Mongolia is a landlocked country with extreme continental weather and clearly distinctive 4 seasons; dry and windy spring, hot summer, colorful autumn, cold and snowy winter. It is fascinating that the visitors to Mongolia could shoot different scenes and do different activities when traveling exactly the same area within Mongolia on different seasons. All seasons and months have their characters differentiating in scenery, activities, things to do, as well as suiting the travelers’ preferred type of temperature and conditions.
Below, you will find information on Mongolia weather by month, season and region except for attractions, holidays, and events that take place at specific times.
January is the coldest month of the year, with the average temperature at -30°C daytime in the mountainous areas and -18°C in the Gobi desert. The night temperature drops dramatically, averaging -38°C in the mountains and -29°C in the Gobi desert. The lowest recorded temperature was -55°C in the Uvs Lake basin in northwest Mongolia. Tosontsengel town in Zavkhan province is the coldest in general – the median temperature is -40°C in mid-winter months of December and January. Because of the dry air, you might feel less biting in winter.
The weather in February is a bit milder, particularly after mid-February – snow starts to melt. However, the temperature is as low as -18°C during the daylight and -25°C at night. Mongolian largest national family holiday Tsaagan Sar or Lunar New Year celebration takes place mainly in February depending on the lunar calendar.
The spring starts in March. Now, the ground is already snowless. The temperature rises above 0°C. Mongolians celebrate annual winter festivals at the beginning of March; Thousand Camel Festival in the Gobi desert on 6 and 7 March, Eagle Festival near Ulaanbaatar, and Ice Festival at Khovsgul Lake in northern Mongolia. Spring sand and dust storm start in March. Some of our clients rated the Gobi desert sand storm one of the unique weather scenes they have ever seen.
In general, winter is the best time for the cultural travelers and fear of crowd travelers as there are not as many tourists as in warm months of summer.
When the milder weather starts, nomads start to receiving baby animals, which cultural travelers may like to observe or even volunteer. March is the month to visit the Kazakhs on Nauryz, a holiday that celebrates the first day of New Year on 22 March except for meeting the eagle hunters.
Plants start to grow in April. Somehow, the weather in April is similar to March with dust and sand storms, occasional snows or rain, and sharp diurnal temperature fluctuation about +8°C to +17°C during the daylight and below 0°C to +5°C at night.
The number of travelers to Mongolia increases at the same time when the seasonal accommodation ger camps of the rural areas start to open. May is an appropriate month to visit Mongolia as there is not much tourist crowd except for the month is not hot. The temperature fluctuation is still high; visitors may experience 4 different weather scenes such as sun, wind, rain, and snow on the same day. Average day temperature ranges between +3°C to +22°C while the night temperature fluctuates between -5°C and +12°C
The temperature will reach the mid to high 20s, letting travelers enjoy more comfort and greener landscapes. We advise the whole of June for your travel in Mongolia as the peak season has not started yet, plus appropriate weather conditions without much hotness and rain.
July is the warmest, as well as the wettest month, with an average temperature of +22°C to 32°C. The Gobi desert heats the upper 30°C to the lower 40°C. However, the temperature decreases sharply to mid 10°C when it rains. It is a peak tourist month due to the Mongolian national holiday and the national sports competition Naadam Festival, annually held in Ulaanbaatar and Hatgal town near Khuvsgul Lake on 11 and 12 July. Except for the main festival in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolian hundreds of towns, cities, and villages celebrate the Naadam on different dates through July. Due to the high demand for tourist facilities, we recommend you book your tour as early as possible.
Not only the Naadam Festival, but there are also several more festivals and events such as the Reindeer Festival, Yak Festival, sheep festival, etc.
In terms of weather, scene, and nomad life discovery, August is the best month. The temperature is a bit lower compared to July. The land is vegetated well, the nomads are busy with their winter preparation, and the animals are milky enough for the dairy product production.
The temperature of the first half of August fluctuates between +22°C and +30°C during the daylight and between +15°C and +20°C at night. The temperature cools down by 5-10°C in the last half of August.
Warm enough, colorful autumn month September is some of the best months to travel to Mongolia. The temperature in the first half of September fluctuates between +8°C and +22°C, and the night temperature could drop as low as 0°C. You may feel a bit cool in the last half of September, particularly in the mountainous areas. Another advantage is there are fewer tourists.
The ger camps in the Gobi desert and central Mongolia work in full operation while the ger camps in north Mongolia start to close after 15 September.
There are several well-organized, less crowded Eagle Festivals take place in Bayan-Ulgii province of western Mongolia, allow the photographers and viewers to watch the eagle competitions and demonstrations in a calmer situation and wider approach compared to the October Eagle Festival.
October is the last month of autumn; the weather cools down somehow, and the night temperatures are cold enough to freeze pipe water in the mountainous areas. That is why the ger camps close except for few ger camps operate in the Gobi desert at the beginning of October. Therefore, there are fewer tourists, an opportunity to experience the country while traveling, staying, and communicating with the locals and nomads.
The warmest temperature in October is +19°C, and the lowest is approximately -10°C. Western and northern Mongolia n mountains accept snowfalls, which may last the entire winter.
They arrange the famous Golden Eagle Festival on the first weekend of October in Bayan-Ulgii province.
The winter starts here, although some travelers head to every corner of Mongolia for the following activities those are available the next months of the entire winter.
Eagle hunting is the most famous attraction and activity of the winter requires some endurance and horse riding availability. If not the eagle hunting, visit the eagle hunters, communicate, hear about their practice, see several demonstrations, and interact with the eagles.
Dog sledding is another experience of Mongolian winter, which is available in Terelj National Park.
Adventures also travel the far north heading the Reindeer tribe in the Taiga forest except for the general winter discovery tours, nomadic discovery tours, winter horse and camel riding adventures.
The average temperature ranges between -10°C and -25°C in the daytime and lowers at night.
An annual Horse Festival takes place in Khentii province at the beginning of November.
December is the second coldest month after January. An average temperature fluctuates between -18°C to -35°C. It is good to travel to Mongolia during Christmas as Mongolians do not celebrate Christmas – there are many staff and services available. On the contrary, Mongolians celebrate the New Year on 31 December with a big firework on the central square at 12 AM, holiday tables, and Christmas trees in families.
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