Epic Mongolia Phototour
September 8 - 18th 2022
11 Days/10 nights
Ulaanbaatar - Tsagaan Suvarga - Gobi Desert - Ulaanbaatar - Bayan Ulgii - Ulaanbaatar
German and English speaking Photo Guides
Small group guaranteed - max. 6 participants - sign up deadline April 30th - expired
TOUR DETAILS
Join us on a 11 day trip to the ‘Land of Blue Skies’. A journey of pure adventures and natural wonders! A country where once the great Chinggis Khaan ruled and the silk road went through. A land with ancient history and wonderful people welcoming you with open arms. A country where time stood still, filled with ancient traditions. A country where you can relax and leave the hectic life behind. An experience you will never forget. A once in a lifetime trip!
You will be guided by two professional photo/videographers: Monika Seyffer (Tour guide) from Switzerland (Sony) – Patrick Kunz, Switzerland, (Sony) and Suvdaa Altansuvd will be our local Mongolian Tour Guide.
We will be photographing the Gobi Desert at sunrise, sunset and the amazing night sky with the full moon shining over the dunes.
We will be staying in traditional and heated Ger camps with beds, power and bathroom facilities.
In the western mountains we will have our very private Eagle Festival with hunters dressed in their traditional clothes and their beautiful birds. It will allow us to capture this unique and ancient tradition. (overnight in Hotel)
This tour offers numerous photographic highlights!
Breathtaking landscapes in the desert and mountains
Impressive panoramic views
Night sky/ full moon photography
Picturesque Lakes
Portrait and Wildlife photography
Itinerary
DAY 1
September 8th: Arrival in Ulaanbatar
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB). You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Please arrange that your flight is not arriving later than 5pm. We will meet at the lobby at approx. 7pm and will enjoy a nice dinner together in a restaurant nearby. Time to meet the group, get to know each other and discuss more details regarding the photo tour. Overnight at the beautiful Ibis Styles Hotel, Ulaanbaatar.
Dinner
If you would like to arrive in UB prior to Sept. 8th, please let me know.
DAY 2
September 9th: Tsagaan Suvarga
Travel by 4x4 cars – approx. 365km from UB to Tsagaan Suvarga. The journey will take 4-5hours through endless ecoregion. Tsagaan Suvarga is a sheer slope and was once an old seabed with sedimentary structure, created by millions of years. The different colors of the ground represent different times. The formation is over 50 m at its highest point and continues 400 m in length. Sunset and night star shooting. Overnight in tourist camp with shower facilities and electricity.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
September 10th: Khongor Sand Dunes - Gobi Desert
After sunrise photo shooting and breakfast, we will head to the Khongor Sand Dunes in the South Gobi province. These dunes are the most beautiful and one of the largest sandy areas of Mongolia. We will capture the sunset and will have some night shooting with the camel herders. Overnight in tourist camp near the Dunes with shower facilities and electricity.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
September 11th Khongor Dunes
Today we will stay in the dunes of Khongor for the entire day. Great opportunity to capture those special moments and enjoy the magnificent view. A unique experience that you will never forget!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
September 12th - Ongi Monastery
Early morning sunrise photography. After breakfast we will be driving towards Ulaanbaatar. Since this will be very long drive (approx. 8-9 hours), we will stop halfway and stay at a great spa camp that offers even a steam sauna and massages. This beautiful camp is by the Ongi Monastery which is the collective name for the ruins of two monasteries that face each other across the Ongli River in Saikhan-Ovoo district of Dundgovi Province, in south-central Mongolia. The Monastery is located on the north bank of the river while the Khutagt and sits on the south bank.
Breakfast ,Picnic on the way, Dinner at the camp.
DAY 6
September 13th
After breakfast we make our way back to Ulaanbaatar. (Approx. 4-5 hours) Check-in at the hotel in the city center. In the afternoon we will have a panoramic tour of the city, see the Big Buddha Statue and Central Square and have the opportunity to shop for some cashmere goods.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7th
September 14th: Bayan Ulgii - Eagle Hunting Land
Flight to Bayan Ulgii, the Eagle hunting land, where we will meet a local Kazakh guide at the airport. After checking into our hotel, we will drive to a local Kazakh host family, where we can take amazing portrait pictures of the locals in their traditional clothes. Three eagle hunters will be posing for us at a stunning sunset location with mountains in the backdrop.
