Orkhon Valley Культурный ландшафт долины реки Орхон
Mongolia UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Orkhon Valley is a 1,220-square-kilometer valley in Mongolia recognized as a World Heritage Site for its cultural landscape. The area is included on the list of World Heritage Sites in Northern and Central Asia and ranks as the 7th most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The warmest time for a visit is during the summer months of June, July, and August. During this period, temperatures reach daily highs between 22 °C and 24 °C. Rain is most frequent during these months, with 12 to 16 rainy days reported. The winter months, spanning from November to March, are cold, with temperatures dropping to lows of -25 °C in January.
Accessing the valley typically involves travel from Ulaanbaatar, which is 307 kilometers away. The nearest airport is Arvaikheer Airport, located 145 kilometers from the site, while the major international hub, Ulaanbaatar Chinggis Khaan International Airport, is 299 kilometers away. Visitors often combine a trip to the valley with a visit to the Erdene Zuu Monastery, which is 39.5 kilometers away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 24 °C. The wettest is July, with about 68 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -10 | -6 | 2 | 10 | 17 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 16 | 8 | -2 | -9 |
| Average low, °C | -25 | -22 | -13 | -4 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 3 | -5 | -15 | -21 |
| Rainfall, mm | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 50 | 68 | 56 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
