Best time to visit Mongolia
With no sea to temper its climate, Mongolia can experience four seasons in one day: pack lightweight layers, woolens and waterproofs![]()
In Mongolia, there is a glorious yin to each season’s not so glorious yang. Picturesque summer (Jun-Aug) brings lush steppes in bright greens, but also mozzies and mud; spring (Mar-May) is migration season for herders, but brings unpredictable weather and deceptive wind chill, and autumn (Sep-Oct) brings a kaleidoscope of colour, but can be prone to heavy rain. You could be forgiven for thinking that winter is not the best time to go to Mongolia, when temperatures can plummet to -30°C, but for well prepared adventurers this can be a hugely rewarding time as herders stay close to camp and there is not another tourist in sight.
Ulaanbaatar Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
-28
-16
3
FEB
-26
-12
4
MAR
-17
-3
6
APR
-7
8
15
MAY
1
16
25
JUN
7
21
71
JUL
10
22
86
AUG
8
21
86
SEP
1
15
42
OCT
-7
7
15
NOV
-18
-5
8
DEC
-25
-14
4
Our Mongolia Vacations
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Mongolia tour with Eagle festival departure
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Mongolia adventure vacation, off the beaten track
An insight into local life in spring time Mongolia
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Mongolia winter vacation
Authentic culture, warm hospitality & wild winter landscapes
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US $1020 to US $1535
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Mongolia adventure vacation with festival option
Off the beaten track adventure through spectacular Mongolia
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US $3165 to US $3665
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Mongolia tour, food of the Nomads
Local Mongolia with homestays & family led cookery lessons
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US $1940 to US $2840
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Western Mongolia tour, the Altai mountains & eagles
Culture and adventure in the landscapes of western Mongolia
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US $2475 to US $3215
13 days
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Mongolia family adventure vacation
Life-enhancing local Mongolian adventure for all the family
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US $3985
17 days
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Mongolia family vacation for all ages
Journey through stunning Mongolia with your family
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US $2300 to US $3000
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Mongolia eagle hunting festival vacation
Altai Mountains glaciers, nature & eagle hunting festival
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£2850 to £2995
13 days
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Mountain biking vacation in Mongolia
Bike exploration of Mongolia's land, people & way of life
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US $1240 to US $1490
6 days
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Mongolia cultural tour, Nomads of Khangai Mountains
Local insight into landscapes & culture of Khangai Mountains
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US $2465 to US $3015
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Wildlife conservation & research expedition in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Wildlife research & conservation in Mongolia's Gobi Desert
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Trans Mongolian Eastbound, St Petersburg to Beijing
Overland from the Baltic Sea to the Chinese capital Beijing
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Zavkhan horse riding vacation in Mongolia
Horse trekking adventure in Mongolia's Zavkhan Province
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Tokyo to St Petersburg rail tour
Japan to Russia overland on the Trans-Siberian Railway
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Mongolian Eagle adventure vacation
Dramatic scenery and fascinating culture in western Mongolia
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£3065 to £3099
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Trans Mongolian vacation, tailor made
Ride the Iconic Trans-Mongolian Railway in all it's glory.
