Things to Do in Mongolia in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Mongolia
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak Naadam Festival season - August is when you'll catch regional Naadam celebrations across the countryside after the big Ulaanbaatar event in July. These smaller provincial festivals (particularly in Arkhangai, Khövsgöl, and Zavkhan aimags) feel more authentic, with fewer tourists and better access to wrestlers, archers, and horse trainers who actually have time to chat between events.
- Grasslands at maximum green - The steppe reaches its most photogenic state in August after summer rains. Wildflowers are still blooming across the Orkhon Valley and Khövsgöl region, and livestock are at their healthiest, which matters because you'll be drinking airag (fermented mare's milk) and eating dairy products that taste noticeably better when animals are on lush pasture rather than dried winter feed.
- Warmest water temperatures for Khövsgöl Lake - The lake reaches 15-18°C (59-64°F) in August, which is still bracingly cold but actually swimmable if you're determined. Most months you'd need a wetsuit, but August gives you a narrow window where locals and adventurous travelers actually take dips without hypothermia risk.
- Stable weather for multi-day treks and horse riding - August sits in that sweet spot after the heaviest summer rains (June-July) but before autumn cold snaps arrive in September. You'll still get afternoon thunderstorms maybe 3-4 days out of 10, but they're predictable (usually 3-6pm) and roads are passable. The Gobi is particularly reliable this month, with minimal dust storms and comfortable overnight temperatures around 12-15°C (54-59°F) instead of the brutal summer heat of July.
Considerations
- Mosquitoes and biting insects peak in August - The combination of summer warmth and recent rainfall creates ideal breeding conditions, particularly around Khövsgöl Lake, Orkhon Valley, and any water sources in the steppe. You'll need DEET 30% minimum, and ger camps without proper netting become genuinely unpleasant at dawn and dusk. Locals burn dried horse dung to create smoke that drives them away, which works but means everything smells like smoke.
- Higher accommodation prices and limited availability - August is firmly high season, so ger camps and guesthouses in popular areas (Terelj, Khövsgöl, Kharkhorin) charge 30-40% more than shoulder season and often book solid 4-6 weeks ahead. If you're planning the classic tourist circuit without advance reservations, you might find yourself scrambling or settling for subpar camps with squat toilets and no hot water.
- Afternoon thunderstorms disrupt photography and outdoor plans - Those 3-6pm storms tend to bring dramatic cloud cover right when you'd ideally be photographing landscapes in good light. The storms themselves are photogenic, but you'll lose that golden hour window regularly. Also worth noting that dirt roads turn to mud quickly, so if you're doing a multi-day Gobi trip, expect delays and occasional route changes when drivers avoid boggy sections.
Best Activities in August
Multi-day Gobi Desert expeditions
August offers the most comfortable Gobi conditions of the year - daytime temperatures around 25-30°C (77-86°F) instead of the 35-40°C (95-104°F) you'd face in July, and overnight temps that actually let you sleep (12-15°C/54-59°F). The sand dunes at Khongoryn Els are stable enough for climbing without burning your feet, and you can visit Yolyn Am (Eagle Valley) ice field before it fully melts. The variable weather actually works in your favor here because afternoon clouds create dramatic light on the dunes.
Khövsgöl Lake camping and horse trekking
The lake sits at its warmest and most accessible in August. You can actually kayak or paddleboard without full cold-water gear, and the surrounding taiga forest is thick with berries that locals pick for preserves. Multi-day horse treks into the Darkhad Depression or toward the Tsaatan reindeer herders are feasible because rivers are low enough to cross safely. Morning mist on the lake creates that postcard Mongolia moment, though you'll trade it for mosquito warfare at dawn.
Regional Naadam festival experiences
While the big Ulaanbaatar Naadam happens July 11-13, provincial capitals and sum (district) centers host their own celebrations throughout August. These feel less staged - you can walk right up to the wrestling area, chat with archers between rounds, and follow horse races on motorcycles alongside locals. Arkhangai aimag (Tsetserleg town) and Khövsgöl aimag (Mörön town) typically hold festivals in early to mid-August. The wrestling is just as skilled, the horses just as fast, but you'll actually get photos without 500 other tourists in frame.
Orkhon Valley waterfall and hot springs circuit
The Orkhon River runs full in August from summer rains, making Ulaan Tsutgalan waterfall actually impressive (it's disappointing in dry months). The grasslands are still green, wildflowers are blooming, and you can combine waterfall visits with soaks in Tsenkher hot springs where water comes out at 86°C (187°F) and gets piped into outdoor pools at a perfect 38-42°C (100-108°F). The area has decent ger camp infrastructure, so it's manageable even for travelers who aren't ready for full wilderness camping.
Terelj National Park rock climbing and hiking
Just 70 km (43 miles) from Ulaanbaatar, Terelj offers genuine alpine scenery without the commitment of a multi-day expedition. August weather is stable enough for technical climbing on Turtle Rock formations and the granite walls near Aryabal meditation temple. The 2 km (1.2 mile) hike up to Aryabal temple gains 250 m (820 ft) elevation and takes 45-60 minutes, with prayer flags and mountain views that justify the lung-burning climb. Wildflowers are still blooming on the hillsides, and you can combine hiking with visits to nomadic families who welcome tourists for airag and cheese tastings.
Traditional dairy product workshops and nomadic homestays
August is peak dairy season when livestock are producing maximum milk on lush pasture. This is the absolute best time to learn airag (fermented mare's milk) production, watch cheese-making, and taste aaruul (dried curds) that actually has flavor instead of the cardboard texture you get from winter-made products. Several ger camps and tourism cooperatives in Arkhangai and Bulgan aimags offer half-day or full-day workshops where you'll milk animals, churn airag, and help make yogurt. It sounds touristy but it's genuinely how nomadic families spend August, preserving dairy for winter.
August Events & Festivals
Provincial Naadam Festivals
After the national Naadam in July, aimag capitals and sum centers hold their own celebrations throughout August. These feature the same three manly sports - wrestling, archery, and horse racing - but with a more community feel. You'll see entire families camping in their own gers around the festival grounds, and competitions can last 2-3 days. Arkhangai, Khövsgöl, and Zavkhan aimags typically host larger provincial Naadams in early August, while smaller sum festivals happen throughout the month. The wrestling is often higher quality than you'd expect because top athletes return to their home regions after the Ulaanbaatar event.
Yak Festival in Orkhon Valley
Usually held in late July or early August near Kharkhorin, this celebrates yak herding culture with yak racing, yak polo, and competitions for best yak products including cheese, felt, and rope. It's smaller and quirkier than Naadam, organized partly for tourists but genuinely enjoyed by local herding families who take yak breeding seriously. You'll see decorated yaks, taste yak butter tea, and watch surprisingly agile yaks gallop around a race course.