Mongolia 2024 Photography Adventure

Golden Eagles and Gobi Desert

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Experience Highlights
  • Eagle Hunter Family - Stay with a family of golden eagle hunters in a traditional Mongolian ger (yurt). Photograph horseback eagle hunting action, sample local delicacies and learn about the culture of Kazakh nomads.

  • Golden Eagle Festival – attend this unbelievably photogenic gathering of eagle hunters and capture its various competitions of eagle hunting and horsemanship.

  • Gobi Desert Dunes & Camels - Photograph sunrise and sunset on the immense Khongor Sand Dunes in the Gobi Desert

At A Glance

September 10-20, 2024

Starts/Ends:
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

$9,500 per person, Double Occupancy
+$750 Single Lodging Supplement
Note: single lodging not available during our stay with Eagle Hunter family (days 6&7) – see itinerary for details

Deposit: $1,500

What's Included: Lodging, Meals, Transportation (including internal flights), Driver, Local Guide, Photography Instruction, Entrance Fees

What's Not Included: Airfare to/from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Travel Insurance, Personal Expenses (including alcohol), Gratuities. Anything not specifically listed as included.

Capture wall-worthy images of ancient traditions and stunning landscapes as we return to Mongolia for another epic travel photography adventure! We don’t have words to describe the mind-boggling beauty of this land and its inhabitants…but we do have pictures! Check out these amazing images from our 2022 Mongolia Scouting Mission and see the possibilities for yourself.

The Old Ways
The centuries-old tradition of hunting with trained golden eagles is a beautiful anachronism in the 21st century and its unassuming practitioners still live a semi-nomadic lifestyle. But how long can these ways persist against the unrelenting tide of social media, tourism, and economic realities?  You’ll have plenty of time to come to your own conclusions during the four days we spend with the Kazakh eagle hunters in their community and at the Golden Eagle festival.

The Golden Gobi
One of the great deserts of the world, the Gobi straddles southern Mongolia and northern China. We’ll visit the Khongor Sand Dunes, a small but scenic corner where dunes towering to 200 meters stretch for over 100km.  Endless possibilities for dramatic compositions materialize with each sunrise and sunset. It’s also an excellent place to practice your night photography skills with opportunities for moonlight dunescapes and Milky Way images.

Level Up Your Skills and Vision
Ken and Harsh will always be close by to answer questions, provide tips on shooting techniques, and offer insights about practical ways to expand your creative vision. Like most pursuits, good coaching and lots of practice are the keys to improving your photography game. You will get plenty of both on this photography-intensive adventure. Need a little help with camera settings and lens selection? Maybe some advice on composition and ways to move beyond the obvious image? Or perhaps a few tips on post-processing techniques or workflow might make the biggest difference?

READY TO JOIN THE ADVENTURE?

  • Harsh Agarwal

    Harsh Agarwal is an award-winning professional photographer based in Agra, India. A self-described hodophile, a lover of travel, his passion for exploration, discovery, and image-making has taken him to all corners of his home country and lands beyond including Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Harsh’s photographs have been published widely in magazines, and newspapers throughout India and Southeast Asia as well as in numerous exhibitions. Harsh often travels with his wife, Arti, a travel industry professional, and aspiring photographer, leading photography and travel tours. Click here for examples of Harsh’s inspiring images.

    Ken Lee

    Ken Lee, the founder Art of Seeing Photography Adventures is as passionate about helping others grow as photographers as he is about creating his own images. Ken’s Whole Brain approach to teaching photography addresses both the Craft (gear, technique, post-processing) and Creative (Composition & the Photographer’s Eye) aspects of image-making – and the completely different approaches needed to master both. Click the links to read more about Ken Lee and The Art of Seeing, what you can expect from an Art of Seeing workshop, or to see examples of Ken’s photography.

  • We understand life happens and plans may change. If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply to this workshop:

    Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferrable to another Art of Seeing workshop for up to 24 months from date of cancellation in accordance with the following schedule:

    Regardless of when you cancel, if we fill your spot*, you will receive a refund of all fees paid less your deposit and $150 processing fee. If we cannot fill your spot, the amount of your refund is based upon the cancellation date:

    • Cancellation 120 days or more from workshop start date: 100% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit transferrable up to 24 mos.

    • Cancellation 90 – 120 days from workshop start date: 50% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit forfeit.

    • Cancellation less than 90 days from workshop start date: No refunds.

    *canceled spots are filled after the workshop reaches full capacity

    Click here to read our complete Terms & Conditions

    Travel Insurance

    A travel insurance policy which covers medical evacuation is a requirement for participation in this workshop. Such policies typically cover many other things like lost luggage or non-refundable payments if you need to cancel your trip.

