Best Time to Visit Mongolia
Also called “The Land of Blue Sky” for its commonly clear skies; Mongolia’s weather is not mild. The seasons are clear-cut. Mongolia has long winters of around six months followed by short spring, summer, and fall seasons. Winters are long and cold, temperatures can drop as low as minus 40°C/ minus 40 F, so the best time to visit is in summer between June and August when the weather is pleasant and warm. July and August prices are higher. If you want to go when Mongolia is quieter, consider visiting in May, September, or October.
Ulaan Baatar is known as the coldest capital on earth. Temperatures drop below freezing from September to May. There is less wind and snowfall at this time than in the spring. March to mid-May brings sunshine with sudden snowstorms and biting wind chill. Temperatures vary in September and October when it can be hot one minute and cold the next. Light rain is common from May to September; thunderstorms can happen in July and August when around 50% of the days experience rain. April and October have the lowest amount of rain and snow.
In the Gobi Desert, the months of June, July and August are extremely hot: very dry air, red-hot sand, sparse cover and temperatures that can be as high as 40°C/. During the months of March, April and May, nomadic herders are an exceptional sight to see as men lead their families and yaks from one point to another. The months of September and October can be very wet, but the landscape is bursting with colour.
The annual Naadam Festival in Ulaan Baatar draws big crowds, despite being celebrated elsewhere in the country. Nomadic families from around Mongolia descend on the capital for this two-day event, in which Mongolian warriors compete in traditional sports: horse racing, archery, and wrestling.
Average Temperatures.
Jan | Apr | Jun | Aug | Oct | |
| Ulaan Baatar | -16 C/3 F | 8 C/46 F | 21 C/70 F | 23 C/73 F | 7 C/45 F |
NOTE – All quoted temperatures are daytime average highs unless otherwise stated and can vary.
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