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Mongolia travel guide

A vast, thinly populated country for long overland trips between distant towns

Best: May, Jun, Aug, Sep

Photo: Bükre Kay / Pexels

Capital
Ulan Bator
Language
Mongolian
Currency
Mongolian tögrög
Time zone
UTC+07:00, UTC+08:00
Plugs
Type C, E · 220 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
101 / 102 / 105

Why visit Mongolia

Mongolia suits independent travellers who enjoy long overland journeys and plenty of open space. Beyond the capital, Ulaanbaatar, towns such as Mörön, Ölgii, Tsetserleg and Dalanzadgad are small and far apart. The best months are May, June, August and September, and Dalanzadgad in the south also works well in April. The main limitation is the short season. Good travel conditions cover only a few months, so plan around them and expect long travel days between stops.

  • Vast land, few people

    Mongolia covers 1,564,110 km² but has only 3,591,120 people. The country is so wide that it uses 2 time zones, UTC+07:00 and UTC+08:00. If you want long distances and open space, this is the main reason to come.

  • Ulaanbaatar as your starting point

    The capital, Ulaanbaatar, has 1,396,288 people, so a large share of the country lives in one city. Most trips start here. The best months for a city stay are May, June and August.

  • A clear summer travel window

    Across the country, the best months are May, June, August and September. This short season makes planning simple. Pick one of these months and you get the most comfortable conditions for travel between towns.

  • Dalanzadgad for an earlier trip

    Dalanzadgad, a town of 19,396 people, has a different season from the rest of the list. Its best months are April, May, June and September. This makes it a good choice if you want to travel in spring.

  • Smaller towns beyond the capital

    Mörön (134,530 people) and Ölgii (40,564) both have their best months in May, June, August and September. Tsetserleg, with 21,620 people, is best in June and August. These towns let you see Mongolia away from the capital.

Is Mongolia right for you?

Great for

  • Summer road trips: June highs reach 22°C in Ulaanbaatar, with about 12 hours of sun a day
  • Travellers who want open space: 3,591,120 people share 1,564,110 km²
  • Shoulder-season trips in May or September, with highs near 16°C and fewer wet days than July
  • Gobi trips around Dalanzadgad, where April is also among the best months
  • Hardy winter travellers who enjoy dry cold: January lows of -24°C and under 1 wet day

Less ideal for

  • Beach holidays: none of the main cities is on a coast
  • Mild winter breaks: December to February highs stay at -8°C or lower in Ulaanbaatar
  • Travellers who want dry summers: July brings 13 wet days and 87 mm of rain

Mongolia right now: October

5.2/10
Avg high
7°C
Avg low
-4°C
Rain days
4

Averages for Ulaanbaatar.

Weather by month

In Ulaanbaatar, the best weather comes in May, June, August and September, with highs of 16–22°C and 10–12 sun hours a day, though July and August bring the most rain at about 87–88 mm. The toughest months are December to February, when highs stay below -8°C and January nights fall to -24°C, but these months are very dry.

Average highs and lows in Ulaanbaatar by month January: high -13°C, low -24°C , 1 rain days . February: high -8°C, low -21°C , 1 rain days . March: high 2°C, low -10°C , 3 rain days . April: high 10°C, low -3°C , 5 rain days . May: high 16°C, low 3°C , 7 rain days . June: high 22°C, low 10°C , 10 rain days . July: high 25°C, low 13°C , 13 rain days . August: high 22°C, low 11°C , 12 rain days . September: high 16°C, low 4°C , 8 rain days . October: high 7°C, low -4°C , 4 rain days . November: high -4°C, low -14°C , 3 rain days . December: high -12°C, low -22°C , 1 rain days . -13°C -24°C JAN 1d -8°C -21°C FEB 1d 2°C -10°C MAR 3d 10°C -3°C APR 5d 16°C 3°C MAY 7d 22°C 10°C JUN 10d 25°C 13°C JUL 13d 22°C 11°C AUG 12d 16°C 4°C SEP 8d 7°C -4°C OCT 4d -4°C -14°C NOV 3d -12°C -22°C DEC 1d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Ulaanbaatar · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Mongolia: month-by-month weather →

Mongolia's climate regions

The weather varies across the country; each region has its own best months.