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£2445
16 days
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Mongolia cycling vacation
The mountains & steppes home to Genghis Khan
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Mongolia tour, mountains & nomads
Slow travel through Mongolia's northern & central landscapes
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Mongolia wilderness trek in the Altai Mountains
Culture & trekking trip with the Kazakhs of western Mongolia
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US $2570 to US $3295
14 days
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North Mongolia vacations, tailor made
Slow trip of discovery highlighting local life in Mongolia
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US $2415 to US $3350
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Mongolia Gobi Desert insight tour
Explore the culture and landscapes of Mongolia's Gobi Desert
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16 days
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Mongolia wilderness trekking vacation, Khangai Mountains
Trekking adventure through spectacular central Mongolia
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US $2450 to US $3295
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Trans-Siberian and Mongolia tour, westbound
Travel across continents on the greatest train journeys
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US $3480 to US $3935
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Mongolia tour, winter landscapes and Khovsgol ice festival
Winter discovery tour with ice festival in northern Mongolia
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US $1370 to US $1995
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Exploratory horse trekking vacation in Mongolia
An adventurous cultural experience in northern Mongolia
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US $2225 to US $3490
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Adventure vacations in Mongolia
Experience the traditional nomadic lifestyle
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£2615
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When to visit Mongolia & when not to
Our top Mongolia Vacation
Mongolia nomad horse riding vacation
Horseriding & staying with local Nomadic familes in Mongolia
From
£1449
9 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2021: 21 Aug
2021: 21 Aug
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Mongolia or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Responsible Travel Recommends
John Williamson from our supplier, Zavkhan Trekking shares his advice on the best time to visit Mongolia:
“For me, the best time to visit Mongolia is during July and August, the peak summer months when the weather is pleasant and warm, around 25 degrees and the landscape is green and lush. The nature is beautiful then too and slightly earlier in June the wildflowers are fantastic – spring can sometimes be a bit too dry for the plant life, but if the spring weather wasn’t quite so erratic, Mongolia could be a standalone wildflower tour destination - they are that phenomenal.”
“The seasons are clear-cut, but Mongolia has a long winter of around six months followed by a short spring, summer and autumn. Autumn is a great time to visit with cooler stable weather and beautiful autumnal colours like dusty orange and bronze covering the landscape. I wouldn’t recommend visiting Mongolia in winter; it’s bitingly cold and temperatures often drop to -30 degrees during the day.”
Festivals & events in Mongolia
Did you know about...?
Thousand Camel Festival
The Bactrian camel is a sizeable, even-toed animal that is celebrated in all its two-humped glory for the essential role it plays in the lives of the Gobi’s nomads at the Thousand Camel Festival. This one day autumnal event sees herdsmen parade on horseback, camel races and polo playoffs, and it's brilliant photo opportunity to see Mongolian families wrapped up in their traditional vacation dress.
The Bactrian camel is a sizeable, even-toed animal that is celebrated in all its two-humped glory for the essential role it plays in the lives of the Gobi’s nomads at the Thousand Camel Festival. This one day autumnal event sees herdsmen parade on horseback, camel races and polo playoffs, and it's brilliant photo opportunity to see Mongolian families wrapped up in their traditional vacation dress.
More about Mongolia
Our Mongolia travel guide offers honest insights into the world's least densely populated country, covering steppe and ger camp, camel treks and eagle festivals...
Whether you're traveling by train, on foot or by horse or camel, find the best places to visit in Mongolia with our interactive map and highlights...
We offer plenty of suggestions for things to do in Mongolia, including traveling like a local on horseback and channelling your inner Genghis Khan...
Traveling in Mongolia with kids is a great idea. Read our advice from experts who have been there, done that and got the mare's milk stained t-shirt...
If traveling off peak in Mongolia, you'll find herders and livestock stay close to the safety and warmth of ger camps, giving a unique insight into rural life...
The Kazakh eagle hunters of Western Mongolia live in one of the most remote regions of one of the most remote countries.
Find out more about Mongolia's eagle festivals, their not-so-ancient origins, and their impacts upon wildlife, golden eagles, and Kazakh communities...
Our Mongolia travel advice page is packed full of tips from our friends in Mongolia as well as cultural advice and a handy health & safety guide...
From poverty and modernisation, to mining and conservation , find out more about responsible travel in Mongolia before visiting this incredible country...
Mongolia draws travelers for its vast landscapes and semi nomadic herder culture, but don’t be fooled into thinking that the 21st century has not touched this country.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Bernd Thaller] [Intro box: François Philipp]
[John Williamson Quote 1: Richard Mortel]
[John Williamson Quote 2: james j8246]
[Camel Festival: Sergio Tittarini]
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