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INTRODUCTION
Welcome to this breathtaking journey through one of the world’s last great wildernesses with our Mongolia Photo Tour. This is a visual adventure designed for photographers and explorers alike. From the rugged mountains to the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia offers an ever-changing landscape of extraordinary beauty and raw authenticity. Capture the legendary eagle hunters, masters of an ancient tradition who forge a deep bond with their golden eagles amid dramatic mountain backdrops. Travel across sweeping grasslands where nomadic herders roam with their livestock, and immerse yourself in the silence and grandeur of the Gobi Desert, where towering dunes, flaming cliffs, and star-filled night skies create a dreamlike canvas. Whether you’re chasing golden light over alpine peaks or documenting the timeless rhythm of nomadic life, this tour offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience and photograph Mongolia’s untamed spirit, vibrant culture, and awe-inspiring natural beauty. |
DATE
1st - 11th October 2026 DURATION 11 days & 10 nights (not including the arrival and departure) START Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia END Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia AIRPORT ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE New Ulaanbaatar International Airport (UBN) SEASON Autumn (cold) GROUP SIZE 4 - 8, including the tour leader and driver ACCOMMODATION 5-star hotel in Ulaanbaatar Ger camps in the Gobi Desert (4 guests in a room) 3-star hotel in Olgii FITNESS LEVEL Easy. General fitness level LANGUAGE English TOUR LEADER Francis Ansing and/or Arlene Donaire |
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ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
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October 1: Ulaanbaatar (Official Start)
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (Airport Code UBN, we call it short UB). You’ll be met by our drivers and transferred to the hotel. We will meet at 7:00 PM in the hotel lobby. Then, we go to our dinner restaurant. There, we will discuss the photo tour and get to know each other. Stay overnight at a nice hotel just 25 minutes from the airport. You can choose any flight today landing before 5:00 PM. International flights are not included in the tour. It is recommended to arrive a day earlier to have some rest and get used to the cool temperature. Meals: D October 2: Khanbogd After breakfast, we drive to Dalanzadgad. Lunch on the road at the local restaurant. Overnight: Khanbogd camp. Dinner at the camp. Our camp has showers and Wi-Fi. Meals: B, L, D October 3: Khongor Sand Dunes After a lazy morning breakfast, we drive to the Khongor dunes. Today, we will have caravans for the sunset shooting scenes and spend the night in a ger camp. Amenities include electricity and a shower. 4 persons per ger, sleeping on a bed with bed linen, a blanket, and a pillow. Each ger has limited electricity. Meals: B, L, D October 4: Khongor Sand Dunes Sunrise session at Khongor dunes, which stretch for over 170 km in length. Khongor Sand Dunes are among the most beautiful and most significant dune areas in Mongolia. Camels and camel herders will be waiting for us for a portrait session and a model shoot in the dunes. You’ll meet the first rays of light in the Gobi Desert, looking at infinite curves and stunning mountains on the horizon, turning pink. During the day, we have some rest and post-processing tutorials at the restaurant. Stay overnight at the same ger camp. Camp: Has a shower and limited electricity. Meals: B, L, D |
October 5: Bayanzag
Get up early to shoot the sunrise in the Khongor dunes. After breakfast, we check out and go to Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs). We will arrive in the afternoon. The area is best known for the discovery of the first dinosaur eggs. Other finds in the area include specimens of Velociraptor and eutherian mammals. Stay overnight in a tourist camp. We photograph the sunset from panoramic locations, offering an overview of the fiery cliffs. At dusk, they turn a deep red color. Camp: 4 persons per ger, sleeping on a bed with bed linen, a blanket, and a pillow. Each ger has limited electricity. We stay in this camp for just one night (the area is small). Meals: B, L, D October 6: Bayanzag Early breakfast and drive to Ulaanbaatar. Check in at our comfortable hotel near the airport. Dinner and rest in the hotel. Meals: B, L, D October 7: Olgii Fly on a commercial airplane to Olgii city from Ulaanbaatar—departure time 07:25 АM. Drive to a local Kazakh family (host) so we can photograph locals and their portraits. This session will include locals in their traditional clothes. We arrange private sessions with five eagle hunters in the foothills of the Altai Mountains. The background will be the holy Tsambagarav (4208m) mountain. That’s a stunning 360 ° location, with rocky, sharp mountains on one side and snowy, capped mountains on the other. Drive back to Olgii to overnight at the hotel (1.5-hour drive back to town on our well-prepared Land Cruisers – 3 persons per car, on a gravel road). Hotel with a shower, wifi – it’s the best hotel in a small town, you can recharge yourself and your batteries and stay warm with a nice shower. Meals: B, L, D |
October 8: Olgii
