What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Dalanzadgad, Mongolia.
Photo: ArtHouse Studio / Pexels
Dalanzadgad is a small town of 19396 people in Mongolia's Ömnögovi Province. Most visitors use it as a base for nature trips. Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park holds Yolyn Am (Vulture's Mouth), Dungenee Am and the Khongoryn Els dunes. Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) and the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs make good day trips. Moltsog Els is near town. In the centre, the South Gobi Museum takes about 1 hour. The best months to go are April, May, June and September.
Plan several days. Khongoryn Els alone takes 1–2 days. Yolyn Am, Bayanzag and the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs each need half a day. The town itself needs little time: the South Gobi Museum takes about 1 hour.
Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
A narrow, deep gorge in the Zuun Saikhan mountains, where shaded ice can last well into the warm months. It is the most popular day trip from Dalanzadgad. Walk the canyon floor, and watch for birds of prey and ibex on the cliffs.
Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
Mongolia's best-known sand dunes, a long wall of high dunes that some call the singing sands because of the sound the sand makes when it moves. Most visitors climb a dune at sunset, ride camels and stay overnight in a nearby ger camp. It is a long drive from town, so plan at least one night.
Bulgan sum
Red and orange sandstone cliffs where American expeditions in the 1920s found the first known dinosaur eggs. The colours are strongest in the late afternoon light. Nearby saxaul bushes and short walks along the rim add to the visit.
Dalanzadgad town centre
The provincial museum in the town centre covers local nature, dinosaur finds, nomadic life and Buddhist art. It gives useful background before you head out into the national park.
Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park
A quieter gorge than Yolyn Am, with rock walls, a small stream in some seasons and far fewer visitors. It suits travellers who want a canyon walk without the crowds.
Yolyn Am entrance
A small natural history museum at the park gate near Yolyn Am. It shows stuffed Gobi animals, birds and some dinosaur fossils, and it is an easy stop on the way to or from the gorge.
Ömnögovi Province
Rock carvings of animals, hunters and herders on a rocky ridge. You need a short, steep climb to reach them. They are a good add-on to a Bayanzag trip for travellers interested in ancient history.
Near Dalanzadgad
A small strip of sand dunes within easy reach of town. It gives a taste of the dunes if you do not have time for the long trip to Khongoryn Els.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -7°C / -18°C | 1 day (2 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 5.4/10 |
| February | -2°C / -14°C | 1 day (4 mm) | 9.4 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| March | 7°C / -6°C | 1 day (4 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 6.2/10 |
| Best month: April | 15°C / 2°C | 2 days (8 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 9.2/10 |
| Best month: May | 21°C / 8°C | 2 days (11 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 9.4/10 |
| Best month: June | 26°C / 14°C | 4 days (17 mm) | 11.2 h/day | 8.3/10 |
| July | 28°C / 17°C | 6 days (37 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 6.7/10 |
| August | 27°C / 15°C | 4 days (27 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 7.9/10 |
| Best month: September | 21°C / 9°C | 4 days (19 mm) | 10.4 h/day | 9.1/10 |
| October | 12°C / -1°C | 1 day (5 mm) | 9.6 h/day | 8.2/10 |
| November | 2°C / -9°C | 1 day (3 mm) | 8.4 h/day | 5.3/10 |
| December | -6°C / -17°C | 0 days (1 mm) | 7.8 h/day | 5.4/10 |
Hard cold: highs of -6.7°C and nights near -18.1°C. Very dry, with 0.6 rain days and 8.4 sun hours. Verdict: ok, for travellers ready for deep winter.
Still very cold, with highs of -2.1°C and lows of -14.2°C. About 1 rain day and 9.4 sun hours. Verdict: ok if you pack for frost.
Days warm to 7.2°C, but nights still drop to -5.6°C. Only 1.3 rain days and 10.6 sun hours. Verdict: good, a crisp start to spring.
Highs of 14.5°C and lows just above freezing at 1.8°C. Dry, with 2.3 rain days. Verdict: best, with a strong score of 9.2.
The top-scoring month at 9.4. Highs reach 20.7°C, lows 7.9°C, with 2.4 rain days and 11.2 sun hours. Verdict: best.
Warm days of 26°C and mild nights of 14.4°C. Rain on 3.6 days, and 11.2 sun hours. Verdict: best, scoring 8.3.
