Best time to go to Mongolia for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 27/05/2024When is the best time to go to Mongolia?
Although there are some regional specificities, the best time to travel to Mongolia is from May to September, which corresponds to the high tourist season. For the rest of the year, one must be able to withstand the cold and have appropriate equipment to cope with the vagaries of the climate.
When is the best time to visit for sightseeing?
To explore several regions of Mongolia with ideal weather conditions, favor the months of June, July, August. This is when temperatures are highest, allowing you to appreciate all the country has to offer.
When is the best time to visit Mongolia to discover the Gobi Desert? In summer, the heat can be scorching in this region, so it is best to visit in September when temperatures are milder. The end of summer and the very beginning of autumn are also perfect to avoid the peak tourist season of July and August, when Europeans take advantage of school holidays to explore other horizons.
What to pack for a trip to Mongolia according to the seasons?
Here are a few essentials not to forget:
- A complete first aid kit, including treatment for traveler's diarrhea and broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- Items to protect yourself from the sun and dust: sunglasses with UV index 3 minimum, sunscreen SPF 50+, cap or hat, and scarf.
- Good walking shoes that your feet are already accustomed to in order to prevent blisters.
- A headlamp to deal with frequent power outages.
- In summer, pack light clothing, but also bring a jacket or fleece for cool evenings.
- In winter, very warm and waterproof clothing is essential, along with a hat, scarf, and insulated gloves.
- If you are going on a horseback expedition in summer, add gloves, a pair of riding boots, and suitable pants to your luggage to avoid chafing.
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Central of Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Tsetserleg, Arvayheer...
East of Mongolia
Choybalsan, Ovoot, Undurkhaan...
Gobi
Dalanzadgad, Altay (Govi-Altai), Saynshand...
North of Mongolia
Hatgal, Erdenet, Darkhan...
West of Mongolia
Ulaangom, Uliastay, Khovd...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Mongolia for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Mongolia in january Mongolia in february Mongolia in march Mongolia in april Mongolia in may Mongolia in june Mongolia in july Mongolia in august Mongolia in september Mongolia in october Mongolia in november Mongolia in december
Best time to travel to Mongolia by cities
Climate and Weather in Mongolia
Located between China and Russia, right in the heart of Central Asia, the country is renowned for its extreme weather conditions. Mongolia's climate consists of several types:
- A semi-arid steppe climate, dry and cold, is predominant. This is the climate found in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, as well as in a large part of the central and eastern regions.
- A subarctic climate, with dry winters and cool summers, is mainly present in the north, around Hatgal, in the Uliastai region to the west, and towards Undurkhaan in the east.
- A cold and dry desert climate prevails in the Gobi Desert, as well as around Khovd in the west of the country.
- A humid continental climate, with temperate summers and very dry winters, is found in the Darkhan region, north of Mongolia.
- A polar tundra climate, particularly harsh, freezes the Chihertey region in the west of the country.
In general, the seasons are very distinct and the weather in Mongolia can display temperatures that can drop to -40°C in winter and reach +40°C in summer. Summers are therefore particularly hot and winters extremely cold. Ulaanbaatar even holds the record for the coldest capital in the world! Be cautious in spring as well, as sandstorms are quite common, especially in the Choybalsan region. Pay particular attention to the black blizzard, a wind that blows in the Gobi Desert and creates near darkness.
Due to its high altitude (around 1600 m on average), its distance from any sea, and its location in the center of an anticyclone system, Mongolia experiences particularly dry weather and 270 days of sunshine per year. It is also nicknamed the “Land of the Blue Sky”!
As a result, rainfall is very low and precipitation is concentrated in the summer months (June, July, and August) in the form of brief showers or thunderstorms. However, some regions, like the Gobi Desert, receive almost no raindrops for years.
Climate in Mongolia in Summer
Overall, the averages are pleasant between June and August. Temperatures range between 20 and 22°C in the west, north, and central Mongolia. Temperatures are higher in the east with highs between 25 and 28°C, July being the hottest month of the year. In the Gobi Desert in the south, the atmosphere can be scorching, shade is hard to find, and the mercury can easily climb around 40°C.
In the mountains, these summer temperatures are tempered by altitude and nights remain particularly cool. Moreover, the weather can change very quickly.
It is during this season that it rains the most, but this is very relative as it consists of very short showers and the sun quickly returns.
Climate in Mongolia in Autumn
Autumn starts very early as temperatures drop in September in the north, central, and west. Expect highs around 14°C, but in the mountains, snow can already be present. In the south and east, the weather conditions are still favorable for a stay, with an average of 17°C.
In October, the thermometer drops sharply and fluctuates between 4 and 7°C during the day depending on the area. In November, temperatures become negative everywhere, ranging from -4 to -7°C. This decrease continues in December where highs do not exceed -12°C. In the east and north, the weather is even colder, with highs around -15°C.
Climate in Mongolia in Winter
As expected, winters are very cold and very long in Mongolia. The temperature drop that began in autumn intensifies in January with highs between -14 and -17°C, with the eastern part being the coldest in the country. Depending on the location, peaks of -30°C or -40°C are common.
In February, the thermometer increases significantly with temperatures between -10 and -13°C. In March, this rise is confirmed with averages between 0 and -3°C.
