After arriving on your international flight, our driver will bring you to the hotel situated in the centre of Ulaanbaatar. During the day, will be visiting the black market, Gandantegchinlen Monastery and Sukhbaatar Square. Proceed to money exchange for local currency. In the evening, we will enjoy a traditional meal at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar.

Hoping to catch the early morning flight to Ulgii, arriving at 9.30 am. Ulgii is the largest town in western Mongolia and an estimated 80% of the world`s eagle hunters live here. We purchase all the necessary things from the local market for the migration. Night stay at the Ulgii Hotel.

After a quick breakfast, we will drive to Ulaankhus for 3 hours and set up our first camp alongside Yermyek’s winter place. Ulaankhus is a district of Bayan-Ulgii Province in western Mongolia. In this river valley, our friend and host, Kazakh eagle hunter, Ermikh and his family have their cosy winter house, where you will be warmly welcomed. This family lives in their autumn camp in Yurts which are close to their winter houses made of wood and clay. Same as their assistants lived 1000 years ago.

After finishing the greeting and tea and snacks we’ll be doing photography sessions of the eagle hunters. There will be possibilities to gather 3 to 4, or even more, eagle hunters for photography. Tonight we’ll stay with the family but we will have our own yurt or camp for the night. Our expedition cook will prepare Western food & local cuisine, a hot meal, coffee and snacks.

Packing down the winter camp: A day spent with our Kazakh hosts who will be packing up all their possessions ready to leave the next day. Accommodation will be at our personal tents by the side of the family house.

Leave for the migration at first light. For the next 4 days, we will accompany the family on their epic migration in the Altai mountain ranges. The work starts very early on migration day. Not only is the family ger dismantled, but also the animals have to be rounded up – although they often migrate in their separate herds. The animals seem to know the routine by instinct. After all, migration is a cyclical routine.

Traditionally the men rode on horses, women rode on horseback or on a pack of animals and Bactrian camels were traditionally used to move possessions. Everything is made ready and prepared for moving: ger parts, carpets, pots and pans, shelves, stoves. Nowadays, if the family has access, trucks are used for moving the ‘home.’ Herder starts herding early in the morning before sunrise, and we’ll walk with the nomads and their herd at the same time as taking photographs while we follow the families to their spring camp. Each day our ground team will drive ahead in special 4×4 vehicles and set up our Ger tents for sleeping and dining.

Our walking will be approximately 10 to 15 kilometres per day. While the walking isn’t terribly difficult (it will be cold and there will be a lot of walking), anyone who gets tired or simply wants a break can always hop into one of our vehicles. Photography from sunrise to well past sunset each day. At night our accommodation will be in a Ger(yurt).

Migration towards Saina’s Tuvan ethnic group winter shelter. During the nomad’s migration, you will have the chance to take photos of the Livestock, Herdsmen, Landscapes, Lakes and snow-capped mountains. The herding families don’t need to rely on maps or GPS devices; they use the sun, the shape of hills and mountains and landmarks to find their way.

The same schedule as before, herdsmen will start herding animals before the sun rises. Herding towards “Buudal” place where most migrators stop and spend the night, get strength for the following day across a frozen lake and snowy high pass.

We’ll be awake to the fresh mountain air and stunning morning glow of the Altai Mountain range, and start moving towards Tsengel Khairkhan snow-capped mountains, a place of high altitude and beautiful landscape. Overnight stay in a warm Ger(yurt).

This is our final day of migration. Migration will be the same as before, starting before sunrise. And continue till we do the high pass-through frozen lake “Khara-Kol”. After crossing frozen lakes and mountain passes in the early evening, we will reach our host family’s spring camp with their livestock in the Dayan Lake region. The Family will get busy settling into their new house. Tonight, we will arrange a feast and celebrate this epic journey. Overnight stay in a warm Ger(yurt).

A leisurely day spent at Yermyek’s Spring camp. Photographing and exploring the neighbourhood areas. A beautiful and very isolated spot in the snow-covered mountains of Tavan Bogd national park. Overnight stay in a warm Ger(yurt).

Early morning photographing landscapes and exploring the neighbourhood areas. The focus of our afternoon will be to travel with our eagle hunter to one of the beautiful peaks around this valley to capture an epic ‘eagle hunter on horseback’ shot. A beautiful and very isolated spot in the snow-covered mountains of Tavan Bogd national park. The best time to shoot will be sunset and dusk so we will make time for everything precisely. Overnight stay in a warm Ger(yurt).

A natural light portrait early in the morning session with our local friends. Today after a good rest we drive 200 Km back to Ulgii town (full day driving) in our expedition vehicles where we visit the local market and local sightseeing and enjoy local cousins in the evening.
Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel at Ulgii.

A natural light portrait early in the morning session with eagle hunters. Today whole day we’ll be shooting eagle hunters and landscape. Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel at Ulgii.