  • Central and Northern Mongolia

    Ulaanbaatar, Mörön, Ölgii, Tsetserleg

    Winters are very cold, with January highs around -11°C. Summers are mild, with July highs of about 24°C. Rain falls on about 62 days a year. The best months are May, June, August and September.

    Best: May, Jun, Aug, Sep

  • Gobi Desert

    Dalanzadgad

    Drier and hotter in summer than the north, with rain on only about 27.5 days a year. January highs are about -7°C and July highs reach about 28°C. The best months are April, May, June and September.

    Best: Apr, May, Jun, Sep

Where to go in Mongolia

City guides with their own best months and weather.

Sample itineraries

7 days

Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi Desert

  1. Day 1–3

    Ulaanbaatar

    Start in the capital. Use these days to see the city and arrange onward travel. May, June and August are the best months here, with milder, drier weather than winter.

  2. Day 4–7

    Dalanzadgad

    Head south to the Gobi Desert region. Spend four days exploring the dunes and open landscape. May, April, September and June give the most comfortable temperatures for desert travel.

10 days

Capital, Steppe and Western Mountains

  1. Day 1–3

    Ulaanbaatar

    Begin in the capital to adjust and plan the trip. May, June and August are the most reliable months for clear weather before heading into the countryside.

  2. Day 4–6

    Tsetserleg

    Move into central Mongolia for a slower pace among the hills. June and August are the recommended months, offering warmer, greener conditions.

  3. Day 7–8

    Mörön

    Continue toward the north near Lake Khövsgöl's region. Visit in May, June, August or September for stable weather and good visibility.

  4. Day 9–10

    Ölgii

    Finish in the far west, known for its mountains and Kazakh culture. May, June, August and September are the best months for travel here.

Getting around Mongolia

Typical journey times and fares between the main places.

Route By Time Price
Ulaanbaatar → Dalanzadgad Aero Mongolia (MIAT also listed on this route). The fare range is from a tour agency's Aero Mongolia contract price list, and the schedule on that page dates from 2018, so check the current fare with the airline. Flight time is about 1 h 20 min to 1 h 30 min. The duration includes an estimated transfer to the new Chinggis Khaan airport (UBN), which is outside the city. Flights follow summer and winter timetables. flight 3 h 30 min 110–130 USD ↗
Ulaanbaatar → Mörön Aero Mongolia and Hunnu Air. This is the gateway to Lake Khövsgöl. The fare range is from a tour agency's Aero Mongolia contract price list, which may be out of date. The duration is an estimate that includes the transfer to UBN airport. In summer, book early. flight 3 h 30 min 110–130 USD ↗
Ulaanbaatar → Ölgii Aero Mongolia, Hunnu Air and MIAT, about 4 flights a week. Flight time is about 2 h 20 min. Ölgii is 1 hour behind Ulaanbaatar, so the timetable shows 1 h 20 min westbound and 3 h 10 min eastbound. The duration is an estimate that includes the transfer to UBN airport. The fare range is from a tour agency's contract price list, which may be out of date. Some flights are seasonal. flight 4 h 50 min 140–160 USD ↗

Staying connected

If your phone plan doesn't include Mongolia, an eSIM set up before you leave gives you data on arrival.

Where to stay

One good base in each main city and who it suits.

Sükhbaatar Square

Ulaanbaatar

Good for first-timers, sightseeing

This is the central square, with Parliament, the national history museum and the opera house within walking distance. It is the easiest base for a short first visit, and tour companies often pick up nearby. Traffic on the surrounding roads is heavy and loud for much of the day.

City Centre

Mörön

Good for first-timers, short stays

This is the area around the main square and the provincial government building. Most shops, cafés, banks and guesthouses are within walking distance, so it is the easiest base for a first night before heading to Lake Khövsgöl. It gets some traffic noise in the day, and there is little to see once you have walked around the square.

