The Tsaatan people, also known as Dukha or Tuva, are one of the last remaining reindeer-herding nomadic communities in the world. Residing deep within the Taiga region of northern Mongolia, their way of life is intimately connected to their reindeer herds, which provide essential resources – transportation, companionship, and materials for daily living. Their traditions, spiritual beliefs, and survival skills have been passed down through generations, offering a rare and deeply meaningful cultural experience.

The first part of our adventure takes you into the remote Eastern Taiga, where you’ll have the extraordinary opportunity to live among and photograph the Tsaatan reindeer herders. From candid portraits and daily life scenes to spiritual rituals and reindeer riding in the snow-covered forest, this segment offers rich storytelling moments for cultural, documentary, and portrait photography.

The second part of our journey brings us to Hustai National Park, a sanctuary for wildlife and home to the endangered Przewalski’s horse (Takhi), the last truly wild horse on Earth. You will have the chance to photograph these majestic animals in their natural habitat, along with a diverse range of other species including red deer, marmots, and birds of prey, set against the stunning backdrop of Mongolia’s steppe and forest-steppe landscapes.

Get ready to be inspired by the breathtaking beauty of Mongolia – its people, its wildlife, and its vast, untamed land. Join us for an unforgettable 10-day photography workshop, where you’ll gain hands-on experience in cultural, portrait, and landscape photography under the guidance of some of the world’s leading photographers. This is a rare opportunity to elevate your photography while immersing yourself in one of the most unique corners of the world.

Day 1: Ulaanbaatar

Upon your arrival at Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN), our team will warmly welcome you and provide a comfortable transfer to your hotel located in the heart of Ulaanbaatar. After settling in, we will begin our exploration of the city with a leisurely day visiting some of its most iconic landmarks.

Highlights of the day include a visit to Sukhbaatar Square, the central plaza and symbolic heart of the city, named after Mongolia’s revolutionary hero. We’ll also explore the Chinggis Khaan National Museum, which offers a rich and immersive journey through Mongolia’s history, culture, and the legacy of the great Genghis Khan. To complete the day, we will stop at the Choijin Lama Temple Museum, a beautifully preserved Buddhist monastery that showcases exquisite architecture and sacred artifacts from Mongolia’s spiritual heritage.

This will be a relaxing and culturally enriching day, perfect for acclimating and getting an introduction to the vibrant spirit of Ulaanbaatar.

Day 2: Ulaanbaatar – Murun

After an early breakfast, we will embark on our journey northward in comfortable 4WD vehicles, heading toward the city of Murun. This full-day drive will take us through the vast and ever-changing landscapes of northern Mongolia, offering sweeping views of open steppe, rolling hills, and traditional nomadic settlements. Along the way, we will make several stops to stretch our legs, take in the fresh air, and capture the scenic beauty with photo breaks at particularly picturesque locations. By evening, we will arrive in Murun, where we’ll check into a local hotel for an overnight stay, allowing us to rest and recharge in preparation for the next leg of our adventure.

Day 3: Murun – Eastern Taiga

Today marks the final leg of our long drive into the remote Eastern Taiga. As we journey deeper into this rugged and mystical region, we will make several photo stops to capture the raw beauty of the Mongolian landscape.

En route, we will pass Ulaan-Uul (~220 km), a small village inhabited predominantly by the Darkhad ethnic group. Later, we’ll stop for lunch in Tsagaan Nuur (~320 km), a remote settlement home to both Darkhad and Tsaatan communities. From there, we continue another ~30 km to reach our destination: the Eastern Taiga (Zuun Taiga), bringing the day’s total distance to approximately 350 km.

Upon arrival, we will meet our local host and settle into a newly built wooden hut, specially constructed to provide a comfortable base for this unique photographic expedition.

Day 4-6: Eastern Taiga

The Tsaatan people, also known as Dukha or Tuva, are a small, nomadic community living deep within the Taiga region of northern Mongolia. Their lives are intricately woven with their reindeer herds, which serve as their primary source of transportation, companionship, and materials for daily life. According to the 2010 census, approximately 280 Tsaatan individuals from 28 reindeer-herding families reside in this remote and rugged region of Eastern Taiga. The Tsaatan train their reindeer from a young age. Reindeer begin carrying riders at just two years old, initially bearing the weight of children, as they are still too delicate for adults. By the age of three, the animals become strong enough to carry adults as well. During nomadic migrations, male reindeer typically carry loads of around 40 kg, while females carry about 30 kg. Reindeer thrive in cold conditions and are well adapted to the snowy environment, using their hooves to dig through the snow in search of moss, their primary food source.

