Eagle hunting is a tradition traced to over 2000 years ago and is one of the most unique features of the Kazakh life. The hunter is named a kusbegi or burkitchi. For centuries, hunting skills have been passed down from father to sons and now to daughters. Training the golden eagle requires art and patience. The caught bird gradually gets accustomed to its owner, who is the only one that can feed him. The eagle (12 – 15 lbs) sits on the stretched arm of the hunter. They both scan the horizon for a prey (rabbits, foxes, partridge, black hazel grouses) and for the hunt to start. It is accelerating to photograph such event as speed, accuracy, timeliness, and skills are all inter tangled for success.
You’ll have a chance to experience this unique tradition in the remote mountains of Western Mongolia. We are visiting special places, seldom seen by tourists, at a special time of the year: Eagle Hunters winter migration!
During their migration you will have an opportunity to photograph how they migrate their yaks, cows, sheep, meanwhile still hunting with their eagle in far remote region of Western Mongolia. We also see how they train their new eagles to respond to their commands and get them ready for the summer competitions. A truly unique experience.
Winter is also a special time to see snow leopards in the wild. They typically move down the mountains to find food near the cattle herders. Snow leopards are called the mystical cats. They blend in the environment, they are very stealthy when they move.
We are going to be guided by a team that was part of the surveying of the snow leopards in Western Mongolia. Local farmers are also going to be on hand to give us information about their latest sightings and snow leopards patterns. This will immensely increase our chances of spotting and photographing these mystical cats.
We start the workshop in Ulaanbataar, spend a day to acclimate to the weather and discover this intriguing city. Then we fly (flights included in the workshop) to Western Mongolia to track the snow leopards, and experience the eagle hunter winter migration. We will have a conbination of actual migration with setups in a truly special scenery.
We have paid special attention to the logistics for this trip, where transportation has been upgraded to 4x4 land cruiser (vs. Russian minivan), we have hired a cook when we travel to eagle hunter families and the snow leopards, we have upgraded GER to make sure we have warmth at this time of the year (ground crew to keep the GER warm). We have reserved special accommodation in remote villages, where we will have showers and hot rooms.
In summary, we have put an incredible experience focused on meeting nomadic eagle hunter families, enabling you to photograph them in their natural environment, experiencing their winter migration, and another exceptional experience to track snow leopards with a team that have been surveying them for years.
There is a say that no trip to Mongolia would be complete without at least a meal inside a GER with a real-life nomadic family. The hospitality and the ceremony of cooking and eating large servings of simple cuisine is a truly unique experience.
Get ready for this rich and unique adventure. REGISTER early as all previous years were sold out.
Special during this workshop:
- Visit families in the remote mountains of Altai Soum
- Photograph the eagle hunters winter migration
- Track and photograph snow leopards in the wild
- Stay in guest houses when in remote regions (showers, hot rooms)
- Private chef hired for the trip to cook regional meals
- Truly unique as you’ll likely not see another tourist during this workshop
- You will meet the eagle hunters, we have known for many years
See you in Mongolia in February.
Oliver Klink has been photographing in Asia for the past 14 years. He has visited many minority cultures in Mongolia, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, and more. He received the coveted 2016 award of Critical Mass Top 50 Fine Art photographer and published a book in 2019, which won 9 awards for best photography book of 2019. “Mongolia is remote but accessible these days. Nomadic people are cherishing their traditions and welcoming outsiders to explore their culture. Our local guides are key to making this trip unique and off-the-beaten path, where we’ll stay with local families.”
Local staff members (Guide, drivers, cook, helpers) who enrich our stay with the most current information, special activities, and “ways in” to places you only dream about!
- Photographing eagle hunters winter migration
- Grand Mongolian landscape
- Tracking and photographing snow leopards
- Photographing daily “life” at local families
- Model shoots
- Daily review of images (emphasis on “what else can I do”)
- Brainstorming sessions (theme, story telling, portfolio, hero shots)
Included:
- 15 days of guided photoshoot
- Local flights inside Mongolia
- Accommodation, Meals, ground transportation
- 4x4 landcruiser
- Photoshoot with eagle hunters and snow leopards
- Special permits & Model shoots
- Instruction booklet emailed before the workshop
Not Included :
- Transportation to and from Ulaanbaatar (ULN)
- Transport from Ulaanbaatar airport to hotel
- Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages
- Travel Insurance
- Extra night(s) in Ulaanbaatar
- Tips to local staff
Double Occupancy: $6,900
Single Supplement: $400 (during hotel stay)
Deposit (non-refundable):
$500 (Double Occupancy)
$800 (Single Occupancy)
Full payment due by December 15, 2021 (payable by check or credit card (3% processing fee)
- Accommodation is going to be a mix between hotels, guest houses and traditional GER. There are limited washing facilities when we stay at the GER.
- Weather can be challenging. Be prepared for cold weather, moody sky.
- We are eating freshly cooked local Mongolian cuisine with local meat, vegetables, and soup (not spicy).
- We are traveling on highways and local unpaved bumpy roads.
- However, the photographic opportunities are incredible. It is an amazing adventure and photographic experience.
Where: Mongolia
When: February 17 - March 3, 2022
Who: Oliver Klink, Local guides, ground crew (cook, local staffs)
Airport: Ulaanbaatar (ULN)
Accommodations: Hotels, guest houses, GER (single occupancy only during hotel stay)
Weather: -20F (+/-). Moody Sky, cold weather
02-08-2022 Mongolia Eagle Hunters & Snow leopards
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