Mongolia in May

Gobi is workable but windy; the north is still cold. Camps open from mid-month.

May 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.

• Ulaanbaatar and the centre · Ulaanbaatar, Terelj, Kharkhorin, Orkhon valleyfine

  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, Khentiibest weather

  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 transitionbest weather

  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, Tsambagaravfine

  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, Ulaangomfine

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

• Western Mongolia: Zavkhan · Uliastai, Tosontsengelfine

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

• Ulaanbaatar17 °C (63 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 5 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 5 rain days
• Altai13.9 °C (57 °F) / 1.2 °C (34 °F), 17 rain days57 °F (13.9 °C) / 34 °F (1.2 °C), 17 rain days
• Arvayheer4 °C (39 °F) / 16.6 °C (62 °F), 15 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 62 °F (16.6 °C), 15 rain days
• Baganuur18 °C (64 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 18 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 18 rain days
• Baruun-Urt20.2 °C (68 °F) / 5.4 °C (42 °F), 17 rain days68 °F (20.2 °C) / 42 °F (5.4 °C), 17 rain days
• Bayanhongor2.9 °C (37 °F) / 17.3 °C (63 °F), 16 rain days37 °F (2.9 °C) / 63 °F (17.3 °C), 16 rain days
• Bulgan18.5 °C (65 °F) / 1.1 °C (34 °F), 21 rain days65 °F (18.5 °C) / 34 °F (1.1 °C), 21 rain days
• Choibalsan20 °C (68 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 17 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 17 rain days
• Dalanzadgad8.1 °C (47 °F) / 21.4 °C (71 °F), 11 rain days47 °F (8.1 °C) / 71 °F (21.4 °C), 11 rain days
• Darkhan21.7 °C (71 °F) / 3.1 °C (38 °F), 20 rain days71 °F (21.7 °C) / 38 °F (3.1 °C), 20 rain days
• Erdenet17 °C (63 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 6 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 6 rain days
• Hovd19.6 °C (67 °F) / 5.7 °C (42 °F), 14 rain days67 °F (19.6 °C) / 42 °F (5.7 °C), 14 rain days
• Hutag-Ondor18 °C (64 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 6 rain days64 °F (18 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 6 rain days
• Karakorum17 °C (63 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 5 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 5 rain days
• Mandalgovĭ20 °C (68 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 9 rain days
• Mörön18.3 °C (65 °F) / 2.8 °C (37 °F), 17 rain days65 °F (18.3 °C) / 37 °F (2.8 °C), 17 rain days
• Ölgii17 °C (63 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 15 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 15 rain days
• Ondorkhaan20.1 °C (68 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 18 rain days68 °F (20.1 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 18 rain days
• Sainshand8.2 °C (47 °F) / 22.8 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days47 °F (8.2 °C) / 73 °F (22.8 °C), 10 rain days
• Sühbaatar15 °C (59 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
• Tsagaannuur14 °C (57 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Tsetserleg17 °C (63 °F) / 2.8 °C (37 °F), 35 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 37 °F (2.8 °C), 35 rain days
• Ulaangom16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 8 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 8 rain days
• Uliastai7.8 °C (46 °F) / 22.6 °C (73 °F), 34 rain days46 °F (7.8 °C) / 73 °F (22.6 °C), 34 rain days
• Zamyn-Üüd14 °C (57 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 5 rain days57 °F (14 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 5 rain days
• Zuunmod15 °C (59 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 5 rain days59 °F (15 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 5 rain days

Crowds · Mongolia

Low

Prices · Mongolia

Medium

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

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Ulaanbaatar

  Cool and dry; camps start to open.

• Mandalgovĭ

  Best months: May–Sep