Best time to travel to Mongolia
If you are planning to travel in Mongolia, one of the important things to do is considering the weather and climate. The following information will help you plan your trip. Mongolia has 4 seasons and they are very different. Winter lasts from November to February, spring from March to mid-May, summer from mid-May till late August, and autumn is in September and October. Mongolia can experience four seasons in a day. With more than 260 sunny days a year, Mongolia is known as the 'Land of the Blue Sky'. Mongolia experiences extreme continental climate; it is so far inland that no sea tempers its climate. As you travel in Mongolia, keep the climate in mind.
Spring:
In spring when unpredictable weather creates snowstorms intermixed with spells of wind and sun, keep in mind that the wind-chill factor: a 10-knot wind can make 0°C feel like -5°C. The maximum rainfalls occur in the taiga areas beside the northern border, especially Khentii and Khovsgol. Humidity is generally zero and sunshine is intense.
Summer:
Right time to travel is in mid-May. Early May can still see snowfall, especially in the north. June weather is good and usually dry throughout the central and southern regions. The mountains and northern areas can be cold. July is the time to see the Naadam Festival. This is also the peak tourist season. It's a decent time to look for travel partners and get out of the city. Gobi temperatures this month can rise up to 40°C.
Autumn:
In the month of August there will be heavy rainfall in the northern and central areas. This weather fills up rivers and brings the lush green grass creating a picturesque view, but it can also swamp the roads with mud and attract mosquitoes. This is one of the best times to travel in Mongolia. September is another okay month. The cool weather brings respite to the Gobi and the varying colours in the forests in the north are beautiful. October is again cool and sees the occasional or rare snow bustle up north but is still fine for travel, especially in the Gobi desert. Weather patterns at this time are unpredictable. You never know one moment you're walking in a T-shirt, the next you need an overcoat and boots, and then you are back to T-shirts.
Winter:
The cold season is between November and February. The harsh weather condition with snow storms and freezing cold wind in Mongolia is called zud. Sometimes the temperature drops down to -40°C. When the weather is stable and nice, attending the Ice Festival, Camel Festival and Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) will be an amazing experience. You will also get to feel how real Mongolians survive the cold winters. Mongolians, especially nomads, contemplate March and April as the worst months. After the long winter, livestock will already be thin and a lack of rain brings about their death, causing financial and psychological adversity. If the spring is harsh, staying with a nomad family at this time is not recommended.