The hottest and wettest month: highs of 28.4°C, 5.8 rain days and 37 mm of rain. Verdict: good, but heat and showers lower the score to 6.7.
Still warm at 26.5°C, with lows of 15.1°C. Rain falls on 4.1 days. Verdict: best, with a score of 7.9.
Comfortable highs of 21°C and cool nights of 8.8°C. About 4 rain days and 10.4 sun hours. Verdict: best, scoring 9.1.
Days cool to 11.6°C and nights dip to -0.7°C. Very dry, with 1.2 rain days. Verdict: best, scoring 8.2, so bring warm layers.
Cold returns: highs of 2°C and lows of -9.2°C. Only 0.8 rain days and 8.4 sun hours. Verdict: ok for those who like cold, dry air.
Deep cold, with highs of -5.8°C and lows of -16.6°C. The driest month at 0.4 rain days, but only 7.8 sun hours. Verdict: ok.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Mongolia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
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.
Good for budget travellers, self-caterers
The streets around the town market are practical for buying food, water and supplies before a trip into the desert. You can see everyday local life here. It can be dusty and busy during the day, and the buildings are functional rather than attractive.
Good for early flights, overnight transit
The area on the road towards the airport is handy if you fly in late or leave early. It keeps transfers short and simple. You are further from the centre's shops and cafes, and there is not much within walking distance.
Good for cultural interest, longer stays
On the edges of town, families live in gers and small houses behind wooden fences. Staying here, often with a local host, gives a close look at how people in the Gobi live. Roads are unpaved, street lighting is limited, and facilities can be basic.
Good for nature lovers, stargazers
Tourist ger camps sit in open steppe outside Dalanzadgad, on the way towards Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park and Yolyn Am. You get quiet nights, wide views and very dark skies. You need a car or driver to reach town, and nights can be cold outside summer.
Typical journey times and fares from the airport and other cities.
| 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 ↗ |
Steamed dumplings filled with minced mutton or beef, onion and garlic. Locals eat them all year in small canteens, and families make large batches for the Lunar New Year holiday, Tsagaan Sar.
Flat, deep-fried pastries filled with minced meat. They are a common quick lunch in town cafes and are sold as street snacks at summer Naadam festivities.
Hand-cut noodles stir-fried with mutton, onion and a few vegetables. It is a filling everyday dish that you find on the menu of most simple local restaurants.
Mutton or goat cooked in a sealed metal pot with hot stones and a little water. Herding families often prepare it for guests and celebrations, and some ger camps offer it.
Salty milk tea, sometimes made with camel milk in the Gobi. It is served to visitors in herders' gers and drunk at almost every meal.
Aaruul is hard, sun-dried curd that herders make from leftover milk. In the South Gobi, camel milk is also used for dairy products, which visitors are often offered in herders' gers.
May, April, September and June are the best months to visit Dalanzadgad. May scores highest at 9.4, followed by April at 9.2 and September at 9.1. In May, days reach about 21°C and nights about 8°C, with only 11 mm of rain. September is similar, with highs of 21°C, lows of about 9°C and around 10 hours of sun a day.
July is a good month, but it is not one of the best. It is the warmest month, with highs of about 28°C and lows of about 17°C. It is also the wettest month, with 37 mm of rain over about 6 days. August is a little cooler and drier, with 27 mm of rain, and it scores 7.9 against 6.7 for July.
Winter in Dalanzadgad is very cold but dry and sunny. In January, highs are about -7°C and lows drop to about -18°C. December is similar, at about -6°C by day and -17°C at night. There is almost no rain or snow, only 1 to 2 mm a month. You still get about 8 hours of sun a day, which suits travellers who want clear winter desert views.
Yes, October is one of the best months, with a score of 8.2. Days are cool at about 12°C, and nights fall to around -1°C, so bring warm layers. It is very dry, with 5 mm of rain over about 1 day. You also get close to 10 hours of sun a day.
Plan several days if you want to see the main Gobi sights around Dalanzadgad. In town, the South Gobi Museum takes 1 hour, and Moltsog Els nearby takes 2–3 hours. Yolyn Am, Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs) and the Khavtsgait Petroglyphs each need half a day. Dungenee Am takes 2–3 hours. The Khongoryn Els dunes need 1–2 days on their own.
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