Except in the northern regions, it is a dry cold and the sky is invariably blue. Therefore, despite very low temperatures, snow is quite scarce.
Climate in Mongolia in Spring
Spring is not a pleasant season to visit Mongolia. Indeed, sandstorms are frequent, especially in the border regions of the Gobi Desert, and winter seems to linger until the end of May.
In April, temperatures rise above 0 and range between 7 and 10°C. In May, the average temperature is only 14°C in the center, north, and west, while it can reach around 18°C in the east and in the Gobi Desert. In the first half of June, summer seems to arrive suddenly and temperatures range between 19 and 24°C, with the east being the hottest region of the country at that time.
Temperatures and rainfall in Mongolia
On these 2 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Mongolia and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Ulaanbaatar, Altay (Govi-Altai), Arvayheer, Choybalsan and Dalanzadgad.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Mongolia
Find out when Mongolia has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Mongolia
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December. The number of visitors to Mongolia is high in: June, July and August.
- Very low season in Mongolia: January, February, March, April, November and December.
- Low season in Mongolia: May, September and October.
- High season in Mongolia: June.
- Peak season in Mongolia: July and August.
Figure: Visitor index for Mongolia month by month
Average price for flights to Mongolia
A return flight between London and Ulaanbaatar is generally cheaper if you go in march ($ 921 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 452 more for your airline ticket to Ulaanbaatar if you go in august.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to Mongolia
Where to go in Mongolia?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Ulaanbaatar | -16°C | -13°C | -4°C | 7°C | 14°C | 20°C | 23°C | 20°C | 14°C | 4°C | -7°C | -15°C |
| Altay (Govi-Altai) | -14°C | -10°C | -2°C | 8°C | 14°C | 20°C | 22°C | 20°C | 14°C | 5°C | -5°C | -12°C |
| Arvayheer | -13°C | -9°C | -1°C | 8°C | 15°C | 20°C | 23°C | 21°C | 15°C | 6°C | -4°C | -12°C |
| Choybalsan | -16°C | -12°C | -2°C | 10°C | 19°C | 25°C | 28°C | 25°C | 18°C | 8°C | -5°C | -14°C |
| Dalanzadgad | -10°C | -5°C | 4°C | 13°C | 20°C | 25°C | 28°C | 26°C | 20°C | 11°C | -0°C | -8°C |
| Darkhan | -16°C | -13°C | -2°C | 10°C | 17°C | 23°C | 25°C | 22°C | 16°C | 6°C | -6°C | -14°C |
| Erdenet | -15°C | -12°C | -2°C | 9°C | 16°C | 21°C | 23°C | 20°C | 15°C | 6°C | -6°C | -14°C |
| Hatgal | -15°C | -11°C | -3°C | 5°C | 11°C | 18°C | 20°C | 18°C | 12°C | 3°C | -7°C | -14°C |
| Khovd | -11°C | -7°C | 2°C | 11°C | 16°C | 22°C | 24°C | 22°C | 16°C | 9°C | -1°C | -8°C |
| Ovoot | -16°C | -11°C | -0°C | 11°C | 19°C | 24°C | 28°C | 25°C | 19°C | 9°C | -4°C | -14°C |
| Saynshand | -12°C | -7°C | 4°C | 14°C | 22°C | 28°C | 31°C | 28°C | 22°C | 11°C | -0°C | -10°C |
| Tsetserleg | -14°C | -10°C | -2°C | 7°C | 14°C | 19°C | 22°C | 20°C | 14°C | 5°C | -5°C | -12°C |
| Ulaangom | -15°C | -12°C | -4°C | 8°C | 16°C | 23°C | 24°C | 22°C | 16°C | 7°C | -4°C | -12°C |
| Uliastay | -15°C | -11°C | -4°C | 6°C | 13°C | 20°C | 22°C | 20°C | 13°C | 4°C | -6°C | -13°C |
| Undurkhaan | -16°C | -12°C | -1°C | 10°C | 18°C | 24°C | 27°C | 24°C | 17°C | 7°C | -5°C | -14°C |
| Bayanhongor | -18°C | -15°C | -7°C | 3°C | 9°C | 15°C | 18°C | 15°C | 9°C | -0°C | -10°C | -17°C |
| Chihertey | -15°C | -10°C | -2°C | 6°C | 11°C | 17°C | 19°C | 17°C | 11°C | 2°C | -7°C | -13°C |
| Baruun-Urt | -17°C | -13°C | -2°C | 10°C | 19°C | 24°C | 27°C | 25°C | 18°C | 8°C | -5°C | -14°C |
| Choyr | -15°C | -11°C | -0°C | 10°C | 18°C | 24°C | 27°C | 24°C | 17°C | 8°C | -4°C | -13°C |
| Ider | -16°C | -12°C | -3°C | 7°C | 13°C | 18°C | 20°C | 18°C | 12°C | 3°C | -8°C | -14°C |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Mongolia
What can I do in Mongolia?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Mongolia reliable?
Climate data for Mongolia has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Mongolia allows us to determine the average for each month in Ulaanbaatar, Altay (Govi-Altai), Arvayheer, Choybalsan, Dalanzadgad, Darkhan, Erdenet, Hatgal, and 15 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.