuur, located on a wooded peninsula. We will make camp tonight in this wild and isolated place, where wild fauna is prevalent. We'll arrive in the late afternoon and there will be time for some hot tea before we start our daily tasks; lodging and feeding the dogs, preparing the equipment for the following day etc… at this stage of the expedition this will all feel like second nature.

This will be our last day on the ice. At this point we will have travelled around 250km around the frozen surface of Lake Khuvsgul. Driving the sled will now feel much more natural, allowing us the freedom to fully appreciate the beauty of the incredible landscape, as we journey the last stretch back to Khatgal. We follow the winding edge of the coast, stopping for a picnic at Radan Suum, which marks the end of the lake and beginning of the estuary. In the estuary we will pass boats, stranded in the ice, relics of a time of flourishing trade. Now only one of these boats will leave the estuary each summer. We arrive into Khatgal in the afternoon and settle back into our yurts.

After stopping to bid farewell to our dogs, we begin our drive back to Ulaanbaatar. We will break our journey at Amarnaysgalant ('Monastery of Quiet Felicity), located by that Selenge River at the foot of Mount Büren Khaan. This is one of the three largest Buddhist monastic centres in Mongolia. The monastery was built in 1730, during the reign of Manchurian Emperor Kang Xi (called Enkh-Amgalan Khan by the Mongols), to serve as the final resting place of Zanabazar, who was the spiritual leader of Buddhism in Mongolia. We will visit the monastery in the afternoon to learn more about its interesting history. Tonight we will stay in a yurt camp nearby for the night.

First thing in the morning, we will return to the monastery where we may be able to join the monks at morning prayer. Afterwards, we complete our drive back to the capital, arriving in the late afternoon. We check into our hotel and have some time to freshen up and repack before we head out into town with our guide and crew to celebrate the end of our adventure.

A single time transfer to the airport is provided.