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David Stanley CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Cold Winter Deserts of Turan

Nature Reserve

The Cold Winter Deserts of Turan cover steppe and desert expanses in Central Asia with harsh seasonal temperature swings; researchers and adventurous travelers visit for wildlife, geology and remote landscapes.

Cold Winter Deserts of Turan AlmatyAstanaCharyn National ParkTurkestanCold Winter Deserts of Turan
In this guide

Cold Winter Deserts of Turan essentials

Address: Almaty Region (Turan cold winter desert areas), Kazakhstan
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Neighbourhoods

Tips for Visiting Cold Winter Deserts of Turan

  • Plan travel for late spring or early autumn when temperatures are milder and desert tracks are more passable; the Cold Winter Deserts are most challenging in deep winter and high summer extremes.
  • Arrange travel with experienced local operators and use a vehicle equipped for remote terrain-services and fuel stops are sparse in this region, so organized logistics reduce risk.
  • Carry reliable navigation and check-in plans; distances between settlements are large and mobile coverage can be intermittent, so confirm routes and timings with your operator before setting out.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Cold Winter Deserts of Turan

Plan visits in late spring to early autumn to avoid the region's extreme winter cold and the hottest lowland summer temperatures.

Late spring to early autumn (best)
May-September · 10-30°C
Avoids winter cold and still avoids the peak summer heat in many desert basins; good for overland travel and fieldwork.
Winter (extreme cold)
November-March · -30-0°C
Very cold conditions with severe frosts and snow possible in parts of the cold winter deserts; travel and access can be difficult.
Summer (hot in lowlands)
June-August · 25-40°C
Some areas become very hot and dry; daytime heat can be intense in low-lying desert sections.

Weather & Climate near Cold Winter Deserts of Turan

Climate

Cold Winter Deserts of Turan's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -11°C to 30°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.

Air Quality: AQI 64 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
AugustJulyJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
42°
Warmest Month
-26°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable -10° - 2° -6° 19 mm partly cloudy 61% 1.4 m/s 0.2 low 9.1h
February Poor -11° - 1° -7° 19 mm overcast 60% 1.5 m/s 0.4 low 10.3h
March Poor -4° - 6° -2° 28 mm overcast 52% 1.9 m/s 0.7 moderate 11.8h
April Acceptable 2° - 15° 7° 46 mm overcast 48% 2.4 m/s 1.2 high 13.3h
May Good 8° - 21° 14° 51 mm partly cloudy 41% 2.4 m/s 1.7 very high 14.6h
June Very Good 13° - 26° 19° 51 mm partly cloudy 37% 2.2 m/s 2.0 very high 15.3h
July Excellent 16° - 30° 23° 41 mm partly cloudy 34% 2.1 m/s 2.0 extreme 15.0h
August Excellent 13° - 29° 21° 28 mm partly cloudy 32% 2.1 m/s 1.8 very high 13.8h
September Very Good 8° - 24° 16° 26 mm partly cloudy 34% 2.0 m/s 1.2 high 12.4h
October Very Good 1° - 15° 7° 39 mm partly cloudy 45% 1.9 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.8h
November Good -4° - 9° 1° 34 mm partly cloudy 57% 1.6 m/s 0.2 low 9.5h
December Acceptable -6° - 4° -3° 25 mm partly cloudy 61% 1.5 m/s 0.1 low 8.7h