Nomads in Focus: Life of Reindeer and Eagle Hunters
$4041
per personJoin a once-in-a-lifetime expedition across Mongolia’s two most captivating cultures — the Tsaatan Reindeer Herders of the Taiga and the Kazakh Eagle Hunters of the Altai Mountains — specially curated for passionate photographers and visual storytellers.
This immersive photography journey takes you through northern forests, alpine rivers, and golden autumn landscapes, ending with the Small Eagle Festival, a celebration of skill, heritage, and human–wildlife connection. Each destination is chosen for its light, texture, and emotion — from mist rising over the reindeer camp to the fierce gaze of a golden eagle perched on its master’s arm.
Travel with experienced guides, translators, and local fixers who understand photographers’ needs — time for golden-hour shots, flexibility for creative composition, and real interactions that go beyond the lens.
Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Season: September
Group Size: 4–8 travelers
Physical Rating: Moderate
Accommodation: Lodges / Teepees / Tourist Ger Camps / 4★ Hotels
Activities: Cultural & Wildlife Photography / Eagle Festival / Reindeer Herders / Portraits & Landscapes / Storytelling
Tour Highlights
- Photograph the Tsaatan (Reindeer) People in Their Autumn Camp
- Stay overnight in Teepees & Taiga Lodges
- Golden Eagle Photography at the Small Eagle Festival
- Professional Support for Photographers
- Scenic Landscapes of Lake Khuvsgul & Jargant Valley
- Cultural Encounters Beyond the Lens
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PricingPer Person
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2 personN/A
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3 to 4 personN/A
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More than 4 personUSD 4041
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Include4WD vehicle transportationBottled waterAirport pick-up & drop-offMeals as indicatedFees for activitiesAdmission feesEnglish speaking guideAccommodation as indicated
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Not IncludedPersonal expensesTravel insuranceTipping(optional)Visa application & feesInternational airfares
Day 1 – Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
- Welcome to Mongolia! Upon arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, meet your Travel Buddies team and transfer to your city hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy an evening briefing with your photography guide and review the upcoming itinerary and technical notes.
- Meals: None
- Accommodation: 4★ hotel in Ulaanbaatar
- Driving time : 1.5–2 hours drive (depending on traffic)
Day 2 – Fly to Murun (Northern Mongolia)
- Take a morning flight to Murun, the capital of Khuvsgul Province. Upon arrival, meet your northern team and transfer to Tenkhleg Local Hotel for rest and a brief orientation. In the afternoon, head out for a street photography session, capturing the character of Murun’s local markets, lively streets, and everyday moments of northern Mongolian life.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Tenkhleg Local Hotel, Murun
- Duration: 1 hour local flight
Day 3 – Drive to Ulaan-Uul / Visit Tsaatan Reindeer Herders
- Drive north through taiga forests and winding river valleys toward Ulaan-Uul, the gateway to the remote East Taiga. From here, switch to local horses or a sturdy 4WD vehicle for the final stretch into the forested reindeer-herding region. Arrive at a Tsaatan family camp and spend the golden hour photographing reindeer, herders, and the quiet rhythms of life in the taiga. Settle in for the night in a traditional teepee (urt), surrounded by the stillness of the northern wilderness.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Teepee stay with reindeer herders
- Driving time ≈ 6 hours drive on dirt road
Day 4 – Zuun Taiga / Reindeer Photography
- Drive north through taiga forests and winding river valleys toward Ulaan-Uul, the gateway to the remote East Taiga. From here, switch to local horses or a sturdy 4WD vehicle for the final stretch into the forested reindeer-herding region. Arrive at a Tsaatan family camp and spend the golden hour photographing reindeer, herders, and the quiet rhythms of life in the taiga. Settle in for the night in a traditional teepee (urt), surrounded by the stillness of the northern wilderness.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Teepee stay with reindeer herders
- Driving time ≈ 6 hours drive on dirt road
Day 5 – Morning Photography / Drive to Jargant Lodge
- Capture the soft morning light at the reindeer camp before beginning your journey south to Jargant Lodge — a cozy wooden retreat set beside a forested river. Settle in and unwind, then gather in the evening for a relaxed photo-editing session and group image review around the fireplace, sharing stories and highlights from your time in the taiga.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Jargant Lodge
- Driving time: ≈ 5 hours drive on dirt road
Day 6 – Drive to Lake Khuvsgul / Lakeside Photography
- Drive to Lake Khuvsgul National Park, Mongolia’s famed “Blue Pearl,” renowned for its crystal-clear waters and alpine beauty. In the afternoon, enjoy a dedicated photography session capturing mirror-like reflections, local horsemen along the shore, and the shifting light over the lake. Stay out for a sunset shoot as warm colors ripple across the water — one of Khuvsgul’s most unforgettable moments.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Tourist Ger Camp, Lake Khuvsgul
