Discover a land of adventures where you can escape between steppes, deserts, lakes and mountains. Prepare your next trip to Mongolia with confidence by discovering the details of the climate and weather of the different regions of the country.
The Mongolia has an extreme continental climate, characterized by marked regional variations according to latitude and altitude. The thermometer displays up to -40°C in winter while temperatures exceed 35°C in summer, the season during which most of the precipitation is concentrated. The almost permanent winds chase the clouds to allow the sun to shine 250 days a year on the blue sky country.
Read alsoJourney to Mongolia, between sky and steppes
When is the best time to go to Ulaanbaatar and central Mongolia?
With winter temperatures approaching -35°C, Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital in the world. Prefer the period from May to September to radiate around the central Sukhbaatar square and admire a view of the city from the Zaisan monument. An unmissable event, the Naadam festival takes place every year for three days in mid-July in the form of wrestling, archery and horse riding competitions at the Ulaanbaatar National Stadium.
About fifty kilometers from the capital is the imposing equestrian statue of Genghis Khan, measuring 40 m high and dedicated to the famous Mongolian leader. The central region is also the cradle of Mongolian civilization, with the ancient city of Karakorum, founded in 1235, and the Erdene Zuu monastery. The center of the country is also home to the huge sand dunes of Mongol Els, the hot springs of Tsagaan Sum as well as the Khangai Nuruu National Park where you can experience the wild beauty of the steppes of the valley of the Orkhon.
Read alsoMongolia exempts French travelers from visa for three years
When is the best time to go to the Gobi Desert and southern Mongolia?
Spring and fall are the ideal seasons to venture into the Gobi Desert, where temperatures can soar to 40°C in summer. Only 3% of the area of the desert, one of the largest in the world, is covered with sand dunes, in particular those of Khongor, 300 m high.
The rest of the territory is made up of gravel plains, steep mountains and green valleys that will delight lovers of hiking from May to september. Much of the Gobi is part of the Gurvansaikhan National Park where two-humped camels, wild horses, antelopes and the Gobi bear, one of the rarest species on the planet, live side by side.
Read alsoThree essential tips for preparing for your first hike
When is the best time to go to northern Mongolia?
The northern region of Mongolia is dominated by alpine landscapes, lush meadows and crystal clear lakes that are discovered in summer, when the thermometer reads 25°C. Surrounded by high mountains covered in thick pine and larch forests, Lake Khövsgöl is one of the country’s natural treasures. Favorable for horseback riding, its banks host the ice cream festival every year during the first weekend of mars.
When is the best time to go to Western Mongolia?
Western Mongolia, where the mercury drops to -40°C in winter, is dominated by majestic mountains concealing alpine lakes, glaciers and waterfalls offering striking panoramas to admire in summer. Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is home to the Tsagaan Sala archaeological site, where hundreds of rock carvings are found, some dating back around 12,000 years.
The province of Bayan-Ölgii hosts the annual eagle festival during the first weekend ofoctober. A major event aimed at perpetuating the millennial know-how of the Kazakhs in falconry.
When is the best time to go to eastern Mongolia?
Eastern Mongolia is best discovered in summer, when temperatures fluctuate between 19 and 23°C. This authentically charming region is home to the village of Dadal, birthplace of Genghis Khan, the monastery of Baldan Bereeven, dating from 1654, as well as the Toson Khulstai National Park, classified as a biosphere reserve by theUNESCO.
SEE ALSO – Mongolians celebrate the traditional Naadam festival.
