Mongolian photo tour:
Great Gobi desert + Eagle hunters of the west
6-15 September 2023 (for 10 days)
Mongolian photo tour:
Great Gobi desert + Eagle hunters of the west
6-15 September 2023 (for 10 days)
Mongolia is a stunning place to experience a thousand years old culture, photograph epic desert landscapes in the heart of Gobi Desert, experience famous hospitality of local people. The first part of our Mongolian adventure is devoted to the Southern Mongolia, where the most famous Gobi sands lay. This is a land of canyons, deserts, beautiful mountains and ancient culture. We meet and photograph locals, have sessions with camel herders crossing sands. We have private sessions organized just for us with 2 Bactrian camels, and visit most amazing places of Southern Mongolia. We stay in traditional Ger camps and photograph not only landscapes – it’s a great mix of nature cultural experience.
Besides Gobi we organize a very special event in West Mongolia. Every year Eagle Hunters festival takes place in Mongolia. But we decided not to be in the crowd but bring our own little festival to just a private group of 6-15 photographers. Moreover, after a private festival we visit the most stunning mountain locations with 3-5 eagle hunters to make beautiful photos of Western Mongolia. It’ll be a trip where you can mix a cultural experience, portrait and genre photography plus practice in landscape. Mongolia is the land of wild beauty and untouched nature.
We travel by specially prepared Toyota Land cruisers with local drivers, live in hotels or Ger tents with beds.
Besides Gobi we organize a very special event in West Mongolia. Every year Eagle Hunters festival takes place in Mongolia. But we decided not to be in the crowd but bring our own little festival to just a private group of 6-15 photographers. Moreover, after a private festival we visit the most stunning mountain locations with 3-5 eagle hunters to make beautiful photos of Western Mongolia. It’ll be a trip where you can mix a cultural experience, portrait and genre photography plus practice in landscape. Mongolia is the land of wild beauty and untouched nature.
We travel by specially prepared Toyota Land cruisers with local drivers, live in hotels or Ger tents with beds.
Arriving day.
Arrival to Ulaanbaatar (Airport Code ULN, we call it short UB). You’ll be met by our drivers and transferred to hotel. We meet at 7 p.m. at the lobby of our hotel. Then we will have a dinner in the restaurant. There we will have discussion about photo tour and get to know each other. Stay overnight at nice hotel just 5 min from the main square. /D/
You can choose any flight today landing before 5 p.m. Options are via Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong. International flight is not included in the tour. It is recommended to arrive a day or 2 earlier to have some rest and make sure you will not miss next morning flight.
You can choose any flight today landing before 5 p.m. Options are via Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong. International flight is not included in the tour. It is recommended to arrive a day or 2 earlier to have some rest and make sure you will not miss next morning flight.
1day.
Today we need to wake up early morning and will head to Gobi-Dalanzadgad- Khongor sand Dunes by nice cars 4x4 Lexus-470, Toyota Land Cruiser 200. We will be driving the hole day for about 10 hours. Overnight in tourist Ger camp after long drive. Depending on the driving time we can also have our first session in Khongor sand dunes at sunset. Overnight in tourist Ger camp. The Ger camp has heated facilities for comfortable stay. Four persons stay in a Ger, with a single bed with bed linen, blanket, pillow, sleeping bag provided. Ger camp has electricity.
(in September average night temperature is +8-10 C, afternoon time +20-25 C)
(in September average night temperature is +8-10 C, afternoon time +20-25 C)
2day.
Sunrise session at Khongor sand dunes, which stretch for over 170km in length. Khongor sand dunes is the most beautiful and one of the largest sandy areas of Mongolia. Camels and camel herder will be waiting for us for portrait session and model shoot in sand dunes.
You'll meet first rays of light in Gobi Desert looking at infinite curves and stunning mountains at horizon turning pink.
Sunset and Night photo shoot are also planned today. We've chosen dates in Gobi with no moon, that means if we have a clear sky we may practice at night photography.
Stay overnight at the same tourist Ger camp.
You'll meet first rays of light in Gobi Desert looking at infinite curves and stunning mountains at horizon turning pink.
Sunset and Night photo shoot are also planned today. We've chosen dates in Gobi with no moon, that means if we have a clear sky we may practice at night photography.
Stay overnight at the same tourist Ger camp.
3 day.
Get up early for breakfast, we check out and go to Ulaanbaatar city. We will arrive at evening - another long driving to UB city. Check in to comfortable hotel in UB.
4 day.
Fly on commercial airplane (3 hours, flight around 6:00-8:00 a.m., tba) to Ulgii city from Ulaanbaatar. After breakfast we leave to another epic location for sunset. We arrange private sessions with a total of five eagle hunters in the foothills of the Altai mountains. Background will be holy Tsambagarav (4208m) mountain. That’s stunning 360* location with rocky sharp mountains on one side and snowy capped mountains on the other.
Hotel with shower, wifi – it’s a simple hotel in a small town, but you can recharge yourself and your batteries and stay warm with nice shower.
Hotel with shower, wifi – it’s a simple hotel in a small town, but you can recharge yourself and your batteries and stay warm with nice shower.
5 day.
We skip sunrise – allowing ourselves a bit of rest. It’s a very special day for us. Private eagle festival just for us, Kazakhs on horseback, dressed in their traditional dark coats and scarlet hats, with Golden Eagles hovering on their arms. The Festival is arranged by locals that are committed to preserve traditional Kazakh heritage. Enjoy the rare opportunity to view Golden Eagles close up and allow one to perch upon your arm. We will be able to ask any of them for a private portrait session. The whole event is just for photographers. There’s a public festival happening around this time, but last year’s it’s totally crowded with almost no possibility to make a good photo. 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.
Every single of eagle hunters will be ready for portrait session and very friendly to our group. You’ll feel like in movie set today and bring back home hundreds of good images with no crowd behind.
After this stunning day we return back to Olgii to hotel (1-1,5 h drive).
Hotel has shower, Wi-Fi.
Every single of eagle hunters will be ready for portrait session and very friendly to our group. You’ll feel like in movie set today and bring back home hundreds of good images with no crowd behind.
After this stunning day we return back to Olgii to hotel (1-1,5 h drive).
Hotel has shower, Wi-Fi.
6 day.
We skip sunrise – allowing ourselves a bit of rest. It’s a very special day for us. Private eagle festival just for us, Kazakhs on horseback, dressed in their traditional dark coats and scarlet hats, with Golden Eagles hovering on their arms. The Festival is arranged by locals that are committed to preserve traditional Kazakh heritage. Enjoy the rare opportunity to view Golden Eagles close up and allow one to perch upon your arm. We will be able to ask any of them for a private portrait session. The whole event is just for photographers. There’s a public festival happening around this time, but last year’s it’s totally crowded with almost no possibility to make a good photo. 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.
Every single of eagle hunters will be ready for portrait session and very friendly to our group. You’ll feel like in movie set today and bring back home hundreds of good images with no crowd behind.
After this stunning day we return back to Olgii to hotel (1-1,5 h drive).
Hotel has shower, Wi-Fi.
Every single of eagle hunters will be ready for portrait session and very friendly to our group. You’ll feel like in movie set today and bring back home hundreds of good images with no crowd behind.
After this stunning day we return back to Olgii to hotel (1-1,5 h drive).
Hotel has shower, Wi-Fi.
7 day.
After breakfast we will leave from Olgii airport back to Ulaanbaatar city. Flight is included – 3 hours to fly. We will continue our trip to Terelj National Park for riding horses and see Beautiful Rocky Mountains. Stay overnight in Terelj ger camp.
8 day.
After good rest we will go to Ulaanbaatar city. Check in to the hotel around 1, 2 p.m. You’ll have time to stroll around UB city center.
Farewell dinner at UB restaurant. (B, D)
Farewell dinner at UB restaurant. (B, D)
9 day.
Our bus will take you to UB airport (code ULN). You can select any flight this day, a private transfer will be arranged this day and included in the tour.
Additional information
Included in the price:
- Local two-way air tickets: UB-Ulgii-UB
- Double bed hotel rooms, a tour camp /All accommodations/
- Transportation: Toyota 4x4 vans
- Drivers
- Photography Guide (organizer)
- Native Mongolian guide
- National park fees
- Meals
- Kazak herder family
- Kazak models
- Beverages: Juice, water
- Backstage photography
- Power generator and cord rent
Not included in the price:
- Medical insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Visa (we will be happy to prepare all required documents for getting your visa – invitation and supporting letters)
- Single supplement ( for $US 350 )
What to take with you
Equipment and equipment:
• camera with 2-3 spare batteries
• tripod
• it is desirable to have lenses from 14 to 200 mm
• polarizing filter
• ND and gradient filters
• photo bag
- Local two-way air tickets: UB-Ulgii-UB
- Double bed hotel rooms, a tour camp /All accommodations/
- Transportation: Toyota 4x4 vans
- Drivers
- Photography Guide (organizer)
- Native Mongolian guide
- National park fees
- Meals
- Kazak herder family
- Kazak models
- Beverages: Juice, water
- Backstage photography
- Power generator and cord rent
Not included in the price:
- Medical insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Visa (we will be happy to prepare all required documents for getting your visa – invitation and supporting letters)
- Single supplement ( for $US 350 )
What to take with you
Equipment and equipment:
• camera with 2-3 spare batteries
• tripod
• it is desirable to have lenses from 14 to 200 mm
• polarizing filter
• ND and gradient filters
• photo bag
Join to the Mongolian photo tour
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