Naadam Festival and the Cultures of Mongolia Photo Workshop
Photograph the ancient cultures of Mongolia at its centuries-old festival
Join us for a photo adventure in Mongolia for the Naadam Festival, a centuries-old celebration that highlights the country’s rich nomadic culture and history. During this tour, you’ll photograph the pageantry of Naadam with people in traditional costumes performing ancient sports. We will also conduct private portrait sessions of people in traditional dress.
You’ll also visit working horse farms, photograph horses on the brink of extinction in the wild, and experience the 1000-year-old tradition of eagle falconry on horseback.
In addition to Mongolia’s centuries-old nomadic culture, you’ll have the chance to photograph mountain landscapes and lakes and, if the skies cooperate, some of the darkest skies you have ever seen.
Read more about why we love traveling to the Naadam Festival.
Highlights
- Guided by Mongolia’s most-seasoned photo pro – Photograph the Naadam Festival and Mongolian culture with Kevin Pepper, recognized by the Mongolian government and armed with 20+ expeditions’ worth of know-how.
- Exclusive access that few tourists ever see – From stadium-side press passes to private shoots with Kazakh eagle hunters and their golden eagles, you’ll capture images other trips don’t offer.
- Small-group, big-impact Learning – We keep the group small to ensure one-on-one coaching and prime shooting positions.
- Comfort & logistics handled, creativity unleashed – Air-conditioned 4x4s, a private chef at ger camps, and seamless transfers mean you focus on light and storytelling, not transit and menus.
- Hands-on instruction from the first frame to the final edit – Daily field tips, evening image reviews, and portrait-lighting walk-throughs help you leave with a portfolio, not just memory cards.
What You'll Learn
- Learn How To Photograph People – Our leaders will be right beside you, teaching you how to create cultural portraits that feel respectful, intentional, and rooted in place
- Learn How to Create Effective Environmental Portraits – We will show you how to use landscape to strengthen your cultural storytelling of people in places.
- Learn Action Photography – Photograph running horses, wrestlers, archers, and flying eagles in fast-changing light and motion
- Learn Post-Processing Techniques – There will be post-processing sessions that will help you create better Mongolian images. These skills will stay with you long after the tour is over.
Activity Level
You can expect some long days in humid weather during the Naadam Festival. During our time with the eagle hunters, the walks are usually less than 300 meters from the vehicle, with some minor elevation changes.
This tour has an activity level of Easy. Read more about the Activity Levels for our trips.
Testimonials
David is a gem. I didn't use him much for field work. Greatly appreciated his help with the Milky Way. He was also very, very good in setting up the portrait work. He is a keeper.
David is a fabulous teacher with a remarkable ability to articulate exactly what he sees when composing a photograph. It’s as if he lends you his eyes for the moment, giving you the clarity and understanding to see the scene in an entirely new way. I learned an incredible amount from him about photographing people and landscapes. Just as importantly, David brought kindness, humor, perspective, and a sense of fun to even the more arduous parts of travel, making the entire experience even more enjoyable. I can’t wait to join other workshops that he leads.
If you have a chance to take the Akari tour to Mongolia, don't hesitate! The Naadam Festival opening ceremony rivals the Olympics. The huge number of cultural opportunities to photograph is wonderful. Kevin and David's willingness to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise during the tour creates many great photo shoots. The close relationship with one eagle hunter family (nurtured over many years) make it feel like you are staying with a family, not just a tourist opportunity. If you are interested in eagle hunters, cultural photography and seeing the pride of a nation, then this is the tour for you. Don't hesitate to sign up!
Prepare for Your Trip
Please review our photography travel resources, including know your camera and our camera gear list, to help you plan your trip. Before your trip, we’ll contact you with more detailed gear recommendations specific to your trip.
Contact Us
We currently do not have any departure dates for this trip, but we'd love to do it again. Please get in touch if you'd like to join us.