Mongolia in December

December weather, activities, events & insider tips

December Weather in Mongolia

-10°C (14°F) High Temp

-25°C (-13°F) Low Temp

5 mm (0.2 inches) Rainfall

65% Humidity

Is December Right for You?

Advantages

Crystal-clear skies provide exceptional visibility for photography and stargazing - December has 20+ sunny days with minimal cloud cover
Winter festivals are in full swing including Tsagaan Sar preparations, winter horse racing, and traditional felt-making workshops that tourists rarely see
Frozen lakes and rivers create unique transportation routes and ice activities unavailable other times - locals use frozen Kherlen River as highway
Hotel and tour prices drop 40-60% from summer peaks, with luxury ger camps offering winter packages at ₮150,000-250,000 ($60-100) per night versus ₮400,000+ in summer

Considerations

Extreme cold requires extensive specialized gear - temperatures below -20°C (-4°F) make standard winter clothing inadequate and frostbite risk high
Limited daylight with only 8 hours 30 minutes of sunlight and sunset by 5:30 PM severely restricts outdoor activity windows
Many rural roads become impassable and some ger camps close entirely - access to Gobi Desert and remote areas requires specialized winter vehicles adding ₮200,000+ ($80+) daily to transport costs

Best Activities in December

Ulaanbaatar Winter Cultural Experiences

December is peak season for authentic Mongolian winter traditions. The National Naadam Winter Festival showcases traditional wrestling, archery, and ice horse racing. Ulaanbaatar holds special winter ceremonies, and the city's museums offer heated venues to learn about nomadic culture. Morning temperatures around -15°C (5°F) make indoor cultural sites ideal, while brief afternoon outdoor activities are possible when temperatures rise to -10°C (14°F).

Booking Tip: Book cultural tours 5-7 days ahead through established operators. Expect to pay ₮80,000-150,000 ($30-60) for full-day city tours including transportation in heated vehicles. Look for operators providing traditional winter clothing rentals. Indoor venues require advance booking as locals also seek warm activities.

Terelj National Park Winter Adventures

Frozen landscapes create magical scenery just 70 km (43 miles) from Ulaanbaatar. December offers ice climbing, winter horseback riding, and visits to nomadic families in heated gers. The famous Turtle Rock is dramatically beautiful under snow. Clear December skies provide perfect photography conditions, and winter ger camps offer authentic heating systems using dried dung - a cultural experience impossible in summer.

Booking Tip: Book 10-14 days ahead as winter access requires specialized 4WD vehicles. Winter packages typically cost ₮300,000-500,000 ($120-200) including heated accommodation, meals, and winter gear rental. Ensure operators provide extreme cold weather equipment and heated transport. Day trips possible but overnight stays offer better value and experience.

Khövsgöl Lake Ice Activities

The 'Blue Pearl of Mongolia' transforms into a massive ice rink in December with ice thickness reaching 1 m (3.3 ft). Local Tsaatan reindeer herders bring their animals closer to the lake shores for winter grazing, offering rare wildlife photography opportunities. Ice fishing, dog sledding, and traditional ice games are available. The lake's frozen surface allows access to areas unreachable in summer.

Booking Tip: Requires 3-4 day commitment due to 700 km (435 mile) distance from Ulaanbaatar. Multi-day packages cost ₮800,000-1,200,000 ($320-480) including flights or heated vehicle transport, accommodation, and winter activities. Book 3-4 weeks ahead as winter access is limited to specialized tour operators with proper cold weather equipment and emergency protocols.

Traditional Winter Workshops in Ger Districts

December is traditional craft season when nomadic families prepare for Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year). Participate in felt-making, traditional boot crafting, and dairy product preparation in authentic ger districts. These working-class neighborhoods offer genuine cultural immersion unavailable in tourist areas. Indoor workshops provide warmth while learning skills passed down for generations.

Booking Tip: Arrange through community-based tourism operators 1-2 weeks ahead. Half-day workshops cost ₮50,000-80,000 ($20-32) including materials and traditional lunch. Look for operators working directly with ger district families to ensure real feels and fair compensation. Morning sessions 10 AM-1 PM avoid coldest temperatures.