7:00 am domestic flight back to Ulaanbaatar. In the evening, we will have a final supper at my favourite restaurant in Ulan Bator, then get a well-deserved night’s sleep back at our hotel in Ulaanbaatar.

Tearful goodbyes as our driver drop you off at the airport to connect with your international flight. Have a safe trip!

Sure! If your significant other wants you there by their side then be our guest! Similarly, if you just want to come alone without a camera then don’t feel that you need to be into photography. This expedition is designed to be an immersive experience for everyone and we have hosted many non-photographers on previous expeditions. During my last Mongolia trip, I spent many hours just spending time with the families and walking alongside the animals helping to corral them rather than shooting photographs. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of things to occupy your time as a non-photographer.

If like me, you choose to walk the full 150km of the migration then I suggest that you will need a fair to a good level of fitness. The migration moves at a normal walking pace and includes breaks for food and tea throughout the day. However, since you will always have the option to rest your legs by calling a vehicle with your walkie-talkie, I feel that hardiness is a more important quality to have than fitness on a trip like this. If you are the kind of person who can’t live without your home comforts then you will struggle on this journey. We will be sleeping together in gers and toilets will only be available each night at camp in the form of ‘long drops’ dug by our crew in the frozen ground and enclosed in a small tent. Similarly, due to the freezing cold, showers will NOT be available during the 5-day migration (a bowl of hot water and some wet wipes in a warm ger will have to do). However, we will be able to set up a shower once we reach our destination. The weather will have the greatest effect on the harshness of this trip. Most commonly, days are fine with blue skies and cold (around -15 °C) but nights will be -25 °C and beyond. Be aware because snow storms and wind chills can affect the weather drastically.

• The altitude will be 3500-4000 mt. max.
• You won’t be able to take a bath for a few days.
• In many places, we will face issues with the Internet & Mobile networks.
• There will be long drives, bumpy roads and long distances in remote areas, but we pride ourselves on comfort and we’ll roll out in our air-conditioned 4x4s. First class hotel in Ulaan Baatar and Gers along the trip. We’ve made sure to secure the very best accommodations available for every stop on our trip.

The CDC and WHO recommend several vaccinations for travellers to Mongolia, including:

• Hepatitis A: Commonly recommended for travel to Mongolia.
• Hepatitis B: A viral infection spread through blood, semen, and vaginal fluids.
• Typhoid: A food and water-borne disease, recommended for some itineraries.
• Rabies: A viral infection usually transmitted through contact with an infected animal’s saliva, such as a bite, scratch, or lick to an open wound or mucous membrane. Consider getting a rabies vaccination before travel, especially for longer trips, if you’re at risk, or if you want lifelong protection.
• Other vaccinations that may be recommended include: Tetanus, Meningitis, Polio, Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, Pneumonia, Influenza, and COVID-19.

We recommend consulting your doctor for advice on vaccinations. For more advice on vaccinations, you can also visit: https://www.who.int/travel-advice/all-updates-for-travellers

During this season, the weather conditions in both western and central Mongolia are usually cool, dry and sunny, with typical daily in day time maxima being between -10°C to -15°C (14 to 5°F). At night conditions are very cold between -25°C or -4°F and a little below.

Arrival Airport: Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN)
Departure Airport: Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN)

Travel Visa & Immigration

You will generally need a tourist visa for the country where we run your chosen tour. On your landing/immigration form, you should state that you are on a group tour if requested, and provide the name of our local tour operator. We will provide the necessary details once your booking is confirmed.

All travellers will require a visa to enter Ulaanbaatar, which must be obtained before travel. It is recommended to check with your nearest embassy for the most up-to-date visa regulations. As visa rules can vary according to your country of residence as well as the country that issued your passport, we strongly advise that you research the relevant visa rules before you travel. Go to Visa Map to find out more.

EXPOSURE cannot be held responsible for your entry/exit arrangements, so please note that obtaining the required documentation is solely your responsibility. No refunds will be made in the event of you being refused entry into the country where travel is to take place.

Mongolia is one of the safest countries in Asia. It ranks as the 8th safest country in Asia after countries such as Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, and Kuwait and 40th in the world. Mongols are very friendly people. Whether you are in the city or in the countryside, the Mongolians treat you with respect and are always happy to help you. And you should also show them your respect and not offend their beliefs and traditions.

It would be very grateful if you learn a few Mongolian words such as “Hello”, “How are you?” and “thanks”. Showing hospitality to guests is in our blood. It is in our culture that when travellers come to us, we must feed them and help them with everything.

After all, nomads believe that every guest brings goodness to the family. In the city, if you ask someone for directions, they will probably do their best to show you the way. In every public place like restaurants and shops, they are very kind and always smiling.

We collaborate closely with our exceptional local team in Mongolia. With over ten years of experience in the region, they are fully confident in our ability to conduct safe tours in Mongolia. Our team has provided support to prestigious channels like BBC Earth, National Geographic and Discovery. Should you have any safety concerns please do not hesitate to contact us and we can address your concerns.

