Mongolia - Eagle Hunters & Cultures of Western Mongolia Photo Tour 2022
Mongolia is a vast central Asian country boasting a rich history, with its most notable inhabitant the famous Genghis Khan whose 13th Century empire spread vast distances across Eurasia. Mongolia remains a wild, sparsely inhabited nation – indeed it is the world’s second largest landlocked country, and has one of the lowest population densities of any country on earth, and we will be enjoying the amazing wild scenery and proud culture of this unique country. Our Mongolia photography tour is focused on the Bayan Olgii Eagle Festival, where ethnic Kazakh hunters compete with their female Golden Eagles for prizes, awarded for amongst others, accuracy and speed of the eagles as well as the prowess of their handlers. This is a celebration of culture as well, with intricately adorned hunters marching on proud steeds with a background of vast open plains and mountains. However, our cameras will not be trained to these activities alone, and we may be entertained by archery and even the Bushkashi, which is a game played with a goatskin while on horseback!
Why this Photo Tour is for You
Destination Allure
Mongolia is a vast and scenic country, with a very low human population density but sporting a rich history and appealing cultural attractions.
Month of Travel
This departure is designed to take place in the first week of October in order to coincide with the fascinating Bayan Olgii Eagle Festival, where ethnic Kazakh hunters take part in a competition with their female Golden Eagles.
Cultural Experience
Stay with and capture one of the world’s last true remaining traditional nomadic cultures: the Kazakh Eagle Hunters.
Small Group Departures
Travel on this Mongolia photo tour with like-minded individuals for a cultural experience like no other!
Guided experience
Local knowledge of the region and its inhabitants is key to crafting the ultimate photography tour experience. Combined with the photographic expertise of your ORYX Photo Tour Leader, and you are in for an adventure that will further fuel your excitement for photography and the destination.
11 Days
Guests
Classic Culture
- Destination:
Mongolia
- Departure:
- Person Sharing:
USD 7,295
- Single Supplement:
USD 0
- Photographic Highlights:
- Guide:
- Tour Price(Per Person):
USD7,295
- 1
Day 1: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Today is set aside as an arrival day in Ulaanbaatar (“UB”) for ORYX’s Mongolia photography tour. UB is melting pot of cultures and influences and is a surprising mix of East meets West. Our time in the city will provide for a huge contrast relative to what we will experience in rural Mongolia!
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Day 2: Fly Ulaanbaatar to Olgii or Khovd, onward drive to Altai
Our Mongolia photography tour commences as we fly to either Olgii or Khovd depending on flight availability. We then drive to Altai and will stay with our eagle hunter host and his family, which is a superb way to learn about how they live in rural Mongolia.
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Day 3: Day spent with Altai Kazakh Eagle Hunter family
We will spend the day with a Kazakh Eagle Hunter family and photograph them and their traditional way of life. Please note that we have left the coming days as flexible so that we can adjust to the vagaries of weather and the families own schedule. However, the focus is providing participants with the opportunity to learn and experience the special traditions and culture of the Kazakh eagle hunters.
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Day 4: Drive Altai to Ulaankhuus
After spending time in Altai, we will transfer to Ulaankhuus, which is a district of Bayan Olgii Province, and spend time with a different Kazakh eagle hunter’s family.
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Day 5: Ulaankhuus
Our time in Ulaankhuus will be spent photographing our hosts and witnessing their traditional way of life. We are in for a truly fascinating time in the coming days as we spend time with, and learn from these incredible people!
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Day 6: Travel from Ulaankhuus to Sagsai
This morning and at a time to be advised we will drive a short distance to Sagsai – close to Olgii, which is home to two different eagle hunter families. In addition to the noble art of keeping eagles, herding is major portion of these people’s lives, and by living with and photographing our interesting hosts, we will gain a fascinating insight into a way of life that is becoming increasingly rare in this day and age. As mentioned, our time here will remain flexible due to the weather and the families own schedule. However, we will at some stage have the opportunity to witness the hunters training their eagles.
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Day 7: Sagsai to Olgii, attend the Golden Eagle Festival Day 1
This morning we will attend the annual Golden Eagle Festival. The festival is a celebration of the Kazakh culture and focuses on the speed, agility and accuracy of the ‘berkut’ (the female Golden Eagle). Although a lot of the focus is on the eagle, the stature and appearance of hunter and horse are also of importance.
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Day 8: Olgii, attend the Golden Eagle Festival Day 2
Today we will spend another full day photographing the Eagle Festival in all its glory.
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Day 9: Olgii
Today we have the option to simply relax and explore Olgii Town or continue to Bugat.
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Day 10: Flight from Olgii back to Ulaanbaatar
Today we return to Ulaanbaatar. We have the remainder of our day to either relax at the hotel, or embark an excursion.
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Day 11: Ulaanbaatar and depart
This marks the end of our Mongolia photo tour, as we bid farewell to this unique nation and wing our way homeward!
I had the time of my life on the Mongolia photo tour with Marius. Western Mongolia is an enchanted place and I am blessed to have been able to experience those people and that landscape. And I never thought I would travel with and work again with anyone as good as Dale Morris but Marius was every bit Dale’s equal. He was a joy to travel with and he taught me reams of good new stuff about photography.
Mongolia was a trip like no other! Although it was tough in many ways, the experience was totally incredible. Watching first hand the lives of the hardworking nomad families we stayed with and experiencing the unique culture of eagle hunting was truly remarkable. The added poignancy of the death of an eagle, made it emotional even. This photo tour has made a lasting impression.
Team ORYX was a fun lot and what could’ve descended to a week of grumbles and complaints never happened. Everyone got on well with each other.
Marius was a fabulous lead – jovial, funny, ever willing to impart his photography skills, he made the photography tour that much more enjoyable.
