Mongolia in October

Golden Eagle Festival in Bayan-Ölgii early in the month; most ger camps close by mid-October; snow possible.

October 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 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 Ambest weather

  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, Uvsfine

  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, Khentiicool

  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 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, 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.

• Ulaanbaatar7 °C (45 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 3 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 3 rain days
• Altai5.5 °C (42 °F) / -6.5 °C (20 °F), 9 rain days42 °F (5.5 °C) / 20 °F (-6.5 °C), 9 rain days
• Arvayheer-3 °C (27 °F) / 8.4 °C (47 °F), 4 rain days27 °F (-3 °C) / 47 °F (8.4 °C), 4 rain days
• Baganuur7 °C (45 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 9 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 9 rain days
• Baruun-Urt9.7 °C (49 °F) / -3.3 °C (26 °F), 6 rain days49 °F (9.7 °C) / 26 °F (-3.3 °C), 6 rain days
• Bayanhongor-5.2 °C (23 °F) / 7.9 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days23 °F (-5.2 °C) / 46 °F (7.9 °C), 6 rain days
• Bulgan8.7 °C (48 °F) / -6.8 °C (20 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (8.7 °C) / 20 °F (-6.8 °C), 8 rain days
• Choibalsan10 °C (50 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
• Dalanzadgad-0.3 °C (31 °F) / 12.5 °C (55 °F), 5 rain days31 °F (-0.3 °C) / 55 °F (12.5 °C), 5 rain days
• Darkhan10.7 °C (51 °F) / -4.9 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days51 °F (10.7 °C) / 23 °F (-4.9 °C), 13 rain days
• Erdenet7 °C (45 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 4 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 4 rain days
• Hovd10.1 °C (50 °F) / -3.4 °C (26 °F), 4 rain days50 °F (10.1 °C) / 26 °F (-3.4 °C), 4 rain days
• Hutag-Ondor8 °C (46 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 3 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 3 rain days
• Karakorum7 °C (45 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 3 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 3 rain days
• Mandalgovĭ10 °C (50 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
• Mörön9 °C (48 °F) / -5.6 °C (22 °F), 7 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 22 °F (-5.6 °C), 7 rain days
• Ölgii8 °C (46 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 2 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 2 rain days
• Ondorkhaan9.6 °C (49 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 9 rain days49 °F (9.6 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 9 rain days
• Sainshand-0.7 °C (31 °F) / 12.5 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days31 °F (-0.7 °C) / 55 °F (12.5 °C), 4 rain days
• Sühbaatar5 °C (41 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 4 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 4 rain days
• Tsagaannuur5 °C (41 °F) / -8 °C (18 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 18 °F (-8 °C), 5 rain days
• Tsetserleg8.8 °C (48 °F) / -4.8 °C (23 °F), 13 rain days48 °F (8.8 °C) / 23 °F (-4.8 °C), 13 rain days
• Ulaangom11 °C (52 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 6 rain days52 °F (11 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 6 rain days
• Uliastai-18.1 °C (−1 °F) / -4.4 °C (24 °F), 5 rain days−1 °F (-18.1 °C) / 24 °F (-4.4 °C), 5 rain days
• Zamyn-Üüd8 °C (46 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 4 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 4 rain days
• Zuunmod9 °C (48 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 3 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 3 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.

• Golden Eagle Festival (Ölgii)

  Early Oct (check)

  Flights to Ölgii and homestays fill; book 3–6 months ahead.

• Eagle festivals (Bayan-Ölgii, far west)

  Oct · Ulaanbaatar

  Not in the city; flights and tours out of Ulaanbaatar sell 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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Rated best or good this month

• Gobi

  Best weather of the year (Dalanzadgad, Khongoryn Els, Bayanzag, Yolyn Am)

• Ölgii

  Best months: Jul–Sep; Golden Eagle Festival in early Oct