Tour description

The capital city of Mongolia, home of half of the total population of the country. You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel. For those who will arrive in the morning and noon, after lunch, we will explore throughout photography the Ger district. The locals of this district used to be nomads living in the countryside. You will also explore the fussiness of the Naran Tuul Black Market, where we will be able to experience a bit of Mongolian lifestyle. After dinner the group will gather in the evening and take part of the briefing about the site we will explore, customs, traditions and photography tips and tricks about the composition, lighting, communication & interaction with locals.

Overnight in Ulaanbaatar. Accommodation: Khuvsgul Lake hotel 

Today we will take the fight to Murun and we will be one step closer to the reindeer herders. We will have lunch at a local restaurant in Murun and then we will drive to Lake Khovsgol, the largest fresh water lake, by volume, in Mongolia. The Lake, also called “Blue Pearl” it is surrounded by magnificent pine covered mountains. We will have a photo walking on sunset. There is great opportunity to take photos of the amazing landscape the Lake has to offer.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Tourist Ger camp – Lake Khovsgol

Please note that there are weight restriction of 15kg per baggage. Hand luggage it should contain only 1 piece. The excess baggage will be charged from $4 to $7 per kilo relying on the route.

Today we will get up very early to photograph the sunrise on the beautiful and picturesque Lake Khovsgol. After breakfast we will have a full day driving, on a bumpy road, towards Tsagaan nuur sum throughout Darkhad depression. On the way we will have the opportunity to enjoy the amazing Mongolian landscapes full of peaceful meadows, amazingly beautiful lakes and imposing mountains. Along the way we will see different nomads with their livestock and we will stop and photograph the Darkhad families. They are famous for their hard work, good shamans and their hospitality.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Guesthouse in Tsagaan nuur sum

The fourth day is the adventurous day. We will wake up in the morning, drive for 1-2 h and then we will horse ride through Darkhad depression. After 4-5 hours of horse riding admiring the breathtaking landscape around us we reach our destination and meet the reindeer families. We will have lunch on the way, cooked by our personal chef.

The Darkhad valley, located next to the border with Tuva, Siberia, is ice carved by Ulaan Taiga and Khoridol Saridag mountains. Even though full of life and extremely beautiful the region is difficult to reach. The bottom part of the valley is home of Darkhad families and the upper part is home of Tsaatan people, the reindeer herders. The difficulty in reaching is not such a bad thing, it allows its inhabitants to continue their traditional lifestyle. As soon as we reach the Tsaatan families we will get to know them and photograph their daily life. We will understand more where they come from, why they are so few left and how are they spending their days, depending of the season.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: We will spend the night living as the reindeer families in teepe or tent.

Kindly note that due to our remote location the accommodation will be made in your own tents (or we can provide you one) alongside the Tsaatan families or in the teepe provided by our hosts. Also, please note that we will provide portable toilets and solar shower, when possible, however there will be no western showers or western toilets facilities.

Today we will spend all day long with Tsaatan people and in the evening we will witness a very special gathering of the reindeer herders. If you think about Mongolia, usually you will think about yurts or ger, vast arid lengthiness, however when you reach this region you will be amazed by its beauty. The reindeer herders, unlike other Mongolians, are living in teepes (a type tent). While staying here you will have the chance to explore the nomad way of life and learn their daily activities, their traditions, customs and the challenges they have to face every day. There will be countless opportunities to photograph and document this ancient culture and lifestyle and the unique portrait of the Tsaatan families. Tsaatan people are also Shamans and it is amazing to see how they live in a wonderful communion with the nature.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: We will spend the night living as the reindeer families in teepe or tent.

Kindly note that due to our remote location the accommodation will be made in your own tents (or we can provide you one) alongside the Tsaatan families or in the teepe provided by our hosts. Also, please note that we will provide portable toilets and solar shower, when possible, however there will be no western showers or western toilets facilities.

After breakfast we will have to say thank you and goodbye to the reindeer herders and ride back to Tsagaan nuur and Ulaan-uul. On the way we will admire once again the beautiful taiga and stop for landscape photography.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Overnight in local guesthouse / tourist Ger camp

Today will be another long day of driving towards Murun. On the way we will have stops to admire/photograph the surroundings, being the vast landscape with scattering yurts from time to time. We will stop for lunch and photos at a local nomad family. Depending on the time we arrive to Murun, we will explore by foot the town.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Local hotel in Murun

After breakfast we will take a flight back to Ulaanbataar. Depending on the arrival time in the town, we will visit the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum, which displays one of the world’s best collections of Buddhist art and artifacts.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Overnight in a local hotel in Ulaanbataar

Please note that there are weight restriction of 15kg per baggage. Hand luggage it should contain only 1 piece. The excess baggage will be charged from $4 to $7 per kilo relying on the route.

Today we will have an early morning flight to Western part of Mongolia, in Olgii, the capital of the Bayan Olgii Aimag province. Ulgii lies on an altitude of 1710 meters (5610 feet) on the banks of the Khovd river and is the town with the highest population of Kazakhs.

The Kazakhs people are a recognized minority in Mongolia with a different language, customs, traditions, religion and appearance. The majority of the Kazakhs are nomads, moving around the region up to 4 times per year searching for better pasturage for their livestock. They are migrating between river valleys in the winter and high pastures during summer. Unlike the Tsaatan people, whose life depends exclusively of the reindeers, the Kazakhs have different animals, such as yaks, sheep, goats, cows and of course the traditional eagle. They were famous in early days for raising and using eagles and nowadays for the hunting game traditions.

As photography opportunities we will have several stops on the way and capture the unmatched mountains and landscapes. As we reach the Kazakhs families we will get acquainted and start discovering who they are the fascinating insights of this interesting ethnic group.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: We will spend the night living as a Kazakh in the yurt or tent

Kindly note that due to our remote location the accommodation will be made in your own tents (or we can provide you one) alongside the Kazakh families or in the family yurt. Also, please note that we will provide portable toilets and solar shower, when possible, however there will be no western showers or western toilets facilities.

Today we will be spending the day with the Kazakhs families, get to know and experience their way of living, their tradition, customs and history. We will photograph and documents all their daily activities as well as having photo sessions during the sunset. Today and tomorrow are flexible days depending on the weather and the families activities. We will have the chance to portray the eagle hunters, as well as we will learn the story of the process and tradition and its place in Kazakh history and culture.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: We will spend the night living as a Kazakh in the yurt or tent

Kindly note that due to our remote location the accommodation will be made in your own tents (or we can provide you one) alongside the Kazakh families or in the family yurt. Also, please note that we will provide portable toilets and solar shower, when possible, however there will be no western showers or western toilets facilities.

After lunch we will say goodbye to the Kazakh people, thanking them for their hospitability and we will head to the city of Olgii. On the way we can have short stops of admiring and capturing the Mongol Altai Nuruu Cahin of mountains. Depending on the arrival time in town we can simply relax or we can explore Olgii Town or the wild remote valleys surrounding it.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Local hotel in Olgii

After an early breakfast we will take the flight back to Ulaanbataar. Depending of the arrival time in the capital we could have a visit to the National History Museum, where you will be able to explore the Mongolian history from the earliest times till present and enter into the old nomadic empire.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodations: Overnight in a local hotel in Ulaanbaatar

Please note that there are weight restriction of 15kg per baggage. Hand luggage it should contain only 1 piece. The excess baggage will be charged from $4 to $7 per kilo relying on the route.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport and depart.