8 Countries That Are Way Colder Than You Think

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Whenever you plan a trip overseas, the first thing to check is the climate. How hot (or cold) will it be when you arrive? 

Most of the time, you get the answer you expect. The temperatures in your destination country are roughly where they should be. But, of course, they can sometimes plunge much lower than you might expect. 

In this post, we look at some countries you wouldn’t expect to experience the lowest temperatures. They’ll make you glad you took your womens gloves from HeatHolders with you!

Mongolia

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Mongolia was, for a long time, a country nobody visited. However, curious tourists have started flocking to the country’s borders, thanks to the mystique it offers as being among the least explored destinations in the world. 

Mongolia isn’t like other countries around it. It’s a nomadic culture, meaning most people live on the land and roam their animals to new locations every few days. 

However, being landlocked, the country is known for its fierce winters. Many of these are incredibly severe, with cold air coming down from the Siberian plains and blanketing the entire region with a thick layer of snow. 

Australia

Everyone knows Australia is an extremely hot country. Or is it? 

When you look at where Australia is on the map, you can see that it is actually quite far south. It’s not as tropical as many people imagine, and just because it has a red sandy desert, that doesn’t mean it’s hot all the time. 

During the winter, places like Victoria and New South Wales can get cold. And you can even go to ski resorts in the mountains around Melbourne because of plunging temperatures.

South Korea

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South Korea is another country where the temperatures can fluctuate widely throughout the seasons. During the summer months, it is often unbearably hot and every hotel and restaurant in Seoul has its air conditioning units blazing at full-blast. 

However, if you go in the winter, it’s a different story. The country often sees snowfall and doesn’t benefit from the jet stream in the same way Western Europe does. 

Morocco

Morocco is another country that gets surprisingly cold in the winter. Even though it’s perched at the northern tip of Africa, it’s also a very mountainous country, which, combined with changing seasons, can lead to exceptionally low temperatures at some times of year (many of which you wouldn’t expect). 

In extreme cases, Morocco can see snow. It’s rare, but it has happened before. 

Nepal

Nepal is a country right on the equator, famous for its hiking trails, Buddhist culture, and being the home of the mighty Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. However, even though Nepal is close to the equator and hot-house India, it is surprisingly cool. Temperatures are often in the teens, even around the capital Kathmandu, and fall lower at night time during the winter. 

Furthermore, the higher you travel into the mountains, the colder the temperatures fall. In some places, it is so high that it is actually cooler than the Arctic. 

Argentina

Argentina is another country well worth exploring. However, it does have some extremely cold regions, especially the further you head south.

The most southerly regions are the coolest, including the Tierra del Fuego. However, even the country’s capital can see the occasional chill during winter.

Argentina’s coldness comes from the fact it’s blocked off from the Pacific Ocean by the Andes mountains. These prevent warm weather currents from entering the country, denying it a Gulf stream-like effect.

It’s also much further south than many people expect. While some parts of the country around Salta see reasonably high temperatures year-round, the more southern parts don’t, with snowfall being a common occurrence. 

Lesotho

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Lesotho is a tiny country surrounded by South Africa and home to numerous tribes who wanted independence. But while it is in Africa, it can also get cold here, and many citizens have fireplaces in their homes to protect themselves and their communities, if bad weather eventually emerges. 

Lesotho is also a high-altitude location. Most of the territory is mountainous. Therefore, you may still need to take a coat with you, even if it is summer in the southern hemisphere. 

Iceland

Finally, Iceland is another country that often catches people out. Many imagine it’ll be like Nova Scotia, or Scotland in the UK. But, unfortunately, it usually turns out much worse. 

The good news is that Iceland is home to numerous geysers and springs. These provide relief from the cold for those brave enough to use them.