We skip sunrise – allowing ourselves a bit of rest. After breakfast, we went back to the Kazakh family in the same area. 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 organized by locals committed to preserving traditional Kazakh heritage. Enjoy the rare opportunity to view Golden Eagles close up and allow one to perch upon your arm. We can ask any of them for a private portrait session. The whole event is just for three photographers. There’s a public festival around this time, but last year it was totally crowded, with almost no chance of getting a good photo. We will have up to 10 eagle hunters with many opportunities to shoot at diverse locations: mountain ridges, river bends, and grass marshlands with splashes and reflections. Every single eagle hunter will be ready for a portrait session and very friendly to our group. You’ll feel like you're on a movie set today and bring home hundreds of good images with no crowd in the background. After this stunning day, we return to Olgii and the hotel (a 1 to 1.5-hour drive). Meals: B, L, D October 9: Olgii Lazy morning with a good night's sleep after a long day. After lunch, we leave for another epic location for sunset with 2 Eagle hunters and a horse. It’s called Tolbo Lake. Surrounded by the Altai Mountains and rocky hills. Back to Olgii. Stay overnight at the hotel. Meals: B, L, D October 10: Olgii Early morning, we fly back to Ulaanbaatar: free time and shopping. Check in at our hotel—farewell dinner at the local restaurant. Meals: B, L, D October 11: Ulaanbaatar Our drivers will take you to Ulaanbaatar International Airport (code UBN). You can select any flight today, and a private transfer will be arranged and included in the tour. Meals: B |
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TOUR COST
3950 USD or the equivalent in PHP (shared room rate) 4450 USD or the equivalent in PHP (single room rate in other hotels, but 4-sharing in the Gobi Desert) 4800 USD or the equivalent in PHP (single room for the entire trip) A monthly installment plan is available. Please enquire. WHAT'S INCLUDED? ✓ Twin or double 4- or 5-star hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar ✓ Ger camp accommodations (4 people sharing) in the Gobi Desert ✓ Twin or double hotel accommodation in Olgii ✓ Domestic flights stated in the itinerary ✓ Full-board meals ✓ Transportation service using a Russian van in Eagle Hunters locations ✓ Transportation service using a Lexus (SUV) in the Gobi Desert ✓ Eagle Hunter and National Park fees ✓ 3 Tour leaders and drivers ✓ Professional guiding fees ✓ Bottled water ✓ Hotel - airport transfers |
NOT INCLUDED
X Accommodation outside the tour date X International flights X Bottled water, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and the like X Meals not stated in the itinerary X Visa fees X Travel insurance X Laundry X Gratuities/tippings for the drivers and local guides |
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PAYMENT AND RESERVATION
1. A 500 USD or the equivalent in PHP down payment or deposit is required upon registration. Down payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.
2. A monthly installment plan is available. Please message us if you want to avail of this payment scheme.
3. Down payment can be made using credit or debit cards. Click the "RESERVE NOW" link below or via bank transfer. Send us an email for our bank details.
4. If you are paying the down payment via wire/bank transfer, please send it to any of the bank accounts below and e-mail the proof of payment to [email protected] or [email protected]. Include your full name and the photography tour name in your email.
5. After payment, please fill out this REGISTRATION FORM.
6. We will send a receipt of payment and PDFs containing more information about the photo tour.
7. The balance is required to be fully settled 90 days before the first day of the tour. You may send the balance by wire/bank transfer, or by credit/debit card via a secure PayPal payment link.
1. A 500 USD or the equivalent in PHP down payment or deposit is required upon registration. Down payment is non-refundable and non-transferable.
2. A monthly installment plan is available. Please message us if you want to avail of this payment scheme.
3. Down payment can be made using credit or debit cards. Click the "RESERVE NOW" link below or via bank transfer. Send us an email for our bank details.
4. If you are paying the down payment via wire/bank transfer, please send it to any of the bank accounts below and e-mail the proof of payment to [email protected] or [email protected]. Include your full name and the photography tour name in your email.
5. After payment, please fill out this REGISTRATION FORM.
6. We will send a receipt of payment and PDFs containing more information about the photo tour.
7. The balance is required to be fully settled 90 days before the first day of the tour. You may send the balance by wire/bank transfer, or by credit/debit card via a secure PayPal payment link.
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THINGS TO BRING
- Travel document (passport) - Comfortable clothes for 11 days - Warm jacket or fleece - Waterproof and windproof jacket - Waterproof trekking shoes - Trekking pants - Bonnet/beanie - Gloves - Flashlight or headlamp - Personal medicines - Pocket money - Cellular phone with data/internet |
CAMERA GEAR
- Camera body (mirrorless or DSLR) - Lenses (16-35mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm) - Sturdy tripod - Filters (CPL, NDs, and GND) - Extra batteries - Extra memory cards - Rain protector - Laptop or tablet for transferring and reviewing files - External hard drive |