Skip to content
Voykit

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

MixedVoykit month rating for Mongolia

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:

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 days
  • Altai7.7 °C (46 °F) / -5.1 °C (23 °F), 9 rain days
  • Arvayheer-2.4 °C (28 °F) / 10.2 °C (50 °F), 5 rain days
  • Baganuur9 °C (48 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 6 rain days
  • Baruun-Urt12 °C (54 °F) / -2.4 °C (28 °F), 5 rain days
  • Bayanhongor-3.5 °C (26 °F) / 10.6 °C (51 °F), 8 rain days
  • Bulgan11.5 °C (53 °F) / -4.9 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days
  • Choibalsan11 °C (52 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days
  • Dalanzadgad-1.3 °C (30 °F) / 14.8 °C (59 °F), 4 rain days
  • Darkhan13.1 °C (56 °F) / -3.9 °C (25 °F), 10 rain days
  • Erdenet9 °C (48 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 4 rain days
  • Hovd13.3 °C (56 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 7 rain days
  • Hutag-Ondor10 °C (50 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 4 rain days
  • Karakorum9 °C (48 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 3 rain days
  • Mandalgovĭ13 °C (55 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 5 rain days
  • Mörön11.9 °C (53 °F) / -3.2 °C (26 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ölgii11 °C (52 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days
  • Ondorkhaan12.2 °C (54 °F) / -4.5 °C (24 °F), 6 rain days
  • Sainshand0.5 °C (33 °F) / 15.4 °C (60 °F), 4 rain days
  • Sühbaatar5 °C (41 °F) / -10 °C (14 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tsagaannuur5 °C (41 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 5 rain days
  • Tsetserleg10.8 °C (51 °F) / -2.7 °C (27 °F), 15 rain days
  • Ulaangom9 °C (48 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days
  • Uliastai1.4 °C (35 °F) / 16.3 °C (61 °F), 17 rain days
  • Zamyn-Üüd6 °C (43 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 4 rain days
  • Zuunmod7 °C (45 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 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

Build the full packing list for your trip →