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
Mongolia adventure vacation
Off the beaten track adventure through spectacular Mongolia
From
US $2975 to US $3490
22 days
ex flights
Trans Mongolian railway vacation
Ride the Iconic Trans-Mongolian Railway in all it's glory.
From
£2785 to £2880
16 days
ex flights
Western Mongolia tour, the Altai mountains & eagles
Culture and adventure in the landscapes of western Mongolia
From
US $2500 to US $2995
13 days
ex flights
Mongolia adventure vacation, off the beaten track
An insight into local life in spring time Mongolia
From
US $2500
14 days
ex flights
Mongolia family vacation for all ages
Journey through stunning Mongolia with your family
From
US $2300 to US $3000
15 days
ex flights
Mongolia adventure vacation, small group
Discover the remote Mongolian countryside
From
US $4649 to US $4749
15 days
ex flights
Mongolia cultural tour, Nomads of Khangai Mountains
Local insight into landscapes & culture of Khangai Mountains
From
US $2185 to US $3175
16 days
ex flights
Mountain biking vacation in Mongolia
Bike exploration of Mongolia's land, people & way of life
From
US $1140 to US $2315
6 days
ex flights
Trans Mongolian vacation, tailor made
Ride the Iconic Trans-Mongolian Railway in all it's glory.
From
£2430
16 days
ex flights
Wildlife conservation & research expedition in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Wildlife research & conservation in Mongolia's Gobi Desert
From
US $1385 to US $2250
11 days
ex flights
Mongolia wilderness trekking vacation, Khangai Mountains
Trekking adventure through spectacular central Mongolia
From
US $2450 to US $3295
15 days
ex flights
Mongolia tour, winter landscapes and Khovsgol ice festival
Winter discovery tour with ice festival in northern Mongolia
From
US $1370 to US $1995
11 days
ex flights
North Mongolia vacations, tailor made
Slow trip of discovery highlighting local life in Mongolia
From
US $3300
15 days
ex flights
Mongolia wilderness trek in the Altai Mountains
Culture & trekking trip with the Kazakhs of western Mongolia
From
US $1830 to US $2065
14 days
ex flights
Mongolia nomad horse riding vacation
Horse riding, hiking and staying with local Nomadic familes
From
£1399
9 days
ex flights
Mongolia horse riding vacation, Zavkhan Classic
Horse trekking adventure in Mongolia's Zavkhan Province
From
NZ $4290
17 days
ex flights
Mongolia cycling vacation
The mountains & steppes home to Genghis Khan
From
US $3879 to US $3979
15 days
ex flights
Mongolia cultural vacation & Naadam Festival
Summer based slow paced journey through nomadic Mongolia
From
US $2375 to US $3160
15 days
ex flights
Mongolia tour, food of the Nomads
Local Mongolia with homestays & family led cookery lessons
From
US $1800 to US $2955
14 days
ex flights
Mongolia tour, mountains & nomads
Slow travel through Mongolia's northern & central landscapes
From
US $2165 to US $2350
13 days
ex flights
Mongolia family adventure vacation
Life-enhancing local Mongolian adventure for all the family
From
US $3820
16 days
ex flights
Mongolia adventure trekking vacation & Naadam Festival
Summer time trekking and Naadam adventure through Mongolia
From
US $2450 to US $3640
16 days
ex flights
Mongolian Eagle adventure vacation
Dramatic scenery and fascinating culture in western Mongolia
From
£2899
13 days
ex flights
Trans Mongolian Eastbound, St Petersburg to Beijing
Overland from the Baltic Sea to the Chinese capital Beijing
From
£7525 to £8185
24 days
ex flights
Gobi Desert explorer tour in Mongolia
Discover the remarkable diversity of the Gobi Desert
From
£4400
16 days
ex flights
Genghis Khan warrior training in Mongolia
Experience what it really felt like to be a warrior under the Great Khan
From
US $4195
9 days
ex flights
Trans Mongolian west bound to St Petersburg
The most comprehensive Beijing to Russia overland adventure
From
£7150 to £7575
23 days
ex flights
Trans Mongolian 21 day tour
Visit Russia, remote Siberia, Mongolia, the Gobi Desert & Beijing
From
£3170
21 days
ex flights
Trans Mongolian Eastbound with the Naadam Festival
Celebrate Mongolia’s most colourful festival by rail
From
£5110
24 days
ex flights
Eagle Hunters of Mongolia photography tour
Explore and photograph the eagle hunters of Western Mongolia
From
£4800
13 days
ex flights
When to visit Mongolia & when not to
Our top Mongolia Vacation
Mongolia adventure vacation
Off the beaten track adventure through spectacular Mongolia
From
US $2975 to US $3490
22 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 6 Jun, 1 Aug
2020: 6 Jun, 1 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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