Best Time to Visit Mongolia

June to September is widely recognized as the best time to visit Mongolia. 

First of all, during this time, Mongolia weather has turned pleasantly warm with generally moderate temperature and abundant sunshine, creating a favorable weather condition for visitors to conduct outdoor activities. Even in July and August which are considered as the hottest months in Mongolia, the high temperature stays below 30℃ (86℉) in most time. In the evening after the temperature drops significantly, instead of severely cold, you might feel only slightly chilly and cool. Though this period coincides with Mongolia local rainy season, the precipitation, compared with other destinations in the world, remains low, thus having limited influence on your schedule. Moreover, with long daylength, you have enough time to visit more attractions in one day.

Orkhon Waterfall in Summer

More importantly, natural scenery of Mongolia presents the most fascinating views during this period when grasslands and forests get increasingly vibrant and lush, then turn golden. Meanwhile, lakes and rivers have completely melted and run gently. 

Besides, Naadam Festival - the most important and grandest Mongolian traditional festival is held annually in July, which is a good opportunity for visitors to experience Mongolian nomadic culture.

Peak Season & Slack Season in Mongolia 

Peak Season

The peak season of Mongolia travel is undoubtedly July to August. Most visitors travel here to escape summer heat of other places and enjoy vast and green grasslands which turn most luxuriant and vibrant during these two months. 

Erdene Zuu Buddhist Monastery

In peak season, there is usually a large number of visitors, but not large enough to make you queue for a long time and feel exceptionally crowded. However, in middle July, you might feel packed as it coincides with the Naadam Festival and the local holidays. 

Shoulder Season

June and September to October belong to the shoulder seasons of Mongolia travel when there are unique natural views and less visitors. Moreover, tourists choosing to visit Mongolia during these months could have better experience and enjoy cheaper hotels and tickets.

Though Mongolia weather in June is generally warm with relatively low rainfall, the number of visitors remains small since the grassland in early June hasn’t turned vibrantly green, presenting only light green landscape. Coming to late June, grasslands in most areas have revived vigorously green, but those in Western and Northern Mongolia might be exceptions.

Light Green Grassland in Early June

From September to October, it transitions from pleasantly cool to chilly even cold at night. The autumn scenery is appealing and breathtaking during this time and Golden Eagle Festive is usually held in early October. However, many visitors traveling to Mongolia primarily for its luxuriant grasslands and care less about autumn view, so crowds of people can be hardly seen.

Slack Season

Mongolia travel enters into its slack season from November to next May since Mongolia experiences an unfavorable climate during this period. 

November to next March is characterized by severe coldness. In January, the coldest month of the year, even the high temperature often maintains below freezing let alone the low temperature. Sudden climate changes can be commonly seen as well. For example, strong winds and snow storms might hit Mongolia from December to next February, while in March, sand storms are highly possible. 

GrasslandStarts to Revive in Late April

With rising temperature in April and May, it becomes warmer and warmer but there remain a few visitors. It is an awkward period with no attractive natural scenery, neither snow-covered landscape nor lush grasslands. The accumulated snow starts to melt and the grass just begins to emerge in late April and covers only scattered parts of the barren ground in May. 

Best Time for Vibrant Grasslands

July to August is considered as the best time for visitors to enjoy luxuriant and vibrant grasslands in Mongolia. As rainy season reaches its peaks and the temperature gets higher, vast grasslands in Mongolia have turned completely green this time, seemingly like covered with an emerald green blanket, on which you can see cattle and horses grazing leisurely. What’s more, a lot of competitions and activities are held on the grassland and visitors can participate in.

Luxuriant Grassland in Summer Mongolia

Tips:

1. If you intend to engage in Naadam Festival while appreciating grassland, you had better book the hotels and tickets as early as possible since the later you book, the more expensive and less available they are. Also, be prepared for the extremely serious traffic jam in Ulaanbaatar and leave enough time for transportation. 
2. If you care more about grassland and have less interest in Naadam Festival, it is suggested to avoid middle July when Naadam Festival is held and local residents are enjoying their holiday. It would be so crowded. Or you can choose to visit other destinations far away from Ulaanbaatar instead, for example Eagle Valley, Karakorum and Lake Khovsgol. In this way, you can spend less and enjoy a quieter trip.

Best Time for Golden Leaves 

Mongolia golden autumn appears in middle September and lasts to middle October. In early September, grasses and trees just start to turn yellow with most remaining green and some being yellowish-green. It is in middle September that the colorful picture of fantastic autumn is painted. During the best period, yellow of several levels is the primary color mingled with different others, including light and deep green, primrose, orange yellow, golden, yellowish-brown and flaxen. After middle October, they become all brown, looking a little bleak and desolate. 

Colorful Autumn in Mongolia

Tip:

1. There are many places perfect for appreciating autumn scenery, such as Terelj National Park near Ulaanbaatar, Lake Khovsgol in Northern Mongolia and Eagle Valley in Southern Mongolia. You can choose one closer to your other destinations.

Best Time for Snow Scenery

Best time for snow scenery falls on December to February when vast landscape of Mongolia is covered with snow. During this time, the average high temperature usually keeps below -10℃ (14℉) and the snow on trees, rooves, mountains and grasslands is consistently accumulated and doesn’t melt away, thus creating a white landscape. In addition, the ice of lakes has become thick enough to conduct diverse activities on, for instance ice skating, ice fishing and sleighing. 

Snow-Peaked Mountains in Winter Mongolia

Tip

1. For snow scenery and activities, attractions like frozen Lake Khovsgol and Altai Mountains are good choices.