Winter travel
Winter in Mongolia: What It's Really Like and Who It's For
Short answer
Winter in Mongolia (roughly November–March) is extremely cold — countryside nights regularly fall below −30 °C in the coldest months — with short days, frozen roads and many tourist camps closed. It can be magical: frozen Khövsgöl, winter festivals, nomads in their winter camps, no crowds. But it's a specialist trip that needs the right vehicle, clothing, crew and buffer days, not a summer itinerary in the cold.
Key facts
- Temperatures
- Very cold; −20 to −40 °C nights are possible in the coldest months
- Daylight
- Short in December–January; plan drives within daylight
- Festivals
- Khövsgöl Ice Festival, Thousand Camel Festival, Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year)
- Ulaanbaatar air
- Severe pollution in the coldest months
Mongolia in winter is one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth. That’s the attraction and the risk.
What’s good about winter
- Frozen Lake Khövsgöl — vast, clear ice, with the Ice Festival at Khatgal in late winter (2026: listed 2–3 March; dates vary).
- Thousand Camel Festival in the Gobi (late winter; date has shifted between February and March).
- Eagle hunting in Bayan-Ölgii — the actual hunting season.
- Nomads in winter camps — a very different, harder side of herding life.
- No crowds, clear skies, snow on the steppe.
The realities
- Cold. Countryside temperatures in December–February can drop to −30 or −40 °C at night. Wind makes it worse.
- Short days. Drives need to fit in daylight.
- Roads. Snow and ice; some routes are better in winter (frozen ground), others close.
- Accommodation. Most tourist camps are closed. Expect hotels in towns, a few winter camps, and family gers.
- Ulaanbaatar air pollution in the coldest months is among the worst of any capital — a real consideration for anyone with respiratory issues.
- Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year, January or February) closes many businesses for several days.
What a sensible winter trip looks like
Short distances, experienced winter drivers, well-maintained vehicles (sometimes two travelling together), a guide, contingency days, and proper clothing — down jacket, insulated boots rated for extreme cold, layers, face and hand protection. See what to pack.
Who it suits
Travelers with cold-weather experience, photographers, festival-goers, and people who’ve already done a summer trip. Not a good first trip for most.
Questions travelers ask
Is it safe to travel in Mongolia in winter?
It can be, with experienced local crews, reliable vehicles, proper clothing, conservative plans and buffer days. Breakdowns and getting stuck are far more serious in −30 °C than in summer. Don't self-drive in the countryside in winter unless you have serious cold-climate experience.
Are ger camps open in winter?
Most tourist ger camps close from around October to May. Winter trips use hotels, the few camps that stay open (some near Ulaanbaatar), and herder families' winter camps.
What is Tsagaan Sar?
The Mongolian Lunar New Year, usually in January or February, a major family holiday. It's culturally fascinating, but many businesses close and services are limited for several days.
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