This is especially a cold-weather trip and your packing should reflect that. During this time the weather in Mongolia can be very unpredictable and you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors so it’s important to have the right gear with you. Clothing-wise, layers are the key since you will be potentially both walking and sitting in cold vehicles. The amount of each that you choose to do will depend on your fitness and preference. Our support vehicles will follow our route at a distance as much as possible offering everyone the chance to travel in a vehicle if needed. Part of our team will travel ahead each day and set up camp at our daily destination with mattresses, camel wool blankets and wood stoves in each Ger. Our staff will stoke the fires throughout the night allowing us to dry clothes and stay warm, however, a 5-season sleeping bag is essential and you must bring your own.

This is a suggested packing list to make your trip a fulfilling and comfortable experience.

• Backpack or suitcase
• Waterproof bag cover
• Winter Gloves, Snow Gloves
• Comfortable light snow boots for walking
• Headlamp/flashlight
• Personal medications
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Waterproof winter jacket for extreme cold with hood
• Waterproof over pants
• lightweight trousers
• Anti-mosquito lotion
• long underwear
• Wool socks
• Underwear
• Warm hat and gloves
• Sunglasses (Take one spare also)
• Suncare cream
• Thermoflask
• Water plastic case with 2 litre capacity
• Wet tissues
• Money belt/pouch
• Insurance confirmation copy
• Emergency contact number
• Carry your essential and basic medicines for headaches, fever, stomach upset, etc.
• Using layers of warm wear will be useful. 4-7 layers will be good enough
• We’ll provide a sleeping bag but for your hygiene, you can carry your personal one.

You should bring cameras, a laptop (for editing in the evenings), and a head torch these kinds of things instantly spring to mind. Don’t worry about recharging since we will have generators to top up our gear each night. Once you confirm your booking with a 40% deposit, we will send you all the information you need to fully prepare yourself for this epic journey.

This is just an idea about the suggested camera and accessory:

• One or two DSLR or Mirrorless (Full Frame or Crop Sensor) cameras. If you use a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera, for much of the time, when photographing Eagle Hunters, you will want to cover focal lengths of around 24-70mm or 24-105mm and 70-200mm. However, a kit lens (18-55/3.5 or 4.0) will also work.
• For photographing hunters from a distance, consider bringing a larger zoom or prime telephoto lens for photography, of up to 300mm.
• If you bring a good quality bridge camera instead of a DSLR or mirrorless camera, it will be best if it has an optical zoom of 18-20x or more, combined with a reasonable wide-angle at the other end of the zoom range.
• Protector for your lens.
• A Sturdy Tripod could be required to shoot some low-light images.
• Power Bank & Electric Socket Extension.
• Adequate memory card and Card reader.
• Be sure to bring plenty of spare battery power for your camera and external hard drive with adequate space and a card reader. There will likely be only limited access to power when we stay with the nomads.
• A Computer with photo-processing software [Lightroom, Photoshop]. (If you do not have this software, don’t worry we’ll provide it.)
• Carry a small size soft cloth or towel which you may require to wrap your camera during the night shoot.
• Carry a microfiber to wipe the lens if ice crystals form.

You can choose any flight on Day -1, arriving before 5 p.m. Options include routes via Beijing, Seoul, etc. It’s recommended to arrive a day or two earlier to rest and ensure you don’t miss the next morning’s flight. We can arrange extra occupancy in the same hotel and room if needed, so you won’t have to change rooms later. Please note, that international flight is not included in the tour.

Registration is open from 1st September 2024 till 31st October 2025 or till the seat reservations end.

Only a maximum of 4 hardworking participants will be selected for this workshop. This is not a fancy tour; it’s a real expedition and you have to walk a lot, so your physical fitness is very important.

Participants will be granted the expedition based on email confirmation on a first come first serve basis. Feel free to call +91 8509333385 or +918900702900 for any further assistance.

You need to pay 50% of the tour amount immediately (either in USD or INR as per the conversion rate on the date). Balance amount to be paid 60 days before the tour. Once the payment is done, please send us a copy of the bank receipt (a screenshot is also fine) of your payment details. Once we confirm your payment, we will send you the tour ID no. along with the Rules & Regulations of the tour, which makes you, a confirmed candidate for the photo tour.

To reserve your spot 50% of the full fee is required at the time of your booking. You can pay using the online payment link on our website or ask for the account details or PayPal to transfer the payment. Your reservation may be cancelled if full payment has not been received by the last date specified and communicated. All cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of the postmark (standard mail or electronic).

Cancellation deductions will be as per the following policy of full fees:

• 40% cancellation of the total fee if cancelled 90 days before the start of the expedition or earlier than the expedition.
• 100% cancellation of the total fee if cancelled 59 days on or before the start of the expedition.

Please read all details on this page and the Detailed Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer / Undertaking in the Registration cum Booking Form.