Town Centre

Ölgii

Good for first-timers, short stays, tour planning

This is the area around the central square, near the regional museum and the Kazakh theatre. Most guesthouses, tour offices, cafés and banks are within walking distance, so it is the easiest base for arranging trips to the Altai mountains or eagle hunter families. Some streets are dusty and unpaved, and dogs can bark at night.

Town Centre

Tsetserleg

Good for first-timers, short stays

This is the small grid of streets around the main square, with shops, cafés, banks and the bus and shared-van stop close by. Everything in town is within walking distance, so it is the easiest base for a first visit. Some rooms face the main road, so you may hear traffic and barking dogs at night.

Town Centre

Dalanzadgad

Good for first-timers, short stays

This is the small core of the aimag capital, around the main square and government buildings, with shops, cafes and banks within walking distance. It is the easiest base for arranging drivers and tours into the South Gobi. The streets are plain and low-rise, and there is little to do in the evenings.

Food to try in Mongolia

Buuz

Steamed dumplings filled with minced mutton or beef. You find them in cafés all year, and families make large batches for Tsagaan Sar, the Lunar New Year.

Khuushuur

Flat, deep-fried pastries filled with minced meat. They are a common quick meal and a standard snack at Naadam festival events.

Tsuivan

Hand-cut noodles stir-fried with mutton or beef and a few vegetables. It is an everyday dish in homes and simple canteens.

Khorkhog

Mutton cooked in a sealed metal container with hot stones. Herding families often make it for guests or special occasions in the countryside.

Suutei tsai

Salted milk tea, often the first thing a host offers when you enter a home or ger. It is drunk with most meals.

Airag

Fermented mare's milk, slightly sour and mildly alcoholic. Herders make it in summer, and visitors to rural gers are often offered a bowl.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Sockets take type C and type E plugs, and the supply is 220 V. Bring an adapter if your plugs differ. Check that your devices work at 220 V before you plug them in.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and when overtaking.
  • Emergency numbers: The emergency numbers are 101, 102 and 105. Save all 3 in your phone before you arrive, so you can find them quickly if something goes wrong.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Mongolian tögrög. Carry some cash as well as cards, especially if you plan to leave Ulan Bator for smaller places.
  • Language: The official language is Mongolian. Download an offline translation app and learn a few basic phrases before you go. This helps most outside the capital.
  • Time zones: Mongolia uses 2 time zones, UTC+07:00 and UTC+08:00. Check which zone applies when you book flights, buses or tours between regions.
  • Phone calls: The country calling code is +976. Add it in front of local numbers when you call from a foreign phone or save contacts for hotels and guides.

Mongolia: frequently asked questions

Is Mongolia good to visit in August?

Yes, August is one of the best months, with a score of 7.8. Days average 21.6°C and nights 10.7°C in Ulaanbaatar, so it's warm but not scorching. It's also one of the wetter months, with 88 mm of rain over 12 rain days, so pack a waterproof layer.

What is the best month to visit Mongolia?

May and June score highest at 8.1 and 8.0. May brings highs of 16.4°C and lows of 2.8°C with only 27 mm of rain over 6.5 days. June is warmer, with highs of 22.3°C, but rain picks up to 53 mm over 10.4 days. September also scores 8.0, with cooler highs of 16.2°C and less rain.

Is Mongolia cold in January?

Yes, January is the coldest month in Ulaanbaatar. The average high is -12.6°C and the low drops to -24.2°C. It's also very dry, with just 2 mm of rain spread over 0.8 days, and sunshine is limited to 8 hours a day.

When is the rainy season in Mongolia?

The wettest months are July and August. July gets 87 mm of rain over 13.2 days, and August gets 88 mm over 12 rain days. Outside this window, rainfall drops sharply: June has 53 mm and September has 41 mm.

How do I get from Ulaanbaatar to the Gobi Desert?

Fly from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad, the gateway to the Gobi. The flight takes 3 hours 30 minutes and costs 110–130 USD. Dalanzadgad's best months for weather are April, May, June and September.

Is September a good time to visit Mongolia?

Yes, September scores 8.0, tying with June as one of the best months. Daytime highs average 16.2°C and lows 4.3°C, with rainfall down to 41 mm over 8.3 days, cooler and drier than the summer peak.

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