Mongolia Eagle Hunters and Gobi Desert

The Very Best of Mongolia: Eagle Hunters, Landscapes, Gobi Desert

September 17 – 28, 2024

We will begin our journey into the heart of the Gobi Desert to meet the traditional Bactrian camel herders. Bactrian camels are the lifeblood of the Gobi people—used for meat, milk, fur, and transportation. The ability of the camels to survive and thrive in arid conditions cemented their importance along the infamous Silk Road—the great movement of goods between ancient Europe and Asia—and earned them their prominent place in the art and literature of the region. Life here is little changed—the nomadic camel herders still live as they have for centuries. We’ll have the opportunity to compose portraits of the herders and their livestock in various lighting situations against the stunning backdrop of some of the longest sand dunes in the world.

We’ll then travel to Ölgii province to meet the Eagle Hunters, their families, and eagles. We’ve been invited into the world of the Kazakh Eagle Hunters because of the trust we have built through more than ten years of visiting them. We’ll journey into the mountains with them and watch them exercise and train their birds. After several days of photographing this community, we’ll get to photograph our very own private eagle festival! Why private? The Golden Eagle Festival has 2,500 attendees, and getting the photographs we want is challenging. From our front-row seats, we’ll watch the region’s hunters gather to test their skills and those of their eagles. Look for horse racing, too, and even goatskin tug-of-war. It’s just our small group and about 40 Eagle Hunters. It’s a festive event, the stakes are high, and the competition is fierce! The competition at our private Eagle Festival has become something the Eagle Hunters look forward to. We’ll stay close to the action the whole time, living in cozy, fire-warmed gers—traditional round, felted tents—set up for us among the families’ homes. Kazakh hospitality is legendary, and you’ll likely be invited for a cup of tea or two!

Journey deep into the Mongolian countryside to places few get to experience. You will learn to capture photographs of action, and intimate portraits, compose compelling environmental images and work on your landscape composition techniques throughout our journey in these stunning landscapes.

This workshop is fully customized—you’ll have simple but comfortable accommodations and our own private chef—so you can focus on the experience. Time has also been set aside for our famous image reviews to help you produce stunning images throughout our journey.

Come witness lifestyles preserved for centuries with instructors with a wealth of experience leading photographers on epic adventures around the globe.

Read More About Mongolia

The history and culture of Mongolia are ancient and complex. Read more about our experiences with the fascinating culture and people of Mongolia.