Best time to travel Mongolia
Mongolia is a country of extreme climate. It has four clearly distinctive seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Summer 15 May – 15 August:

 It is the most pleasant seasons to travel in Mongolia. From 15 May to 20 June, the weather will be pleasant for those who don’t like hot weather. The average day temperature is 18- 27 degrees. Between at the end of June and at beginning of August is considered the hottest, particularly in the Gobi desert. Average day temperature is 25-32 degrees. This period of the year is the peak season that tourists choose to travel to Mongolia. Traditionally the last three days of summer are celebrated with the Naadam festival. Mongolians celebrate Naadam with the ‘three manly games‘ – archery, wrestling, and horse racing. In Ulaan Baatar, Naadam is celebrated between the 11-13th of July. In reality, summer continues through to September.

Seasonal Tip: Bring an umbrella – summer brings the rain. July and August see more than two inches each.

Autumn 15 July- 10 August: 

The first half of autumn is enjoyable, colorful, not hot, and not cold. Animals are fat and graze peacefully. Nomads have plenty of dairy products and are busy processing milk and preparing for winter. Beautiful countryside of Mongolia is even more beautiful and picturesque with the autumn colors. Autumn is also pleasant to travel Mongolia. A traditional Mongolian proverb says, “When Naadam ends, autumn begins.”For me, autumn begins with my childrens’ first day of school – September 1st. Children celebrate the first day of school by giving their teachers chocolates and flowers – always best to set off on the right foot with your teacher. By far the most beautiful season, autumn brings color to the countryside. The first flakes of snow also arrive at this time. Fall sees Mongolia weather at its best. Seasonal Tip: A great time to visit Mongolia and experience the mysteries of this ancient culture – but bring some layers in case you hit a cold snap.

Winter 15 November-15 February:

Mongolian winter is cold, but beautiful with its shiny white snow covers. Visiting Mongolia in winter is nice in spite of the cold. If you are planning to travel Mongolia in winter, we recommend you to travel to some national parks close to Ulaanbaatar. In Terelj National Park, you can enjoy nature, hike, climb mountains, dog sledging, stay in ger camp, visit nomad family and even horse-riding is available. In Hustai National Park you can see wild horses and other wild animals such as gazelle, deer etc, gathered in the valley to stay warmer. Also you can drive to Manzushir Monastery in the strictly protected Bogd Khaan Mountain just south of Ulaanbaatar and can see Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex close to the Terelj National Park. Drive to Erdenezuu monastery provides you an opportunity to experience different natural zones such as mountain steppe and Gobi desert except for visiting Mongolian the largest and the most beautiful monastery.

Spring 15 February to 15 May:

Spring is the time for nomads to welcome newborn baby animals. We recommend you to come in spring for a stay with nomads, if you are a curious traveler, if you like adventures and interested in culture at the same time of enjoying scenic places and attractions. Mongolian spring is windy, sometimes stormy, particularly in the Gobi desert. There can be two kinds of springs: One can be a harsh spring: Even as the time of warmer weather has arrived, it’s still cold, stormy, snowy. It result nomads to encounter hardships because this time of the year the animals of the nomads are so skinny because there is a lack of food. The nomad families, have hundreds to thousands of animals, so it is impossible to prepare feed for every animals for the use of whole winter and spring. The animals find grass themselves in less snowed place. Because of lack of feed, some female animals have difficulties to give birth.

On the contrary:

If the winter was snowy and spring is warm, melted snow feeds soil with humidity and plants grow fast, nomads’ animals run and walk quickly with their babies and the Mongolians/ nomads are very pleased having passed the heavy time successfully, without animal loss. When you stay and visit nomads in spring, you will learn a lot about their habits and traditions. You will feel real taste of being nomad, but their home isn’t as comfortable as yours, particularly in spring.

Mongolia Winter Tours

Winter tourism grows every year. Many take a winter tour for specific activities and cultural events that only take place in winter. Want to take a peek at what you’re missing? Check out these sledding videos: one with dogs and the other with horses.

Mongolia Weather Disasters – Winter Dzud

The last decade has seen several winter dzuds. A dzud occurs when winter weather prevents animals from finding fodder. There are black, white, and iron dzuds. A black dzud occurs when a severe winter follows a summer food shortage; a white dzud when heavy snowfall covers available fodder; and an iron dzud when freezing weather causes rain to become an ice blanket.