Things to Do in Mongolia in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Mongolia
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
44°F (7°C)
High Temp
68°F (20°C)
Low Temp
2.0 inches (51 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Sudden thaw can turn dirt roads into axle-deep mud traps by midday - carry tow rope
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March is the last gasp of true winter - you'll still see the Tuul River frozen solid in Ulaanbaatar. But daytime thaws hit 7°C (44°F) by mid-afternoon, giving you both snow scenes and workable light for photography without the brutal -30°C (-22°F) January nights
- + Hotel rates are still shoulder-season cheap. Most properties drop winter discounts through to Naadam in July, so you'll pay roughly 30 % less than summer peak while scoring rooms that book out six months ahead in July
- + Domestic flights to the Gobi operate on reduced winter schedules - you can often score same-day seats to Dalanzadgad that vanish in May, and pilots will bank the aircraft so passengers can photograph the snow-dusted Flaming Cliffs at sunrise
- + Air quality is dramatically better than December-February; the coal stoves taper off after Tsagaan Sar (late Feb/early Mar), so the throat-burning smog that blankets Ulaanbaatar finally lifts enough to see the city's surrounding hills from Sukhbaatar Square
- + Local life feels unfiltered - you'll share a ger with herders who are still winter-fattening sheep in the Khustai steppe, and you'll drink airag that's been fermenting since autumn. By summer these families are swamped with tour groups
Considerations
- − Overland travel to the countryside means driving on rutted ice tracks. The 290 km (180 mi) run to Karakorum can take six hours if thaw turns the road into a slush canal, and rental 4×4 vans routinely get bogged
- − Many ger camps are still shuttered. Only a handful between Gorkhi-Terelj and Hustai keep staff on payroll, so if you want the classic steppe-camp experience you need to book the few that stay open (and they run minimal services)
- − Evenings drop back below freezing - you'll wake to frost inside your ger and the outhouse seat will be rimed. If you're the type who hates midnight dashes across snow, March will test you
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Frozen River Horse Treks on the Tuul
March mornings you can still gallop across the Tuul's 40 cm (16 in) ice crust east of Ulaanbaatar. The snow is firm until 11 am when daily thaw softens it into knee-deep slush, so dawn rides give you champagne powder without summer dust.
Booking Tip: Book two days ahead through licensed outfitters that provide winter-shod Mongol horses. Rides typically start 7 am from Gachuurt village and last 90 min.
Winter Gobi Sunrise Photography at Bayanzag
Bayanzag's red sandstone cliffs dusted with March snow glow peach at 7:05 am; low sun angle plus snow reflectivity gives you textbook contrast without the 40°C (104°F) summer heat that fries sensor batteries.
Booking Tip: Fly to Dalanzadgad the afternoon before. Local drivers know the 90 min track to the cliffs that stays frozen solid until mid-morning.
Ice Festival Day-Trips on Terelj's Frozen River
Terelj still hosts impromptu ice games in early March - locals slide horse-drawn sleges on the frozen Terelj River, and you'll get invited to try ankle-bone shooting right on the ice.
Booking Tip: Go on a weekday to avoid school-holiday crowds. The ice is thickest before 10 am, so leave UB by 8 am.
Museum-Hopping in Ulaanbaatar on Thaw Days
When afternoon thaw turns pavements into ankle-deep puddles, duck into the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan or the Choijin Lama Museum - both are heated and virtually empty in March, so you can linger over 19th-century silk thangkas without tour-bus elbowing.
Booking Tip: Buy the combined ticket at the first museum. It covers four downtown sites and saves queue time when snowmelt soaks the city center.
Where to Stay in Mongolia in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early March (if lunar calendar aligns)
Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) Tail-End Celebrations
If Tsagaan Sar slips into early March, herders host the final open-house day; you'll ride with families to neighboring gers, exchange snuff-bottles, and eat ul boov (deep-fried biscuits) still warm from mutton fat fryers.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Mongolia Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
UB's State Department Store basement supermarket sells imported Korean instant ramen for half the price of hotel breakfasts; March mornings are cold enough that the security guard lets you sip hot water from their free dispenser while you wait for your driver
If you want to photograph eagle hunters, head to the Nalaikh district on Saturdays - weekend horse-training sessions mean the birds are active 10 am-noon and handlers are relaxed about photos for a small tip
Negotiate taxi fares before 8 pm. After that the mercury hits -8°C (18°F) and drivers triple rates because they know you won't walk
Carry a lighter even if you don't smoke - ger stoves go out overnight and herders appreciate the gesture when you relight theirs at sunrise
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming March is 'spring' - locals still call it winter. Pack like you're skiing in Colorado, not hiking in April
Booking a 'desert tour' without asking if the camp toilets are winterized. Many Gobi camps still dig snow-covered long-drops in March
Planning same-day domestic flights back-to-back - March fog delays average 90 min at UB airport, so pad one-night buffers
Book Experiences in Mongolia
Top-rated things to do in Mongolia this March
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