Pay full price now or a €1000 deposit with the balance payable 8 weeks before the workshop start date.
29 September to 8 October 2026
3 places left
Max 5
10 days
Low to Medium
The Blue Sky Hotel + Kazakh Eagle Hunter Families
Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN)
Join me in October 2026 for a breathtaking photography tour of Mongolia’s Altai landscapes including the Golden Eagle Festival. We will also have the opportunity to stay with various eagle hunters.
This Mongolia photo tour is the perfect opportunity for those happy to compromise on some luxuries to immerse themselves in the culture. We take you away from the ‘highlights’ which means you’ll be photographing in more personal situations and have the time and space to create your own unique imagery – not with a crowd of other photographers getting the same image.
We let you decide how little or how much instruction you require throughout the photography trip. But we provide the opportunity to have 1:1 interaction whether that be with portraiture, landscape photography, lighting, composition or post-production.
The itinerary of our Mongolia photo tour through the westernmost province of Bayan Ulgii has been planned to provide you with an array of photographic opportunities. The Kazakhs are Mongolia’s largest ethnic group with over 100,000 residing in western Mongolia. A small percentage of Kazakhs are eagle hunters – typically hunting with female golden eagles (known as berkuts) as they are stronger and more aggressive.
This Mongolia photography tour adventure provides a great opportunity to photograph and document first-hand the daily life of Kazakh eagle hunters. We will spend time living alongside the hunters and their families. On this itinerary, you will be hosted by some of the region’s most experienced and respected hunters and learn skills and history from them as well as explore and photograph the stark yet beautiful landscapes of Mongolia’s Altai. All of your hosts are Kazakh families that the Mongolian tour operator has personally built up relationships with over the past 13 years. No agents or tour operators are used – we work directly with all the families as this leads to a more personal insight for you as our guest.
***Please note that the schedule is subject to change as details
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Final possible arrival day into Ulaanbaatar and (for those in Ulaanbaatar) a city walking tour (adapted to the time of year), including a visit to Gandantegchinlen Monastery.
*Participants will be given a free transfer from Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN) to the hotel.
Stays with Kazakh eagle hunters
Stays with real Kazakh eagle hunters and the discovery of their lifestyle. Here we’ll spend time living alongside and documenting the way of life of a Kazakh eagle hunter and his family, including his daughters, who are young Kazakh eagle huntresses.
During our stay, there is an option to photograph a training event between the eagle hunter and his eagle. We will travel to the provincial capital of Ulgii on the late afternoon of October 3rd so that we are in place for the Golden Eagle festival.
Golden Eagle Festival
We spend two days at the Golden Eagle Festival, which takes place a few kilometres outside of Ulgii. The festival is a celebration of Kazakh culture, and eagle hunters from across the region compete in traditional Kazakh horse games as well as competitions designed to test the connection between hunter and eagle.
The Golden Eagle festival is very popular with the local community and provides some great opportunities for portrait photography.
We’ll have access to our own private ger as Ulgii is predominantly a Kazakh city, characterised by a prevalent Muslim influence that permeates various aspects of daily life, from street signs to clothing and cuisine. This cultural diversity contributes to the town’s unique atmosphere.
Kazakh eagle hunter stay
Leaving behind Ulgii, we take a road transfer to Ulaankhuus, a community of Bayan Ulgii Aimag. Here we’ll spend time living alongside and documenting the way of life of another Kazakh eagle hunter and his family. Our stay includes an option for photographing a training event between the eagle hunter and his eagle.
Ulgii to Ulaanbaatar
The logistics for the final day of our Mongolia photo tour will be tailored to the timing of the internal flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
The stark contrast between the expansive landscapes and the congestion of Ulaanbaatar can be quite jarring and mentally exhausting.
To ease the transition back to urban life, the remainder of the day is free time. This flexibility allows you to relax at the hotel or explore the city at your own pace before meeting for a farewell dinner and photography de-brief.
Departure from Ulaanbaatar
The final day of the Mongolia photo tour and it’s departure day. Guests are provided with a complimentary transfer to the Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN).
I’m here as a professional landscape and travel photographer to help you get the best from the Mongolia photo tour. You can expect:
The two inevitable questions before any photography tour are “what camera gear do I bring and what clothing?”
Camera Gear
Clothing
You will be met at the main airport by me and the Mongolian team. Let us know if you’re arriving earlier than the start of the tour.
Autumn in Mongolia can sometimes be susceptible to unforeseen problems, which might result in last-minute itinerary changes. Things will not happen on a perfect schedule, and conditions will be very rugged – you will be required to step outside your circle of comfort. Please base your expectations on this important point.
You will be expected to be flexible and patient, and bring with you your willingness to participate and your sense of adventure and humour.
We will provide you with a list of things you will need to bring. In October, temperatures can reach below freezing. You’ll need to ensure that you have clothing that will keep you warm from the inevitable cold and wind chill that we will be experiencing during our days out.
A number of countries require a visa to enter the country. Please check with your country’s embassy to see if you need one. If you do, then please contact me so that a formal invitation can be arranged for you to take to the embassy.
Merino wool base layers or equivalent. I use Icebreaker 260gsm long-sleeve base layers
Fleece mid-layer. I use RAB pull-ons for my next layer.
Fleece extra mid-layer. As an extra security measure, I use another RAB mid-layer fleece to provide extra warmth.
Down jacket. Make sure you have a well-insulated down jacket. Although Mongolia has a dry cold you are well-advised to make sure your coat will stop wind chill.
Good, sturdy walking shoes that are waterproof are perfect for the terrain that we’ll be working in. In addition, I also carry a pair of Meindl Solden Winter Boots that are lined.
A wide-angle lens (16-35mm) and medium zoom (24-70mm) are the lenses we’ll be using the most. A longer zoom (100-400) will be useful to cover most compositional eventualities that we may need to isolate. The most used lens will likely be in the 24-70mm range as a super wide angle can create the pancake effect on the mountainous landscape, so make sure this focal length is covered.
Although not essential, it’s a great idea to bring a laptop computer with you so you can discuss imagery with me.
I try to make a point of helping those that need it in digital photography. If inclement weather or tiredness takes hold it can really help to have a computer session to assess our progress.
What’s included in the Mongolia photo tour?
The Blue Sky Hotel in Ulaanbaatar (TBC)
Mattress on the floor of the eagle hunter’s home
All meals where stated (excluding alcohol)
Transport during the Mongolia photo tour
Internal flight to the Altai region
Photo Tuition from Julian Elliott
What’s not included in the Mongolia photo tour?
Flights to Mongolia
Visa fees if required
Excess baggage fees from Ulanbaatar to Ulgii
Excess baggage fees from Ulgii to Ulanbaatar
Tips for guides and drivers
Meals not mentioned
Insurance
My tours fill up quickly but sometimes spots open up due to cancellations.
If the tour you are interested in is currently full and you would like to be added to the waiting list then please fill out this form
