Situated in the middle of the largest continent on Earth, it’s hardly surprising that Mongolia is a dry country. It’s also a place of extreme temperatures. It heats up quickly in summer; but oh, how it cools down in winter! In fact Ulaan Baatar has the distinction of being the coldest capital city in the world!

Temperatures across the country remain well below freezing through the long winter - frequently falling as low as -40 Celsius overnight. However, snowfall is limited by the dryness of the air.

As the temperature rises during the spring months of March and April, so showers begin to occur - first of snow and then of rain - transforming the landscape into a carpet of wild flowers as the ground thaws out through May.

Summer is short but intense. As temperatures soar through the 20s and 30s, so heavy afternoon thunderstorms can occur, especially from June to August. These don’t last long though, allowing the hot sun to shine for much of the time. This is the time of the famous Naadam Festival, when visitors flock to this unique spectacle of Mongolian culture and sporting prowess. However the nights remain chilly - in the southern Gobi Desert, temperatures can fall from 40 Celsius by day to near freezing at night.

By September the shorter days bring a mellower daytime heat and fewer showers. The crisp air makes this a comfortable time to visit, ahead of the long cold winter. And it won’t be long to arrive. October sees the first snows drift across the vast steppes, and by November the country is once more submerged into a frigid grip until the following spring.