Over the next three days, we will immerse ourselves in the daily life of the Tsaatan people through a series of captivating photography sessions. These sessions will provide rare opportunities to document their deep bond with the reindeer and capture powerful images of Daily life scenes both indoors and outdoors; children playing in the snow with their reindeer companions; candid and posed portrait photography; photographing traditional Shaman rituals, an integral part of Tsaatan spiritual life; and crafting handmade items from reindeer antlers, showcasing their resourcefulness and craftsmanship. Each day will be filled with meaningful moments and unique photo opportunities, offering an intimate glimpse into one of the world’s last remaining reindeer-herding cultures.

In addition, you’ll have the rare chance to ride a reindeer into the deep winter forest, experiencing firsthand how the Tsaatan people travel across snow-covered landscapes with their herds. It’s an unforgettable adventure that blends cultural immersion with stunning natural beauty, perfect for creating powerful visual stories.

Day 7: Eastern Taiga – Murun

After breakfast at the local hotel, we will begin our journey back toward Murun, traveling through some of the most scenic and culturally rich landscapes of northern Mongolia.

Along the way, you will explore the Khoridol Saridag National Protected Area, a region of stunning natural beauty and ecological significance. We’ll visit Delgerkhaan Mountain, the highest peak in the Khoridol Saridag range, rising majestically to 3,093 meters above sea level. You’ll also have the chance to take in the dramatic views of the Ar Bosgot Canyon, known for its rugged cliffs and pristine wilderness.

One of the most culturally meaningful stops on this route is a remarkable collection of ‘ovoos’—sacred stone cairns central to Mongolian shamanic and Buddhist traditions. At the southern entrance to the Darkhad Depression, just north of the Beltes River, we will come upon a rare configuration of thirteen ovoos: one large central shrine encircled by twelve smaller ones. Each of the smaller ovoos represents one of the twelve animals of the Mongolian zodiac – mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

According to local tradition, travelers entering the Darkhad Depression circumambulate the main ovoo clockwise and then offer prayers to the shrine corresponding to the animal of their birth year, seeking blessings, protection, and good fortune for the journey ahead.

Day 8: Murun – Ulaanbaatar

After an overnight stay in Murun, we will begin our return journey to Ulaanbaatar. This full-day drive will take us along a long yet scenic route, offering a final glimpse of Mongolia’s vast and diverse landscapes. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the shifting scenery, from rolling hills and open steppe to distant mountain ranges and traditional herder camps. To make the journey as comfortable as possible, we’ll take regular breaks for lunch and rest stops, giving you a chance to stretch your legs, refresh, and savor the natural beauty one last time before reaching the capital.

Day 9: Hustai National Park

Today, we will visit Hustai National Park, located approximately 90 kilometers west of Ulaanbaatar. Established in 1993, the park is internationally celebrated for its successful reintroduction of the Przewalski’s horse, the world’s last truly wild horse, once extinct in the wild. Spanning over 50,000 hectares of steppe and forest-steppe, Hustai is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including red deer, marmots, foxes, wolves, and more than 200 species of birds. In addition to its ecological significance, the park also protects numerous archaeological and cultural sites, such as ancient stone monuments and burial mounds, offering a fascinating glimpse into Mongolia’s past.

The Przewalski’s horse, also known as the Takhi, Mongolian wild horse, or Dzungarian horse, is a rare and endangered species native to the Central Asian steppe. By the 1960s, it had gone extinct in the wild due to habitat loss, competition with livestock, poaching, and harsh winters in 1945, 1948, and 1956. Foals were also captured for zoos, further reducing wild populations. Thanks to extensive international conservation efforts, the species was successfully reintroduced to its native habitat in Mongolia in the 1990s, as well as to select areas in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Today, nearly 1,000 Przewalski’s horses roam freely in Mongolia, with the largest population, around 430 individuals living in Hustai National Park.

You will spend the day exploring the park and photographing its diverse wildlife, with special attention to capturing the rare and majestic Takhi in their natural habitat, a truly rewarding experience for any wildlife photographer.

Day 10: Departure

We will transfer you to Ulaanbaatar Airport (UBN) for your journey home, bringing with you a collection of incredible photographs and unforgettable memories from your time in Mongolia.