- Driving time: ≈ 5 hours drive on dirt road
Day 7 – Return to Murun
- Drive back to Murun and unwind with a relaxed evening at your hotel. If you wish, take an optional photo walk through the local market to capture everyday life in northern Mongolia. Rest and prepare for the western leg of your photography journey.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Tenkhleg Local Hotel, Murun
- Driving time: 3 hours drive on paved road
Day 8 – Fly to Ulaanbaatar
- Take a morning flight to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your city hotel for a restful afternoon. In the evening, enjoy leisure time or join an optional sunset photo walk at Gandan Monastery, where warm light softens the temple roofs and monks move through their evening rituals.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation: 4★ hotel in Ulaanbaatar
- Duration: 1.5 hours local flight
Day 9 – Fly to Ulgii (Western Mongolia)
- Take an early flight to Ulgii, the capital of Bayan-Ulgii Province and the cultural heartland of Mongolia’s Kazakh eagle hunters. After settling into your local hotel, head out with your guide to photograph the lively market scenes and the rugged mountains that frame the town, beautifully lit by the warm late-afternoon light.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Local hotel, Ulgii
- Duration: 2 hours local flight
Day 10 – Eagle Hunter Portraits
- Spend the day with Kazakh eagle hunters, capturing intimate moments both at their homes and out on the steppe during riding sessions with their golden eagles. Focus on powerful portraiture — richly embroidered attire, weathered faces, and the unmistakable bond between hunter and bird — all set against the dramatic mountain and steppe landscapes of western Mongolia.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Local hotel, Ulgii
- Driving time: 2–3 hours drive
Days 11–12 – Small Eagle Festival
- Spend two full days at the Small Eagle Festival — an intimate, uncrowded gathering that offers exceptional access to hunters and their birds. Photograph dramatic eagle competitions, camel races, archery events, and musical performances unfolding in the warm glow of autumn light.
- This setting is ideal for capturing both the vibrant energy of the festival and striking one-on-one portraits of eagle hunters, their golden eagles, and the stunning mountain landscapes surrounding them.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Local hotel, Ulgii
- Driving time: Local transfers
Day 13 – Fly to Ulaanbaatar
- Take a morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your city hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon to rest, browse local shops, or spend time editing and organizing your photo collection from the journey.
- Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
- Accommodation: 4★ hotel in Ulaanbaatar
- Duration: 2 hours local flight
Day 14 – Departure
- After breakfast, transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your flight home. Your driver will ensure you arrive at least three hours before departure.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Driving time : 1.5–2 hours depending on traffic
FAQ
Join a once-in-a-lifetime expedition across Mongolia’s two most captivating cultures — the Tsaatan Reindeer Herders of the Taiga and the Kazakh Eagle Hunters of the Altai Mountains — specially curated for passionate photographers and visual storytellers.
Season & Travel Style
This photographic journey runs in September, a season of clear air, warm autumn tones, and soft natural light — ideal for portrait and landscape photography. Temperatures range from +15°C in the daytime to +3°C at night in the north and west. This expedition combines cultural immersion, wilderness travel, and festival photography.Photography Focus & Support
This is not a sightseeing trip — it’s a visual storytelling journey. Each location and activity is selected for light, cultural depth, and authentic interaction. Your guide and local fixers will help organize portrait sessions, manage timing for sunrise/sunset, and coordinate access to reindeer and eagle hunters. Photography themes include: - Nomadic portraits (reindeer herders & eagle hunters) - Animal–human relationships (eagles, reindeer, horses) - Daily life, crafts, and rituals - Vast landscapes and seasonal colorAccommodation
Ulaanbaatar & Murun Hotels (4★ / Local) – Comfortable stays with heating, Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms. Jargant Lodge – Warm wooden cabins by a river with shared bathrooms and home-cooked meals. Teepee Camp – Traditional reindeer herder tents with sleeping bags and wood stoves. Rustic but unforgettable. Lake Khuvsgul Ger Camp – Standard tourist camp with twin-bed gers and hot showers. Ulgii Local Hotel – Simple, clean guesthouse near the festival grounds.Meals
Meals are included as stated. Expect hearty Mongolian dishes and locally prepared meals in lodges and camps. Vegetarian and special dietary options available with advance notice.Transportation
All Travel Buddies photography expeditions use private 4WD vehicles with reliable local drivers experienced in remote routes. Domestic flights operated by MIAT or Hunnu Air.Guides
Led by professional English-speaking local guides. All staff understand photographers’ needs for patience, lighting, and time.Typical Daily Schedule
- 06:30–07:30 Sunrise photography session
- 07:30–08:30 Breakfast at camp or lodge
- 09:00–12:30 Cultural or portrait session
- 12:30–13:30 Lunch
- 14:00–17:30 Afternoon shoot or drive
- 18:00–19:00 Sunset photography
- 19:30–20:00 Dinner and image review