When to go · Mongolia
Mongolia in April
Mixed month. Brown steppe, strong winds and dust; roads turn to mud where snow melts. Few camps open.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Mongolia
- Prices
- Low
- Mongolia
Verdict
Brown steppe, strong winds and dust; roads turn to mud where snow melts. Few camps open.
Is another month better than April?
April is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
- JuneGreatGreen steppe, long days, fewer people than July; the best-value month.
- JulyGreatNaadam (11–15 Jul) fills everything; book cars, flights and camps months ahead. Afternoon rain begins.
- SeptemberGreatGolden larches, clear skies, cold nights; the Gobi is at its most comfortable.
- AugustGoodWarmest and wettest; rivers rise and tracks get muddy. Peak for Khövsgöl.
Weather in April
- Ulaanbaatar and the centre · Ulaanbaatar, Terelj, Kharkhorin, Orkhon valleycool
Coldest capital in the world: January averages about −20 °C (−4 °F). Coal and ger-stove smoke make winter air among the worst anywhere Nov–Feb. Summer is 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) by day with afternoon showers in July–August.Coldest capital in the world: January averages about −4 °F (−20 °C). Coal and ger-stove smoke make winter air among the worst anywhere Nov–Feb. Summer is 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) by day with afternoon showers in July–August.
- Gobi · Dalanzadgad, Khongoryn Els, Bayanzag, Yolyn Amsmoke haze
Summer days reach 35–40 °C (95–104 °F), nights stay cool; spring (Apr–May) brings wind and dust storms. September is the easy month.Summer days reach 95–104 °F (35–40 °C), nights stay cool; spring (Apr–May) brings wind and dust storms. September is the easy month.
- Khövsgöl and the north · Mörön, Khatgal, Darkhad valleycool
Lake Khövsgöl stays frozen until late May or June; summer nights near freezing at 1,650 m. Ice Festival in early March.
- Western Altai · Ölgii, Khovd, Tavan Bogd, Uvscool
High mountains with snow possible any month; the Golden Eagle Festival in early October is the last good week before the cold.
- Eastern Mongolia: Eastern steppe · Dornod, Sükhbaatar, Khentiifine
Short summer, June to early September. July and August are warmest and greenest; nights stay cold. Winter is extreme and not a visitor season.
- Gobi: South Gobi (Dalanzadgad) · Ömnögovi and the dune beltbest weather
May–June and September are the sweet spots; July–August is hot and busy with domestic tourists. Winter is genuinely cold, not mild.
- Gobi: Northern Gobi edge (Bayanhongor, Sainshand) · Steppe-desert transitionfine
Slightly cooler and greener than the south; dust storms peak in spring.
- Northern Mongolia: Northern Mongolia · Darkhan to Khövsgölfine
Short summer: June–August are the workable months, July warmest. Lake Khövsgöl sits at 1,645 m and stays cool; winter is far below freezing.
- Western Mongolia: Altai and Bayan-Ölgii · Ölgii, Tavan Bogd, Tsambagaravcool
Short summer; July–August are the only reliable trekking months. Early October is Eagle Festival weather — cold, with snow possible.
- Western Mongolia: Great Lakes Depression · Hovd, Uvs, Ulaangomcool
Drier and lower than the Altai; Uvs Lake basin is one of the coldest places in Mongolia in winter.
- Western Mongolia: Zavkhan · Uliastai, Tosontsengelcool
Khangai side is wetter and greener; July–August for the lakes and dunes.
- Ulaanbaatar9 °C (48 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 3 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 3 rain days
- Altai7.7 °C (46 °F) / -5.1 °C (23 °F), 9 rain days46 °F (7.7 °C) / 23 °F (-5.1 °C), 9 rain days
- Arvayheer-2.4 °C (28 °F) / 10.2 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days28 °F (-2.4 °C) / 50 °F (10.2 °C), 5 rain days
- Baganuur9 °C (48 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 6 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 6 rain days
- Baruun-Urt12 °C (54 °F) / -2.4 °C (28 °F), 5 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 28 °F (-2.4 °C), 5 rain days
- Bayanhongor-3.5 °C (26 °F) / 10.6 °C (51 °F), 8 rain days26 °F (-3.5 °C) / 51 °F (10.6 °C), 8 rain days
- Bulgan11.5 °C (53 °F) / -4.9 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days53 °F (11.5 °C) / 23 °F (-4.9 °C), 13 rain days
- Choibalsan11 °C (52 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
- Dalanzadgad-1.3 °C (30 °F) / 14.8 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days30 °F (-1.3 °C) / 59 °F (14.8 °C), 4 rain days
- Darkhan13.1 °C (56 °F) / -3.9 °C (25 °F), 10 rain days56 °F (13.1 °C) / 25 °F (-3.9 °C), 10 rain days
- Erdenet9 °C (48 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 4 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 4 rain days
- Hovd13.3 °C (56 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 7 rain days56 °F (13.3 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 7 rain days
- Hutag-Ondor10 °C (50 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 4 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 4 rain days
- Karakorum9 °C (48 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 3 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 3 rain days
- Mandalgovĭ13 °C (55 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 5 rain days55 °F (13 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 5 rain days
- Mörön11.9 °C (53 °F) / -3.2 °C (26 °F), 8 rain days53 °F (11.9 °C) / 26 °F (-3.2 °C), 8 rain days
- Ölgii11 °C (52 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
- Ondorkhaan12.2 °C (54 °F) / -4.5 °C (24 °F), 6 rain days54 °F (12.2 °C) / 24 °F (-4.5 °C), 6 rain days
- Sainshand0.5 °C (33 °F) / 15.4 °C (60 °F), 4 rain days33 °F (0.5 °C) / 60 °F (15.4 °C), 4 rain days
- Sühbaatar5 °C (41 °F) / -10 °C (14 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 14 °F (-10 °C), 5 rain days
- Tsagaannuur5 °C (41 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 5 rain days
- Tsetserleg10.8 °C (51 °F) / -2.7 °C (27 °F), 15 rain days51 °F (10.8 °C) / 27 °F (-2.7 °C), 15 rain days
- Ulaangom9 °C (48 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
- Uliastai1.4 °C (35 °F) / 16.3 °C (61 °F), 17 rain days35 °F (1.4 °C) / 61 °F (16.3 °C), 17 rain days
- Zamyn-Üüd6 °C (43 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 4 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 4 rain days
- Zuunmod7 °C (45 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 4 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 4 rain days
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Mongolia
- Low
- Prices · Mongolia
- Low
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Mongolia, side by side.
Verdict
Apr: Mixed
Jun: Great (better)
Crowds
Apr: Low
Jun: Medium
Prices
Apr: Low
Jun: Medium
Festivals listed
Apr: 0
Jun: 2
April: Brown steppe, strong winds and dust; roads turn to mud where snow melts. Few camps open.
June: Green steppe, long days, fewer people than July; the best-value month.
Mongolia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket