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Mongolia Photo Tour

Eagle Hunters & Gobi Desert Photography Workshop

The Mongolia photo tour is a full travel experience around the nomad country. We will explore from the west, where we will live with the eagle hunters & travel around the Gobi desert living in Nomadic Ger Camps. A travel to photograph the landscapes of Mongolia. But also for portraits of the nomad culture of the country.

Guided by local guides all the time, we will fly to the East to drive around the Altai mountains, photographing the nomad’s lifestyle. During this half of our workshop, we will be able to take photographs of the Kazakh eagle hunters with horses. Discover their habits and experience the hospitality of this culture. We will do overnight in their camps in tents.

In the second half of the travel, we will be driving in the middle of the Gobi desert, close to China. During these days, we will photograph the dunes & rocky landscapes of this area. But also camel herds, nomads, and monasteries in the road.

During our stays in Ulaanbaatar, we will have time to experience the local culture. From here, we will flight to Ulgii, and start our travel to the Gobi desert. All necessary equipment, meals, internal flights, local guides, etc… are included in our package. Complete planning without any extra supplement that you will need during this travel.

This tour is available exclusively as a private experience due to the availability of our guides.
Contact us for a personalized quotation for your group.
Recommended for small groups of 2 to 6 people.

Photos

Itinerary Mongolia Photo Tour

Day 1 Arrive in Ulan Bator, Mongolia

Our Mongolia photo tour begins at the Ulan Bator airport, at a time that we will agree. On this first day, we will take the opportunity to get to know each other and rest. After a long journey here, and before the great adventure we will do overnight at our hotel at the capital of Mongolia.

Day 2Ulan Bator

Today, we will have time to visit Ulan Bator and the main sightseeings. It will be a day to acclimatize and get energy for next days. We will have time to visit places as Terelj National park where we will see the Turtle Rock, Aryapala Meditation temple and Genghis Khan Statue.

Day 3 Ulgii town - Eagle hunters

Today, we will take a flight to Ulgii (included in the price), to the first of the areas that we will explore in Mongolia. There we will live with the Mongol nomads in the steppe at the foot of the Altai mountains. As soon as we arrive at the airport, we will take our transport to move to the nomads camp.

From the moment of our arrival, we will have the possibility of both talking and photographing them in their daily tasks. In addition, we will have the possibility to carry out our first session at sunset, of these incredible landscapes with 3-5 eagle hunters. After that, we will come back to Ulgii where we will sleep in our hotel.

Day 4 Eagle hunters

During this day, after getting up and have breakfast we will come back to spend the day with the Kazakh family. We will have a private eagle festival, with the nomads dressed in traditional Mongolian costumes and their horsesa. Also, riding on horseback carrying the golden eagles. During all day we will be able to capture the most iconic Mongolia photography with the nomads and their horses and eagles. We will have up to 20 eagle hunters with many opportunities to shoot at diverse locations: mountain ridges, river bends and grass marshlands with splashes and reflections.

Finally, at night we will return to our hotel to have a well deserved rest.

Day 5 Eagle hunters

Today will be our last full day in the area with the nomads. We will spend the day with 5 eagle hunters, with Tsambagarav mountain at the background. It will complete our photo sessions of the eagle hunters with impressive 360 degrees views of the Altai mountains.

Day 6 Ulan Bator

Today we will take a flight back to the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator, but before that we will start the day with sunrise session. Of course, a group of 3 eagle hunters will join us to capture portraits with beautiful morning lights. We will have breakfast in the area and drive to Khovd to enjoy the landscapes.

After that, we will move to the airport to take a flight back to Ulan Bator. Once there, we will drive to Mandalgobi where we will sleep tonight.

Day 7Tsagaan Suvarga

Today we will continue our route to the Gobi desert, stopping to photograph the Tsagaan Suvarga (white stupa). Singularly, erosion caused the rock to form these distinctive structures with purple, yellowish, and white colors.

For lunch we will arrive to Dalanzadgad city. There we will visit Yol Valley, a beautiful oasis of Gobi desert.

Once the tour is over, we will go to our camp where we will have dinner and rest.

Day 8 Khongoriin else

Today, we will continue our journey through the Gobi desert until we reach the “Khongoryn Els” sand dunes. Besides, they are also known as the “singing dunes” since when it is windy the grains of sand rub against each other making a unique sound.

In these landscapes we will camp for two days. This afternoon, we will be able to take pictures of the desert landscapes with camels caravans for sunset. We will sleep at gers, with space for 4 persons and everything ready to sleep comfortable.

Day 9 Khongoriin else

During this day, we will explore these impressive desert landscapes of the Gobi. We will walk through its dunes, to capture the camels and the wildest and most inhospitable nature of Mongolia. Throughout the day and especially at sunrise and sunset, we will have the possibility to photograph the most hidden and impressive landscapes. The Gobi desert is one of the largest deserts in the world and one of the popular Mongolia photography spots.

Also, at night, we will take night photography. These areas are perfect to capture starry skies due to its low light pollution.

Day 10 Baynzag

Today, during our last full day in the Gobi desert, we will have our last sunrise session at Khongor sand dunes. After that, we will be approaching to photograph the Bayanzag area. The name is based on the tree-shaped bushes, similar to the American Joshua tree. It’s also known as the “flaming cliffs”, given the orange color that glows with the sunlight. The views will remind us of the landscapes of the American West. In addition, this area is known as the first where dinosaur eggs were found, in addition to their bones such as the velociraptor.

As always, we will photograph during sunset, when the rocks will take on even more intense colors. Given the rock formations in the area, we will be able to make magnificent compositions of this part of the Gobi desert. As well as be ready for night photography in the area, where we will camp our last night.

Day 11 Drive back to Ulan Bator

On our last day in the desert, we will take the road back to the capital. We will pick up the camp and head back to Ulan Bator, the capital. We will spend the last night of this workshop, and have time to buy some souvenirs.

Day 12 End of the trip

We will go to the Genghis Khan airport where will finish our Mongolia photo tour.

Locations Map Mongolia

Mongolia Map Tour

FAQ

Why Mongolia is so empty?

According to the extreme continental climate, and like in other nordic countries, the country is sparsely populated. The geography of the country doesn’t help too. On the border with China, there is the Gobi Desert in the South, and the North & West are full of mountain chains and volcanoes. 
 

Why you should visit Mongolia?

  • Wilderness landscapes
  • Golden eagle hunters with horses
  • Enjoy to warm up with a Ger stove
  • The contrast of Ulaanbaatar.
  • Live with Nomadic people. 
  • Climbing sand dunes.
  • Enjoy clear night skies.

Is safe to travel to Mongolia?

The country is safe for foreigners. Anyway, you should pay attention if you move alone to big cities as Ulaanbaatar. Also, if you visit the country during the Naadam summer festival or the Tsagaan Sar (Lunar New Year) we highly recommend you to move with local expert guides

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