Best Time of Year for Motorbike Travel in Mongolia

Mongolia is not a place where you can just show up any time of year with a motorbike. The seasons are extreme, and picking the wrong month can make riding difficult or even impossible.

Table of Contents

The Short Riding Season

In reality, the riding season is quite short. Roughly from late June to early September. Outside of that window, things get a lot more unpredictable. Winters are extremely cold, and in spring many areas are muddy from snowmelt.

During the summer months you generally get:

warmer temperatures
more stable weather
accessible dirt tracks
easier river crossings

That said, even summer is not completely predictable.

When I Would Go

Late June – July → best balance (green landscapes, nice temperatures)
August → great riding temperatures, slightly drier
Early September → quieter, but colder nights

Mud After Rain

One thing I quickly learned is that rain changes everything. I had a few days where I planned to keep riding, but after the rain the tracks turned into pure mud. At that point, continuing just didn’t make sense.

If you push too hard in muddy conditions you risk crashing, damaging the bike or getting completely stuck.

Cold Nights (Even in Summer)

The nights can be surprisingly cold. Even during the main travel season, temperatures can drop significantly after sunset. When you’re camping, you really notice it.

Having:

a warm sleeping bag
proper layers
a windproof jacket

makes a big difference in how comfortable your evenings are.

Sudden Storms

Weather can change quickly on the steppe. A clear morning can turn into heavy rain or strong wind within a few hours. When that happens, riding conditions can change just as quickly.