Mongolia in November

Winter returns and the smog season starts; countryside trips only with specialist operators.

November 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 beltcool

  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 transitioncool

  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-5 °C (23 °F) / -16 °C (3 °F), 2 rain days23 °F (-5 °C) / 3 °F (-16 °C), 2 rain days
• Altai-2.8 °C (27 °F) / -15.3 °C (4 °F), 4 rain days27 °F (-2.8 °C) / 4 °F (-15.3 °C), 4 rain days
• Arvayheer-11.4 °C (11 °F) / -0.7 °C (31 °F), 2 rain days11 °F (-11.4 °C) / 31 °F (-0.7 °C), 2 rain days
• Baganuur-6 °C (21 °F) / -23 °C (−9 °F), 4 rain days21 °F (-6 °C) / −9 °F (-23 °C), 4 rain days
• Baruun-Urt-3.4 °C (26 °F) / -14.6 °C (6 °F), 3 rain days26 °F (-3.4 °C) / 6 °F (-14.6 °C), 3 rain days
• Bayanhongor-14.3 °C (6 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 3 rain days6 °F (-14.3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 3 rain days
• Bulgan-3.2 °C (26 °F) / -16.7 °C (2 °F), 5 rain days26 °F (-3.2 °C) / 2 °F (-16.7 °C), 5 rain days
• Choibalsan-4 °C (25 °F) / -14 °C (7 °F), 4 rain days25 °F (-4 °C) / 7 °F (-14 °C), 4 rain days
• Dalanzadgad-9.6 °C (15 °F) / 2.8 °C (37 °F), 3 rain days15 °F (-9.6 °C) / 37 °F (2.8 °C), 3 rain days
• Darkhan-3.1 °C (26 °F) / -16.6 °C (2 °F), 7 rain days26 °F (-3.1 °C) / 2 °F (-16.6 °C), 7 rain days
• Erdenet-4 °C (25 °F) / -16 °C (3 °F), 3 rain days25 °F (-4 °C) / 3 °F (-16 °C), 3 rain days
• Hovd-1.2 °C (30 °F) / -13.5 °C (8 °F), 2 rain days30 °F (-1.2 °C) / 8 °F (-13.5 °C), 2 rain days
• Hutag-Ondor-4 °C (25 °F) / -16 °C (3 °F), 2 rain days25 °F (-4 °C) / 3 °F (-16 °C), 2 rain days
• Karakorum-4 °C (25 °F) / -15 °C (5 °F), 2 rain days25 °F (-4 °C) / 5 °F (-15 °C), 2 rain days
• Mandalgovĭ-1 °C (30 °F) / -13 °C (9 °F), 2 rain days30 °F (-1 °C) / 9 °F (-13 °C), 2 rain days
• Mörön-3.4 °C (26 °F) / -15.4 °C (4 °F), 3 rain days26 °F (-3.4 °C) / 4 °F (-15.4 °C), 3 rain days
• Ölgii-2 °C (28 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 2 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 2 rain days
• Ondorkhaan-3.6 °C (26 °F) / -17.9 °C (0 °F), 4 rain days26 °F (-3.6 °C) / 0 °F (-17.9 °C), 4 rain days
• Sainshand-11.4 °C (11 °F) / 0.2 °C (32 °F), 2 rain days11 °F (-11.4 °C) / 32 °F (0.2 °C), 2 rain days
• Sühbaatar-5 °C (23 °F) / -20 °C (−4 °F), 3 rain days23 °F (-5 °C) / −4 °F (-20 °C), 3 rain days
• Tsagaannuur-6 °C (21 °F) / -18 °C (0 °F), 3 rain days21 °F (-6 °C) / 0 °F (-18 °C), 3 rain days
• Tsetserleg-0.7 °C (31 °F) / -12.7 °C (9 °F), 6 rain days31 °F (-0.7 °C) / 9 °F (-12.7 °C), 6 rain days
• Ulaangom2 °C (36 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 6 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 6 rain days
• Uliastai-25.2 °C (−13 °F) / -13.3 °C (8 °F), 4 rain days−13 °F (-25.2 °C) / 8 °F (-13.3 °C), 4 rain days
• Zamyn-Üüd-2 °C (28 °F) / -12 °C (10 °F), 3 rain days28 °F (-2 °C) / 10 °F (-12 °C), 3 rain days
• Zuunmod0 °C (32 °F) / -9 °C (16 °F), 2 rain days32 °F (0 °C) / 16 °F (-9 °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.

• Chinggis Khaan's Birthday

  Nov (lunar, first day of the first winter month — check)

  Public holiday; government offices closed.

• Republic Day

  26 Nov

  Public holiday.

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

  Freezing, smog builds.