When to go · Karakorum
Karakorum in January
Avoid month. Listed as a month to avoid: Nov–Mar (cold, many camps and cafés closed).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Avoid
- Temperature
- −14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C) / −27°C (−17°F)−17°F (−27°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 1
- Crowds
- Low
- Mongolia overall
- Prices
- Low
- Mongolia overall
Verdict
Listed as a month to avoid: Nov–Mar (cold, many camps and cafés closed).
Is another month better than January?
January is rated avoid. These months rate higher:
Weather in January
- KarakorumHighs around -14 °C (7 °F), lows around -27 °C (−17 °F), rain on about 1 dayHighs around 7 °F (-14 °C), lows around −17 °F (-27 °C), rain on about 1 day
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) big impact
Feb 2027 (lunar, moves yearly — check) · Mongolia
Three official days, but many shops and restaurants close for a week; families visit elders, transport out of the city is packed.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Mongolia overall
- Low
- Prices · Mongolia overall
- Low
Mongolia overall: −20 to −30 °C and the worst smog of the year in Ulaanbaatar; city museums only.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Karakorum, side by side.
Verdict
Jan: Avoid
Jun: Great (better)
Daytime high
Jan: -14 °C (7 °F)7 °F (-14 °C)
Jun: 22 °C (72 °F)72 °F (22 °C)
Night low
Jan: -27 °C (−17 °F)−17 °F (-27 °C)
Jun: 8 °C (46 °F)46 °F (8 °C)
Rain days
Jan: 1 (better)
Jun: 9
Crowds
Jan: Low
Jun: Medium
Prices
Jan: Low
Jun: Medium
Festivals listed
Jan: 1
Jun: 0
January: Listed as a month to avoid: Nov–Mar (cold, many camps and cafés closed).
June: Inside Karakorum's best window: Jun–Sep.
Karakorum: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings