A Rare Photographic Opportunity
Fee = $9,800
Deposit to Save Spot
Vast horizons. Ancient traditions. Extraordinary people.
Experience more than a thousand years of nomadic culture while photographing some of Central Asia’s most dramatic landscapes. The journey begins in the Gobi Desert and continues west to an exclusive, private Eagle Hunters experience created specifically for photographers.
WHY THIS EXPEDITION IS DIFFERENT
Designed around the photograph.
Private Eagle Hunters Festival
A mini festival created exclusively for the group, avoiding the crowds of the public event and opening up multiple locations for portraits, action and cinematic compositions.
Curated Camel Sessions
Work with camel herders and Bactrian camels among the Khongor dunes, with planned sunrise, sunset and action opportunities.
Remote Access
Travel overland in 4WD Toyota SUVs with licensed local drivers, allowing the expedition to reach remote desert and mountain locations.
Landscape at the Right Light
Photograph Tsagaan Suvarga, the Flaming Cliffs, Khongor dunes, Altai ridges and Tolbo Lake during carefully timed light.
Nomadic Culture
Spend time with herder families and photograph everyday life, traditional attire and living cultural practices in context.
Comfort Where It Counts
Hotels in Ulaanbaatar and Ölgii are paired with traditional ger camps offering proper beds and essential comforts.
Mongolia is a land of vast horizons, ancient traditions, and extraordinary people. This photography-focused journey offers a rare opportunity to experience over a thousand years of nomadic culture while exploring some of the most dramatic landscapes in Central Asia.
The first part of the journey takes us to Southern Mongolia, home to the iconic Gobi Desert—a region defined by sweeping sand dunes, canyons, mountains, and deep-rooted traditions. Here, we photograph everyday life, work closely with camel herders, and take part in private, curated photography sessions with Bactrian camels in the dunes. We stay in traditional ger camps, allowing us to immerse ourselves in both landscape and cultural photography.
The second half of the expedition moves to Western Mongolia, where we organize an exclusive and private Eagle Hunters experience. Instead of attending the crowded public festival, we create a mini private festival exclusively for our group of photographers. Over several days, we work closely with Kazakh eagle hunters, photographing them in spectacular mountain locations across the Altai region. This journey blends portrait, cultural, genre, and landscape photography in one of the world’s most remote and visually powerful regions.
Travel is conducted in specially prepared Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4 vehicles with experienced local drivers. Accommodation includes carefully selected hotels and traditional ger camps with proper beds and essential comforts.
Day 1 — Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Airport transfer to the hotel, followed by a welcome dinner and trip briefing focused on photographic goals and meeting the group.
Meals: Dinner.
Recommended arrival before 5:00 p.m. International flights typically route via Seoul, Beijing, or Hong Kong. Arriving a day earlier is advised for rest and optional city exploration.
Day 2 — Ulaanbaatar → Tsagaan Suvarga
Drive south across the steppe to the “White Stupa,” a dramatic eroded escarpment of layered color. Sunset photography is planned as the cliffs shift through soft tones.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3 — Tsagaan Suvarga → Khongor Sand Dunes
Continue toward the Khongor Sand Dunes near Dalanzadgad. Depending on arrival time, photograph the dunes at sunset. Overnight in a heated ger camp with electricity and proper bedding.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 4 – Khongor Sand Dunes → Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
A full photography day in the Khongor Sand Dunes, stretching over 170 km. We photograph sunrise, working with the soft light on the dune curves and distant mountains. Camel herders and Bactrian camels join us for curated portrait and action sessions in the dunes.
Travel to Bayanzag in the afternoon.
Sunset photography session at Bayanzag – also known as the Flaming Cliffs. This region is famous for its deep red sandstone formations and paleontological significance.
Overnight at Bayanzag
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 – Bayanzag → Ulaanbaatar
Early morning photography before breakfast, followed by air travel to Ulaanbaatar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 — Ulaanbaatar → Ölgii (Western Mongolia)
Fly to Ölgii/Hovd region and visit an eagle hunter’s family to learn about their lifestyle and culture.
Accommodation: Local hotel in Ölgii
Meals: Breakfast – Ulaanbaatar | Lunch – Ölgii | Dinner – Nomad family
DAY 7 – Ölgii (Eagle Hunters)
Private sessions are arranged with 3–5 Kazakh eagle hunters, set against the sacred Tsambagarav Peak (4,208 m), offering a 360-degree landscape of rocky ridges and snow-capped mountains.
Overnight in a simple but comfortable hotel with hot showers and Wi-Fi. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 – Eagle Hunters
Photography workshop with eagle hunters.
Accommodation: Local hotel in Ölgii
Meals: Breakfast – Ölgii | Lunch – Bayan-Ulgii | Dinner – Ulgii
Return to Ölgii in the evening. Overnight at hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 —
Private Eagle Hunters Festival
A relaxed morning followed by a private mini Eagle Hunters festival, created exclusively for our group. Kazakh hunters arrive on horseback in traditional attire, each with their golden eagle.
This event is designed purely for photographers, avoiding the crowds of the public festival. With 4–6 eagle hunters, we work across multiple locations—mountain ridges, rivers, grasslands, and marshes—allowing for portraits, action shots, and cinematic compositions.
Return to Ölgii in the evening. Overnight at hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10 – Ölgii → Ulaanbaatar
Morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar (approx. 3 hours). Hotel check-in in the early afternoon. The remainder of the day is free for rest or exploring the city center. Meals: Breakfast (B)
DAY 11 – Departure
Private transfer to Ulaanbaatar International Airport (ULN) for departure.
Photograph the eagle hunters without the festival crowds.
The expedition’s Western Mongolia program is built around private access and multiple mountain locations, giving photographers time to work deliberately with people, horses, eagles and landscape.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Logistics are handled so you can concentrate on making photographs.
Tour price includes
- Round-trip domestic airfare between Ulaanbaatar and Ölgii
- Hotel accommodations in Ulaanbaatar and Ölgii, generally double occupancy
- Tourist camps and traditional ger camps, two guests per ger
- Ground transportation in 4WD Toyota SUV vehicles
- Professional licensed local drivers
- Mongolian photography guide / tour leader and native Kazakh guide
- National park, site and permit fees
- Meals as outlined in the itinerary, excluding meals in Ulaanbaatar
- Visits to Kazakh herder families
- Private photography sessions with Kazakh models and eagle hunters
- Community and access fees paid directly to nomadic families
- Bottled drinking water during overland travel
.
Tour price does not include
- International airfare to and from Mongolia
- Travel insurance, strongly recommended
- Visa fees, where applicable
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, room service and minibar charges
- Tips or gratuities for guides, drivers, hotel staff and local hosts
- Services not expressly listed under “Tour Price Includes”
Tour Fee = $9800.00
Limited to ten participants