Winter Eagle Hunting Experiences

December is prime eagle hunting season in western Mongolia when golden eagles are most active and hunting conditions optimal. Kazakh hunters in Bayan-Ölgii use trained eagles for fox and wolf hunting. The extreme cold makes fur pelts prime quality. Snow-covered Russia provide dramatic backdrops for photography and authentic cultural exchange with eagle hunting families.

Booking Tip: Requires minimum 5-7 day commitment and significant budget - packages typically ₮1,500,000-2,500,000 ($600-1,000) including domestic flights, specialized accommodation, and winter survival gear. Book 6-8 weeks ahead as access depends on weather conditions and limited winter operators. Essential to use operators with emergency communication equipment and medical evacuation insurance.

Ulaanbaatar Winter Markets and Food Tours

December brings unique winter foods unavailable other seasons - frozen meat markets, winter dairy products, and traditional warming foods like milk tea with salt and dried meat. The State Department Store and Ulaanbaatar adapt to winter with indoor sections. Traditional restaurants serve hearty mutton stews and fermented mare's milk perfect for extreme cold. Market visits provide warm indoor cultural experiences.

Booking Tip: Food tours cost ₮60,000-120,000 ($25-48) for 4-5 hour experiences including transportation in heated vehicles. Book 3-5 days ahead through operators familiar with winter market schedules - some outdoor vendors only operate during warmest midday hours 11 AM-3 PM. Look for tours including traditional winter clothing rental for outdoor market sections.

December Events & Festivals

Throughout December

Tsagaan Sar Preparation Season

December marks the intensive preparation period for Mongolian Lunar New Year (typically February). Families engage in traditional cleaning, food preparation, and craft-making. Visitors can participate in making traditional cookies, felt items, and ceremonial decorations. This offers deeper cultural immersion than the actual holiday when families are private.

Mid to Late December

Winter Horse Racing Festival

Traditional winter horse races featuring children riders on hardy Mongolian horses across frozen steppes. Races occur on frozen lakes and rivers around Ulaanbaatar and Terelj. These smaller, more authentic events offer better interaction with nomadic families than summer's crowded Naadam.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Extreme cold weather boots rated to -40°C (-40°F) - regular winter boots fail in Mongolian December conditions causing frostbite risk

Layering system with merino wool base layer, insulating middle layer, and windproof outer shell - cotton kills in these temperatures

Face protection including balaclava and ski goggles - exposed skin gets frostbite in under 10 minutes at -25°C (-13°F)

Chemical hand and foot warmers (bring 20+ pairs) - not reliably available locally and essential for outdoor photography and activities

Insulated water bottle - regular bottles freeze solid within 30 minutes outside, potentially cracking

High-SPF lip balm with cold protection - UV reflects off snow and dry air causes severe chapping

Waterproof phone case and power banks - phone batteries drain rapidly in extreme cold and condensation damages electronics

Thick wool socks and liner socks - prevents blistering in heavy boots during long indoor periods

Down sleeping bag rated to -20°C (-4°F) minimum even for heated accommodation - heating can fail and backup warmth is critical

Emergency whistle and headlamp - December's 8.5-hour daylight means frequent darkness and visibility issues

Insider Knowledge

Mongolians heat their homes to 25°C+ (77°F+) in December, so pack lightweight indoor clothes - you'll overheat in heavy sweaters inside gers and buildings

Afternoon temperatures from 12-3 PM are 10-15°C (18-27°F) warmer than morning/evening - schedule all outdoor photography and sightseeing during this narrow window

Book accommodation with backup heating systems - power outages are common and some ger camps rely solely on electrical heating that fails during storms

Mongolians drink hot milk tea constantly in winter - accepting offered tea is culturally important and actually helps prevent dehydration in dry winter air

Avoid These Mistakes

Underestimating gear needs and buying inadequate winter clothing - many tourists require emergency gear purchases at 300% markup in Ulaanbaatar

Planning too many outdoor activities per day - extreme cold limits outdoor time to 2-3 hours maximum even with proper gear, requiring more indoor cultural activities

Not accounting for transportation delays - winter storms can trap travelers for days, always build 2-3 buffer days into international departure plans