Orkhon Waterfall Ice Festival 2026: Ice Climbing in Uvurkhangai on 5–6 December
The Orkhon Waterfall ice festival is scheduled for 5–6 December 2026 in Uvurkhangai aimag. That date comes from the 2026 national events calendar of Mongolia's Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth, which lists a "Khurkhree (Waterfall) Ice Festival" in Uvurkhangai on those two days. Last year the festival, known as the Karakorum Ice Festival, brought ice climbers to the frozen Orkhon Waterfall on 6–7 December 2025.
Key facts
What: Ice-climbing festival on the frozen Orkhon (Ulaan Tsutgalan) Waterfall, known as the Karakorum Ice Festival
When: 5–6 December 2026 (Saturday–Sunday), per the Ministry's 2026 national events calendar
Where: Uvurkhangai aimag; the 2025 edition was at the Orkhon Waterfall, Bat-Ulzii soum
Programme: 2025: speed ice climbing (pro and amateur), ice archery, shagai shooting, speed skating; 2026 programme not yet published
Last held: 6–7 December 2025, the 13th annual championship (Montsame)
Visa-free: Singapore, Malaysia, Japan 30 days; Hong Kong SAR 14 days
Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth; Montsame; Consular Department; as of 3 Nov 2026
When is the Orkhon Waterfall ice festival in 2026?
The festival is planned for Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth presented its unified calendar of 2026 events to the Cabinet on 24 December 2025. It brings together 140 culture, tourism, sports and conference events proposed by Ulaanbaatar, the 21 aimags, state bodies and professional associations.
The calendar page for October to December lists the "Khurkhree ice festival" ("khurkhree" means waterfall) in Uvurkhangai on 5–6 December, marked as a sports event. The calendar does not name the soum or the exact venue. As of 3 November 2026, we have found no separate programme from the organisers, so treat the dates as planned and check again closer to the time.
Our overview of Mongolia's winter festivals could only give "early December" for this event. The Ministry's calendar now gives two exact days.
What happens at the ice festival?
The core of the festival is an ice-climbing championship on the frozen waterfall. Montsame reported on 2 December 2025 that the 2025 edition, held on 6–7 December at the Orkhon Waterfall in Bat-Ulzii soum, was the 13th annual championship and the first event of the 2025–2026 Asian ice-climbing season. It had speed climbing with separate professional and amateur categories.
The same report lists ice archery, ice knucklebone (shagai) shooting and speed skating as side events. Visitors could also see ice sculptures, stay in a ger, visit herder families and ride horses or yaks. According to Montsame, the festival draws about 200 to 500 spectators each year, mostly local residents, plus travellers from Russia, China, South Korea and France. The 2026 programme has not been published yet.
Where is the Orkhon Waterfall, and how long has the festival run?
The Orkhon Waterfall, also called Ulaan Tsutgalan, is in Bat-Ulzii soum of Uvurkhangai aimag, in central Mongolia. Montsame says the festival was first held there in 2012 to promote winter tourism in Uvurkhangai.
The aimag government has taken part before. An earlier Montsame report (3 December 2019) named the then Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Uvurkhangai Governor's Office and the Mongolian National Climbing Federation among the organisers that year, alongside a private company.
The 2025 programme combined the trip with stops on the way: the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes, the Erdene Zuu monastery museum in Kharkhorin, Tuvkhun Monastery and Uurtiin Tokhoi. Our Orkhon Valley heritage guide covers these sites in more detail.
What else is on Mongolia's December calendar?
The same Ministry calendar lists a red camel festival named after the Lama Gegeen (Lamyn Gegeen) in Bayankhongor aimag on 15–16 December 2026. It is a separate event in a different aimag, so most visitors will choose one or the other.
What this means for your trip
Dates: plan to be in Uvurkhangai on 5–6 December 2026, and build in a spare day either side in case the organisers move the programme.
Getting there: it is an overland trip from Ulaanbaatar on winter roads. Combine it with Kharkhorin and Erdene Zuu rather than doing it as a quick return.
Warm gear: you will be standing on ice outdoors for hours, so bring proper winter boots, layers, a hat and gloves.
Short on time? Our Mongolia Winter Tour (1 day) or Dog Sledding Tour in Terelj can be added before or after the festival. See all options on our short tours page.
For the wider season, read our guide to winter tourism in Mongolia 2026–27.
Planning from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Japan?
Most Asian passports need no visa for a short festival trip. The Consular Department lists visa-free stays of up to 30 days for Singapore, Malaysia and Japan and 14 days for Hong Kong SAR (checked 3 November 2026). Note the timing: MIAT's seasonal nonstop Singapore–Ulaanbaatar flights run twice weekly from 15 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, according to AeroRoutes. That is after the festival, so a 5–6 December trip from Singapore needs a connecting flight. Our winter trip guide from Singapore and Hong Kong has more.
How Enza Tours can help
We are an Ulaanbaatar-based tour operator. We can arrange a private winter trip to Uvurkhangai around the festival dates, with a driver who knows winter roads, warm accommodation and a guide. We will confirm the programme with the organisers before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Orkhon Waterfall ice festival 2026?
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth's 2026 events calendar lists the waterfall ice festival in Uvurkhangai aimag on 5–6 December 2026. The organisers had not published a programme as of 3 November 2026.
Is the Karakorum Ice Festival the same event?
Montsame used the name Karakorum Ice Festival for the ice-climbing championship at the Orkhon Waterfall, held on 6–7 December 2025. The Ministry's 2026 calendar lists it as the Khurkhree (Waterfall) Ice Festival in Uvurkhangai.
Can I just watch, or do I have to climb?
Spectators are welcome. Montsame reported 200 to 500 spectators a year at the Orkhon Waterfall festival, and the 2025 edition had separate amateur and professional climbing categories.
Do I need a visa for Mongolia from Singapore or Malaysia for the December festival?
No, for short trips. Mongolia's Consular Department lists visa-free stays of up to 30 days for Singapore and Malaysia passports, and 14 days for Hong Kong SAR, as of 3 November 2026.
Tours that fit this story
Hand-picked from our current programmes. See all of them on our Mongolia short tours page.
Mongolia Winter Tour (1 day): Dog sledging in Terelj and the Chinggis Khaan statue.
Dog Sledding Tour: Terelj National Park and Tsonjin Boldog.
Cultural Tours Mongolia (3 days): Ulaanbaatar, the Tsonjin Boldog statue and Terelj.
Sources
Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth: 2026 events calendar, Q4 page (October–December)
Montsame: Karakorum Ice Festival 2025 draws international ice climbers to Mongolia (2 Dec 2025)
Mongolia MFA Consular Department: visa-exempt countries and stays (checked 3 Nov 2026)
AeroRoutes: MIAT NW26 Ulaanbaatar–Singapore service (29 Sep 2026)
About this article
Written by the Enza Tours News Desk in Ulaanbaatar and checked by our team before publishing. Every date, number and rule in this post comes from the sources listed above, which we read on 3 November 2026. Last updated: 3 November 2026.
About Enza Tours LLC. We are a Mongolian inbound tour operator, founded in 2018 by Enkhzaya (Enza), and a member of the Mongolia Tourism Organization (MTO) and the Mongolian Tourism Association (MTA). Office: Room 39, Building 33, 4th Khoroo, Baga Toiruu Street, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia. Phone +976 8911 2100 · info@mongoliantour.guide · Meet our team · Contact us