Daily Itinerary

Day Date Itinerary Overnight Included Meals
1 Sep 10 Ulaanbaatar Arrival - Welcome to Mongolia! Our adventure begins upon your arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport (Airport Code: UBN) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. We’ll transport you to our hotel where you can relax for a bit before we kick things off with an Introductions & Workshop Overview meeting followed by a group dinner Hotel 9 or similar D
2 Sep 11 Ulaanbaatar – Khongor Sand Dunes – early morning flight to XXX. Transfer to 4X4 vehicles upon arrival and travel further south to the Khongor Sand Dunes in the Gobi Desert. Also known as the Singing Sands, these dunes tower over 200 meters high and stretch for over 100km! We’ll check in at our ger camp before heading out to explore the dunes on foot, looking for the perfect sunset shooting spot. Dinner & overnight at Gobi Erdene ger camp Gobi Erdene Ger Camp B-L-D
3 Sep 12 Khongor Sand Dunes – we begin early with a sunrise photoshoot on the dunes before heading back to camp for breakfast. Ken and Harsh willl use the middle of the day to share some of their favorite tips and techniques for landscape and wildlife photography as well as a session on Image Management and Workflow in Adobe Lightroom. In the afternoon we’ll head out to meet a local camel herder at the edge of the dunes for our evening photoshoot. Long shadows cast by the setting sun facilitate dramatic compositions as he leads his Bactrian camel train across the ridges and valleys of the dune field. Dinner & overnight at Gobi Erdene ger camp. Hotel Gobi Erdene Ger Camp B-L-D
4 Sep 13 Khongor Sand Dunes – Flaming Cliffs - we meet our camel friends again for an early sunrise photoshoot on the dunes before heading back to camp for breakfast. Afterwards, we head to the world-famous dinosaur fossil site known as the “Flaming Cliffs”. Roy Chapman Andrews, whom some say was the model for Indiana Jones, discovered great amounts of intact dinosaur bones as well as the very first dinosaur eggs ever discovered. Aptly named, the red-hued Flaming Cliffs seem to glow in the setting sun We’ll take our time this scenic area looking for the right vantage points to capture the vibrant colors with our cameras. We might try our hand at some Milky Way photography also if conditions allow. Dinner & overnight at Gobi Mirage Ger camp. Gobi Mirage Ger Camp B-L-D
5 Sep 14 Flaming Cliffs to Ulaanbaatar - After a brief sunrise photo session near our camp, we’ll we drive to the airport for an early flight back to Ulaanbaatar. After lunch we’ll gather for a session on post processing in Adobe Lightroom. Ken & Harsh will be available for one-to-one coaching and image reviews. Near sunset, we’ll head out to photograph some local attractions including a 130 ft statue of Genghis Kan. Taij Resort Hotel B-L-D
6 Sep 15 Ulaanbatar– Eagle Hunters - After breakfast, we’ll catch our flight to Ulgii at the foot of the Altai mountains where we’ll transfer to 4X4’s and travel to meet our host family who practice the ancient tradition hunting with trained golden eagles. Today and tomorrow are dedicated learning about and photographing their semi-nomadic way of life. Kazakh‘s tend to have large families so there will be plenty of interaction. They are also known for their exceptional hospitality so prepare yourself for being warmly accepted into their home. They will show you their magnificent Golden Eagles and we’ll photograph the eagles in action! Private Gers near host family. Up to 4 persons per ger. Single lodging not available B-L-D
7 Sep 16 Eagle Hunters – We’ll spend the entire day with our eagle hunter friends photographing them individually and together. There will be opportunities to create environmental portraits as well as action shots of eagle hunting on horseback. The eagle hunters are the stars of the show, but there are many other amazing images to be made if you pay attention to everything going on around you. Private Gers near host family. Up to 4 persons per ger. Single lodging not available B-L-D
8 Sep 17 Eagle Hunters – Golden Eagle Festival - we drive deeper into the Altai mountains today to the site of the Golden Eagle festival, a gathering of eagle hunters with numerous competitions related to eagle hunting and horsemanship. We’ll spend the next two days here observing and photographing the people and activities. It’s an otherworldly scene - you’ll feel like you just stepped on the to the set of a Lord of the Rings movie. Opportunities for amazing images are everywhere!br> Private Ger camp B-L-D
9 Sep 18 Golden Eagle Festival - we return to the eagle festival early to catch some behind the scenes action as the hunters practice with their eagles in preparation for the day’s competitions. We will once again spend the entire day here. Bring extra batteries and cards because the shooting opportunities are endless.
Private Ger camp B-L-D
10 Sep 19 Golden Eagle Festival – Ulaanbatar – we fly back to UB this morning where Ken and Harsh will host individual ‘portfolio review’ sessions with each participant. Later, we’ll stroll the streets of the capital capturing city life for our final photo session before gathering at a local restaurant for a. farewell dinner.
Hotel 9 or similar B-L-D
11 Sep 20 Ulaanbatar Departure - Transfer to the airport after breakfast for your flight home.
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Note: this itinerary is our general plan but is subject to change without notice for weather, logistical considerations or other reasons.