From December through April, Lake Khövsgöl freezes into a vast natural rink, and the landscape around Khatgal transforms completely. Ice fishing is the most popular activity — locals cut holes through the thick ice and pull out Arctic grayling and Siberian whitefish. Visitors can join them with simple borrowed equipment.
Dog sledding has grown into a small but real attraction in recent winters, and some guesthouses in Khatgal can arrange half-day or full-day sled trips along the frozen lakeshore. Temperatures regularly drop below -30°C, so proper gear is essential — but the combination of snow-covered forest, frozen lake, and near-total silence is extraordinary.