Mongolia in December

Deep cold and smog; Ulaanbaatar only, with good layers.

December is rated avoid. 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.

• Ulaanbaatar and the centre · Ulaanbaatar, Terelj, Kharkhorin, Orkhon valleysmoke haze

  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 Amcool

  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, Khentiicold

  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 beltcold

  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 transitioncold

  Slightly cooler and greener than the south; dust storms peak in spring.

• Northern Mongolia: Northern Mongolia · Darkhan to Khövsgölcold

  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, Tsambagaravcold

  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, Ulaangomcold

  Drier and lower than the Altai; Uvs Lake basin is one of the coldest places in Mongolia in winter.

• Western Mongolia: Zavkhan · Uliastai, Tosontsengelcold

  Khangai side is wetter and greener; July–August for the lakes and dunes.

• Ulaanbaatar-13 °C (9 °F) / -23 °C (−9 °F), 1 rain days9 °F (-13 °C) / −9 °F (-23 °C), 1 rain days
• Altai-8.6 °C (17 °F) / -21.6 °C (−7 °F), 3 rain days17 °F (-8.6 °C) / −7 °F (-21.6 °C), 3 rain days
• Arvayheer-16.9 °C (2 °F) / -7 °C (19 °F), 1 rain days2 °F (-16.9 °C) / 19 °F (-7 °C), 1 rain days
• Baganuur-15 °C (5 °F) / -31 °C (−24 °F), 4 rain days5 °F (-15 °C) / −24 °F (-31 °C), 4 rain days
• Baruun-Urt-13.2 °C (8 °F) / -22.7 °C (−9 °F), 3 rain days8 °F (-13.2 °C) / −9 °F (-22.7 °C), 3 rain days
• Bayanhongor-20.7 °C (−5 °F) / -9.3 °C (15 °F), 3 rain days−5 °F (-20.7 °C) / 15 °F (-9.3 °C), 3 rain days
• Bulgan-11.3 °C (12 °F) / -23.7 °C (−11 °F), 2 rain days12 °F (-11.3 °C) / −11 °F (-23.7 °C), 2 rain days
• Choibalsan-12 °C (10 °F) / -22 °C (−8 °F), 4 rain days10 °F (-12 °C) / −8 °F (-22 °C), 4 rain days
• Dalanzadgad-17.1 °C (1 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 3 rain days1 °F (-17.1 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 3 rain days
• Darkhan-13.4 °C (8 °F) / -25.8 °C (−14 °F), 5 rain days8 °F (-13.4 °C) / −14 °F (-25.8 °C), 5 rain days
• Erdenet-12 °C (10 °F) / -24 °C (−11 °F), 2 rain days10 °F (-12 °C) / −11 °F (-24 °C), 2 rain days
• Hovd-11.7 °C (11 °F) / -23 °C (−9 °F), 2 rain days11 °F (-11.7 °C) / −9 °F (-23 °C), 2 rain days
• Hutag-Ondor-12 °C (10 °F) / -24 °C (−11 °F), 1 rain days10 °F (-12 °C) / −11 °F (-24 °C), 1 rain days
• Karakorum-12 °C (10 °F) / -24 °C (−11 °F), 1 rain days10 °F (-12 °C) / −11 °F (-24 °C), 1 rain days
• Mandalgovĭ-9 °C (16 °F) / -20 °C (−4 °F), 1 rain days16 °F (-9 °C) / −4 °F (-20 °C), 1 rain days
• Mörön-11.6 °C (11 °F) / -23.2 °C (−10 °F), 3 rain days11 °F (-11.6 °C) / −10 °F (-23.2 °C), 3 rain days
• Ölgii-9 °C (16 °F) / -19 °C (−2 °F), 1 rain days16 °F (-9 °C) / −2 °F (-19 °C), 1 rain days
• Ondorkhaan-13.7 °C (7 °F) / -26.6 °C (−16 °F), 3 rain days7 °F (-13.7 °C) / −16 °F (-26.6 °C), 3 rain days
• Sainshand-19.6 °C (−3 °F) / -9.5 °C (15 °F), 1 rain days−3 °F (-19.6 °C) / 15 °F (-9.5 °C), 1 rain days
• Sühbaatar-12 °C (10 °F) / -27 °C (−17 °F), 2 rain days10 °F (-12 °C) / −17 °F (-27 °C), 2 rain days
• Tsagaannuur-13 °C (9 °F) / -23 °C (−9 °F), 2 rain days9 °F (-13 °C) / −9 °F (-23 °C), 2 rain days
• Tsetserleg-6.4 °C (20 °F) / -17.8 °C (0 °F), 3 rain days20 °F (-6.4 °C) / 0 °F (-17.8 °C), 3 rain days
• Ulaangom-6 °C (21 °F) / -28 °C (−18 °F), 5 rain days21 °F (-6 °C) / −18 °F (-28 °C), 5 rain days
• Uliastai-28.9 °C (−20 °F) / -15.6 °C (4 °F), 3 rain days−20 °F (-28.9 °C) / 4 °F (-15.6 °C), 3 rain days
• Zamyn-Üüd-10 °C (14 °F) / -20 °C (−4 °F), 2 rain days14 °F (-10 °C) / −4 °F (-20 °C), 2 rain days
• Zuunmod-8 °C (18 °F) / -18 °C (0 °F), 2 rain days18 °F (-8 °C) / 0 °F (-18 °C), 2 rain days

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.

• National Freedom and Independence Day

  29 Dec

  Public holiday; merges with New Year preparations.

• Independence Day

  29 December · Ulaanbaatar

  Public holiday; some offices closed.

• New Year

  31 Dec–1 Jan · Ulaanbaatar

  Lights and fireworks in deep cold; restaurants book out.

Crowds · Mongolia

Low

Prices · Mongolia

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Mongolia, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Better another month

• Ulaanbaatar

  Deep cold and smog.