Things to Do in Mongolia in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Mongolia
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Winter clarity creates the country's clearest skies - visibility extends 50+ km (31+ miles) across the steppe, making it exceptional for photography and astronomy. The Milky Way is visible even near Ulaanbaatar on cloudless nights.
- Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) preparations begin in late November, giving you access to traditional markets selling handmade deels, felt boots, and ceremonial foods that aren't available other times of year. Locals are actively preparing buuz and khuurshuur, and you'll find cooking demonstrations.
- Accommodation prices drop 40-60% compared to summer peak season. A ger camp that costs 180,000 MNT per night in July runs 70,000-90,000 MNT in November, and many Ulaanbaatar hotels offer winter promotions.
- The frozen landscape allows access to areas impassable in summer - frozen rivers become highways, and the hard ground means no mud. Winter eagle hunting season is in full swing in Bayan-Ölgii, with hunters actively training birds rather than performing for tourists.
Considerations
- This is genuinely harsh winter - temperatures of -22°C (-8°F) at night require serious cold-weather gear, and frostbite risk is real if you're unprepared. Most tourists underestimate how cold -20°C actually feels, especially with wind.
- Most ger camps outside Ulaanbaatar close entirely from November through March. The handful that remain open charge premium rates for heating costs, and the romantic idea of staying in a ger loses appeal when it's -15°C inside before the stove is lit each morning.
- Domestic flights to western provinces like Bayan-Ölgii and Khovd face frequent delays or cancellations due to weather. Ground transportation becomes unreliable - a 6-hour summer drive can take 12+ hours in winter conditions, and some rural roads close completely until spring thaw.
Best Activities in November
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park Winter Hiking and Ice Activities
November transforms Terelj into a winter wonderland before the peak cold sets in. The Tuul River begins freezing, creating interesting ice formations, and the famous Turtle Rock looks particularly dramatic dusted with snow. This is actually the sweet spot - cold enough for proper winter scenery but not yet the brutal -30°C of January. You can still do moderate hiking during midday hours when temperatures reach -5°C to 0°C (23°F to 32°F). The park stays accessible via paved road from Ulaanbaatar, just 55 km (34 miles) away, and several ger camps remain open with heated accommodations.
Ulaanbaatar Cultural Museums and Winter Festivals
November is actually ideal for exploring Ulaanbaatar's indoor attractions without the summer tourist crowds. The National Museum of Mongolia, Bogd Khan Winter Palace, and Choijin Lama Temple Museum are comfortably heated and nearly empty. Late November brings the start of Tsagaan Sar market season at Narantuul Market and the State Department Store, where you'll see locals shopping for traditional celebration items. The Zanabazar Museum of Fine Arts showcases Buddhist art in a warm, quiet setting. You can easily spend 3-4 hours at each major museum, and the city's cafes provide warm refuges between sites.
Bayan-Ölgii Eagle Hunting Experiences
November is authentic eagle hunting season in far western Mongolia - this is when Kazakh hunters actually use their eagles for hunting, not tourist demonstrations. The eagles hunt foxes and rabbits across the snow-covered Altai Mountains, and you're witnessing real hunting culture, not a performance. The landscape is stunning under early snow, and the Golden Eagle Festival crowds are long gone. That said, this requires serious commitment - Bayan-Ölgii is 1,710 km (1,063 miles) from Ulaanbaatar, temperatures drop to -25°C (-13°F), and you need 4-5 days minimum including travel time.
Khustain Nuruu National Park Takhi Horse Viewing
November offers surprisingly good conditions for viewing takhi (Przewalski's horses) at Khustain Nuruu, just 95 km (59 miles) west of Ulaanbaatar. The horses develop thick winter coats and are often visible near the park headquarters during morning and late afternoon feeding times. With no summer grass cover and leafless trees, visibility is actually better than warmer months. The park remains accessible via paved road, and the visitor center is heated. You can complete this as a day trip, returning to Ulaanbaatar by evening, making it a low-risk winter activity.
Traditional Mongolian Cuisine Workshops and Market Tours
Late November is the perfect time to learn Mongolian cooking as locals prepare for Tsagaan Sar. You'll find cooking classes teaching buuz (steamed dumplings), khuushuur (fried meat pies), and airag (fermented mare's milk) preparation. Narantuul Market becomes especially interesting as vendors sell traditional ingredients, hand-carved wooden bowls, and ceremonial items. The indoor State Department Store offers a warmer shopping experience with traditional crafts. This is genuine cultural immersion during a meaningful time of year, and being indoors makes it ideal for November's cold.
Zaisan Memorial and City Viewpoint Visits
The Zaisan Memorial offers panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar, and November's clear, dry air provides the year's best visibility - you can see 30+ km (19+ miles) across the valley on clear days. The 300-step climb is manageable during midday hours when temperatures hover around -5°C (23°F), and the lack of crowds means you'll have the viewpoint largely to yourself. The nearby Bogd Khan Mountain area shows early winter beauty without deep snow. Visit between 11am-2pm for the warmest conditions and best light for photography.
November Events & Festivals
Tsagaan Sar Preparation Period
While Tsagaan Sar itself happens in late January or February depending on the lunar calendar, late November marks when families begin serious preparations. Markets fill with traditional items, and you'll see locals shopping for deels, ceremonial scarves, and ingredients for the thousands of buuz each family makes. This isn't a tourist event but rather a window into authentic Mongolian culture during an important transitional period. Narantuul Market and the State Department Store become particularly vibrant.