Winter Tourism in Mongolia 2026–27: What's New and How to Plan
Winter tourism in Mongolia is getting a push for 2026–27. In December 2025 the government reviewed a Winter Tourism Development Plan to make Mongolia a year-round destination, and this winter brings seasonal MIAT flights from Singapore (15 December 2026 – 17 January 2027), frozen lakes, ice festivals and dog sledding near Ulaanbaatar. Here is what is new, what a winter trip looks like, and how to prepare for cold that can reach −40°C.
Key facts
Policy: Winter Tourism Development Plan reviewed by the Cabinet, 24 December 2025
Measures: Winter Discount Month, charter-flight support, more winter events
Flights: MIAT Singapore–Ulaanbaatar nonstop, twice weekly, 15 Dec 2026 – 17 Jan 2027
Khuvsgul: Frozen by end of November; ice 70 cm – 1 m
Cold: Down to −40°C in winter and at night (GOV.UK)
Visas: SG, MY, JP 30 days; HK SAR 14 days visa-free (checked 27 Oct 2026)
Source: Montsame, AeroRoutes, GOV.UK, Consular Department of Mongolia
What is Mongolia doing to grow winter tourism?
The government wants visitors outside the short summer season. At its meeting on 24 December 2025, the Cabinet reviewed a draft Winter Tourism Development Plan and the integrated 2026 calendar of national tourism events, and told agencies to implement them, Montsame reported.
The plan's measures include:
A nationwide winter "Discount Month" campaign with trade and service providers.
Faster development of cross-border and border-area tourism.
Direct flights from cities in neighbouring countries to provincial destinations, and support for foreign airlines' charter requests.
More specialised winter tourism events.
The goal, in the government's words, is to reduce the seasonality of tourism. For travellers that means more events and, over time, more ways to reach Mongolia in winter.
What can you do in Mongolia in winter?
Far more than most visitors expect. A Montsame overview of winter tourism lists horse trekking, reindeer and two-humped camel tours, dog and horse sledding, skiing, ice climbing, staying with a reindeer-herding family, winter herder life, ice fishing and hot springs on snowy plains.
The easiest is a day trip from Ulaanbaatar. Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, about 65–70 km east of the city, offers dog sledding in Terelj, horse riding and a visit to the Chinggis Khaan Statue at Tsonjin Boldog in one day.
Further north, Lake Khuvsgul freezes completely by the end of November, with ice 70 cm to 1 m thick, according to Montsame's guide to winter in Khuvsgul aimag. The same article describes the Jargalant River, which stays unfrozen even at −50°C, and visits to Tsaatan reindeer herders in Tsagaannuur soum.
Which winter events are worth planning around?
Mongolia's winter calendar runs from December to March. The season often opens with the Karakorum Ice Festival at the frozen Orkhon Waterfall in Uvurkhangai aimag, held on 6–7 December 2025 as the 13th annual ice-climbing championship and the first event of the 2025–26 Asian ice-climbing season, Montsame reported.
Later come camel festivals in the Gobi, the Blue Pearl Ice Festival on Lake Khuvsgul and the spring eagle festival in Ulaanbaatar. Official 2027 dates are not all published yet, so we have collected the usual timing and the last confirmed dates in our guide to Mongolia's winter festivals in 2027.
How cold is Mongolia in winter?
Very cold, and the weather can turn quickly. The UK government's Mongolia travel advice gives a range from +35°C in summer to −40°C in winter and at night, and notes frequent warnings for heavy snow and blizzards.
Good layers, insulated boots, mittens and a warm hat make the difference between a hard day and a memorable one.
How do you get to Mongolia in winter?
Most visitors fly into Chinggis Khaan International Airport near Ulaanbaatar. This winter MIAT Mongolian Airlines runs a seasonal nonstop service from Singapore twice weekly between 15 December 2026 and 17 January 2027 with a Boeing 767-300ER, according to AeroRoutes. See our 6-day winter itinerary for these flights.
In the city itself, the new cable car between Yarmag and the Kharkhorin Market is in testing. Passenger service will start only after an independent Bureau Veritas assessment and State Commission approval, Montsame reported on 6 October 2026.
What this means for your trip
Short trips work: 4–6 days covers Ulaanbaatar, a day in Terelj and one countryside night. Our 1-day Mongolia Winter Tour and Dog Sledding Tour are built for this.
Festival trips need flexibility: wait for official dates before booking flights around a specific festival.
Allow buffer time: snow and blizzards can slow road travel, so avoid tight connections on the day you return from the countryside.
Visas: Singapore, Malaysia and Japan passport holders can stay up to 30 days visa-free, and Hong Kong SAR passport holders up to 14 days (Mongolia's Consular Department, checked 27 October 2026).
How Enza Tours can help
We plan winter trips with warm vehicles, experienced drivers and heated ger stays, and we build spare time into itineraries for snowy days. For travellers from warm climates we can arrange winter clothing in advance. Tell us your dates and we will suggest the right mix of city, Terelj and countryside.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mongolia worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you prepare for the cold. Winter in Mongolia brings dog sledding in Terelj, frozen Lake Khuvsgul, reindeer herders and ice and camel festivals, and the government's Winter Tourism Development Plan (reviewed 24 December 2025) aims to grow winter travel.
How cold does Mongolia get in winter?
Mongolia can reach −40°C in winter and at night, according to the UK's Mongolia travel advice, with frequent warnings for heavy snow and blizzards.
When does Lake Khuvsgul freeze?
Lake Khuvsgul in northern Mongolia freezes completely by the end of November, with ice 70 cm to 1 m thick, according to Montsame.
Is there a direct flight from Singapore to Mongolia in winter 2026?
Yes. MIAT Mongolian Airlines flies Singapore–Ulaanbaatar nonstop twice weekly from 15 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, according to AeroRoutes.
Tours that fit this story
Hand-picked from our current programmes. See all of them on our Mongolia short tours page.
Mongolia Winter Tour (1 day): Dog sledging in Terelj and the Chinggis Khaan statue.
Dog Sledding Tour: Terelj National Park and Tsonjin Boldog.
2 Days Terelj National Park Tour: A night with a nomadic family in Terelj.
Sources
Montsame: Enhancing winter tourism: must-experience winter events in Mongolia (11 Feb 2024)
Montsame: Karakorum Ice Festival 2025 draws international ice climbers (2 Dec 2025)
AeroRoutes: MIAT shortens Singapore seasonal service in NW26 (29 Sep 2026)
GOV.UK: Mongolia travel advice, safety and security (read 27 Oct 2026)
Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia: visa-free countries (read 27 Oct 2026)
About this article
Written by the Enza Tours News Desk in Ulaanbaatar and checked by our team before publishing. Every date, number and rule in this post comes from the sources listed above, which we read on 27 October 2026. Last updated: 27 October 2026.
About Enza Tours LLC. We are a Mongolian inbound tour operator, founded in 2018 by Enkhzaya (Enza), and a member of the Mongolia Tourism Organization (MTO) and the Mongolian Tourism Association (MTA). Office: Room 39, Building 33, 4th Khoroo, Baga Toiruu Street, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar 15141, Mongolia. Phone +976 8911 2100 · info@mongoliantour.guide · Meet our team · Contact us
