Mongolia's Gobi Desert holds the Flaming Cliffs where dinosaur eggs were first found, Khövsgöl Lake mirrors the taiga 100km from Russia, and the Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar concentrates wrestling, archery, and horsemanship into three days.
Highlights
Ulaanbaatar
Gobi Desert
Khövsgöl Lake
Orkhon Valley
When to Visit
Jun-Aug
Naadam Festival July 11-13 in Ulaanbaatar and across countryside, Gobi accessible without the mud of spring or cold of winter.
Sep
Gobi cooling, Khövsgöl ger camps still operating, and the Eagle Festival in Bayan-Ölgii first weekend of October draws Kazakh hunters.
Oct-Apr
Bitter winter with Ulaanbaatar's air pollution rough and -30°C common. Ice festival on Khövsgöl Lake in March, and reindeer-herder visits possible.
May
Steppe greening, baby livestock everywhere, and the Gobi accessible without summer heat or winter cold. Foal-marking season across nomadic camps.
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