Tsambagaray (4208m), one of the famous summits in Mongolia, will be seen in the background. A stunning 360° view with razor sharp rocky mountains on one side and snowcapped ones on the other. After the sunset shooting, we will drive back in a SUV to Bayan Olgii and stay in a Hotel with a nice hot shower and Wi-Fi service.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
September 15th: Bayan Ulgii
Today we will start the day with a lazy morning! After lunch we will head to the mountains in the Sagsai area to take images of approx. 15eagle hunters. They will host a small eagle festival for our group. A rare opportunity will be offered to take pictures at different locations like mountain ridges, river bends and grassy marshland with splashes and reflections. Every single eagle hunter will be more than happy to offer you a portrait session as well. You will feel, as if you are in a movie set that day and will be able to bring back hundreds of fascinating images of the hunters and their beautiful birds. Overnight stay in the same hotel in Bayan Ulgii
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9
September 16th: Bayan Ulgii - Lake Tolbo
After a good morning rest and lunch in town, we will be driving to the beautiful lake Tolbo. We will be able to take amazing pictures of the hunters with the beautiful lake view during sunset. Back to Ulgii for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 10
September 17th: Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast we have to leave the beautiful mountains and will fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Check in the Ibis Styles Hotel for some much needed rest. Farewell dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 11
September 18th: Time to say goodbye - fly home
Time to say goodbye - Departure from Ulaanbaatar airport – shuttle to the airport included
Breakfast
PRICE - Price per person double occupancy
CHF 5200.- sign up until April 30th 2022 - expired
CHF 300.- Single supplement - only available in Hotels
Down Payment / Payment Plan
CHF 300.- due upon registration
30% of total amount due 15 days after registration (will be refunded in full by May 15th 2022, if tour does not fill up)
Payment of the remaining tour price must be made no later than 60 days before departure (July 8th 2022)
With cancellation from my side, due to the current circumstances, amount will be refunded in full at any time
The Covid vaccination is required to enter Mongolia. Vaccination card must be carried with you. Please check updates shortly before the journey!
PRICE INCLUDES
6 nights with two people per room in Hotels - single room available at additional cost*
4 nights in Ger camps - 2-3 persons per tent, single tent not available, power and wood stove in Ger, bathroom facilities
Two photography guides and tour leader service
Small private Eagle Festival
All Transportations with 4x4 Land-Cruiser
Drivers / Fuel
Inland flights to Bayan Ulgii and back
All meals as mentioned
National park fees
Water during travel time
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
Medical and Travel insurance
Airfare to and from Ulaanbaatar
Visa
Alcoholic Beverages
Tips for drivers
GOOD TO KNOW
What to bring:
Any kind of DSLR camera or DSLM mirrorless camera - please let me know what you are bringing
Various lenses for the DSLR Cameras: wide angle 16-35 , middle range 24-70 and zoom 70-200 are recommended
Tripod
Rain cover for camera
Attire:
Water- and windproof jacket / pants
Warm Jacket / Down
Casual clothing for leisure time
Good shoes - hiking shoes
Climate:
Average Temperatures in September Coldest +2C / Warmest +17C
Space:
Please note, there are 6 spaces available for this itinerary
Covid vaccination is required to enter the country. Vaccination card must be carried with you.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 30th 2022
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: please read carefully here.
PHOTO GUIDES
Monika Seyffer - Tour director and leading Photographer
Join award winning Swiss photographer Monika Seyffer on this photographic journey and capture the beautiful landscapes and diverse culture of Mongolia. Monika was born and raised in Switzerland and is currently living in Zürich. Her passion for photography started as a young child and she has taken images ever since.
Her images have received many recognitions in Swiss and international newspapers, awards at competitions. She also offers Photo tours through the Zoo of Basel, is a patient photography teacher and has a good knowledge working with Lightroom. She is fluent in both German and English and proficient in French and Spanish.
Sony Alpha a7RIII and Alpha a7RIV
Patrick Kunz - co-leading Photographer/Videographer
Patrick is a well known Photo- and Videographer from Switzerland. His main focus is on Business-, Event-, Fashion-, Product- and Portrait photography, which he often captures in his own studio in Basel. In his free time, however, landscape photography is in the foreground - since 2016, drones have also been used to meet special film and photo requests.
Patrick also offers group and private classes in photography, Lightroom and Photoshop in his studio.
He moved around the world with Canon and Nikon Cameras and switched to Sony 5 years ago.
Sony Photo Alpha a1, Alpha a9, Sony Cinema Line FX6 and various Drones
View his work at: Patrick Kunz
Suvdaa Alatansuvd - Local Tour Guide
Suvdaa is native Mongolian, studied in Germany and lived there for 20 years. She is fluent in Mongolian, German and can converse in English She has been organising Experience and Adventure trips in Mongolia for 16 years. Under her guidance, you will experience Mongolia up close and immerse yourself in the culture of the nomads.
Interested?
If you are interested in joining this tour or if you have any questions,
please contact me using the form below and I will come back to you as soon as I can.
You’re already convinced and have no further questions
Testimonials
”Stunning quality and composition of images! Every new trip/safari/organised tours by Nikas Photography exceeds every expectation and makes you feel like you are part of the journey! Simply fantastic!”
Philipp Maerky
”Seeing beyond what the eye can see, this is Nikas Photography!”
Elif Celebioglu Oral
”I had a wonderful day with Monika. She guided us around her own neighbourhood showing us quaint little corners in and around the old streets of Zurich. I got to see some parts of Zurich I would otherwise never have seen. The tour was well organised, enabling us to take advantage of the right light conditions in each location. Monika is a great instructor, discussing composition and techniques with her students offering good, informed advise. I’m very happy with my photo’s I took during the day.”
Jason Treanor
“Thank you so much, Monika, for this wonderful event. It was not just a class, it was an experience. I really enjoyed it and I advice anyone to go on a tour with Monika. She did a marvellous job!”
Andreas D.