The climate in Winter in Mongolia is quite cold. The temperatures in January are between 15°C in the South and -35°C in the North. But it can also get colder. Most of the country is covered by permafrost and all rivers and lakes are frozen. This makes Winter not the primary time to go travelling in Mongolia. But if you love snow and the cold then this winter wonderland has some exciting things to offer. Here are some suggestions.
Visit eagle hunters in Western Mongolia
Western Mongolia is mostly populated by Kazakh people. In their culture, hunting with golden eagles, which is a form of falconry, is still in practice. There are about 250 eagle hunters in Western Mongolia around Bayan-Ölgii. Winter is the primary hunting season, which starts off with the famous golden eagle festivals in September and October. It is possible to visit eagle hunters and their families and enjoy this UNESCO-listed tradition first hand. It is even possible to be part of a hunt or hold the eagle by yourself.
- Where: Bayan-Olgii province
- Direction: 1600 km West of Ulaanbaatar
- How to get there: Domestic flight to Olgii or Hovd, public bus, or hire a guide/driver
- When: November - March
Visit the Ice Festival
In the North of Mongolia lies beautiful Khuvsgul Lake. One of the highlights in this area in the wintertime is the Ice Festival. This festival is enjoyed both by travellers and locals same. The program is versatile: there is an international skating marathon, horse sleigh races, displays of ice sculptures, shaman ceremonies and you might even see the reindeer herds coming down from the northern Taiga.
- Where: Khuvsgul lake
- Direction: 800 km North-West of Ulaanbaatar
- How to get there: Hire a driver or join a tour
- When: Beginning of March
Visit the Camel Festival
This festival celebrates the qualities of the bactrian camel. It is also called the "Thousand Camel Festival” and is held in the area of the Gobi Desert. The highlights of the festival include traditional music and dance performances and of course camel races.
- Where: Bulgan soum, Umnugobi (South Gobi) aimag
- Direction: 600 km South of Ulaanbaatar
- How to get there: Hire a guide/driver or join a tour
- When: Beginning of March
Explore the Terelj National Park
If you are looking for options near Ulaanbaatar, then Terelj national park is a good option to visit in Winter. You can visit the glacial Khagiin Khar Lake, the Yestii Hot Water Springs, and the Buddhist monastery which is open to visitors. You might also see some wildlife including over 250 species of birds.
- Where: Terelj National Park
- Direction: 70 km West of Ulaanbaatar
- How to get there: Hire a guide/driver or join a tour
- When: all year round
- Note: Combine with a visit at the Genghis Khan Statue
Climb the Genghis Khan Statue Complex
Mongolians are proud of their famous conqueror Genghis Khan. They even build a 40-meter tall statue of Genghis Khan on horseback. It is truly impressive and worth a visit. It lies along the Tuul River at Tsonjin Boldog east of the capital Ulaanbaatar. According to the legend, this was the place where he found a famous golden whip. At the top of the complex, there is a visitor center and a little restaurant.
- Where: Tsonjin Boldog
- Direction: 50 km West of Ulaanbaatar
- How to get there: Hire a guide/driver or join a tour
- When: all year round
- Note: Combine with a visit at the Terelj National Park
Searching for the snow leopard
The snow leopard is a large and beautiful cat native in Central Asia. There are only around 6500 animals left in the wild. It inhabits alpine zones up to 5000 meters. Mongolia is one of the few places where this magnificent animal can still be found. Especially in the Gobi Altai High Mountain area. Winter is a good time to spot the animal because they come down from the mountain to search for prey. It is possible to go on an expedition to look for this creature but it is not easy to spot.
- Where: Gobi Altai High Mountain
- Direction: Around 1000 km South-West of Ulaanbaatar
- How to get there: Hire a guide/driver or join a tour
- When: November - March
- Note: You need to have some stamina to find a snow leopard. It might take days to find one because there are just a few left and they are masters in camouflage.
Enjoy a dog sledding trip
Another way to enjoy the beautiful landscape is to go on a dog sledding trip. Dog sledding is not a traditional way of transport in this area but was recently introduced to Mongolia. Nowadays you can go on trips all over Mongolia including Khuvsgul Lake, Terelj, Khentii National Park or Bogd Khaan National Park.
- Where: Different places, for example Khovsgol lake
- How to get there: Hire a guide or join a tour
- When: November - March
The climate in Winter in Mongolia is quite cold. The temperatures in January are between 15°C in the South and -35°C in the North. But it can also get colder. Most of the country is covered by permafrost and all rivers and lakes are frozen. This makes Winter not the primary time to go travelling in Mongolia. But if you love snow and the cold then this winter wonderland has some exciting things to offer. Here are some suggestions.
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