Mongolia Photo Workshop Adventure
Come join me on this Mongolian Photo Workshop Adventure of a lifetime! During our incredible time in Mongolia, you will experience a wide variety of different photography experiences: from street photography around the capital Ulaanbaatar to photographing the milky way above the Gobi desert, to the unique wildlife found throughout the country to the amazing culture, history and way of life for the famous Eagle Hunters found in Western Mongolia. This trip has a little bit of everything for the adventure photographer in you!
Trip Dates
September 3rd – 15th, 2024
Tuition Costs
$6950
Group Size
10-12
Difficulty Level
Easy
Important Details: Mongolian Photo Workshop Adventure
- To join this workshop, you will start your adventure by booking a flight to and from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (UBN airport code) on any major airline.
- Our first day (August 30th) is an arrival day, so we will pick you up at the airport and take you to our first hotel in the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.
- From there we will take a domestic flight to Bayan-Ulgii where we will spend the next 5 nights focusing on the incredible Eagle Hunters of Mongolia. This includes the Golden Eagle Festival as well as a mixture of private photographic opportunities with a variety of different male and female Eagle Hunters.
- After flying back to Ulaanbaatar, we will then head to the Gobi desert, home to some of the darkest skies, amazing landscapes, and dramatic wildlife that Mongolia has to offer.
- The next four nights will be spent exploring the dunes, practicing astro/landscape photography and looking for wildlife around the Gobi Desert. We will visit petroglyphs, the beautiful “flaming cliffs” of Bayanzag and of course the massive sand dunes in the region.
- Near the end of our trip, we will experience the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park looking for more wildlife opportunities.
- The workshop wraps up with a folk concert back in Ulaanbaatar before everyone flyes home on October 9th.
- This trip is gear to photographers of every different skill level, from beginners to professionals. We will work hard to make sure we meet you on your level, answering each of your questions when we are out in the field as well as when we have some downtime at our hotels to focus on the post-processing side of things.
What is Included?
- All Photography Instruction
- All Ground Transportation in Mongolia
- All Accommodations in Mongolia
- All Required Permits or Entrance Fees
- Most Breakfast, Lunches & Dinners
What is Not Included?
- All International Flights To & From Mongolia
- Travel Insurance Costs
- Any Gifts
- Tips for our Guides & Drivers
Payment for Mongolia Photo Workshop Adventure
If this workshop is sold out and you want to be notified if a spot opens up for this trip or any other, click HERE!
* please read the workshop F.A.Q. section on this page to learn more about visiting Mongolia and check out our cancellation policies if you have any questions.
Where in Mongolia Are We Going?
- Ulaanbattar (Capital of Mongolia)
- Gobi Desert
- Ulgii (Western Mongolia)
- Eagle Hunter Home Stay
- and much more...
Join the Workshop Waitlist to learn more about any upcoming adventures...
Join the Workshop Waitlist to learn more about any upcoming adventures...
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
A GREAT question! As a professional wildlife, landscape, and travel photographer for the last 18 years, I have been very fortunate to have worked all over the globe, both as a photographer and a photo instructor. I started my career working for National Geographic as a photography instructor in South America, and currently, I average around 10-15 workshops each year. I am a firm believer in an organic approach to teaching photography, which involves a mixture of technical, philosophical, and hands-on learning that gives you the best opportunity to make the most out of each of our workshops. We aim to meet you at your level and work together to help you achieve your goals.
The workshop begins on September 3rd, 2024 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (UBN airport code). This is considered an arrival day, so you are free to arrive at any time but know that that night we are planning on having a group dinner together, so know if you arrive late, you will miss it.
*Please confirm your flights with me before purchasing anything to make sure everything lines up
The workshop ends on September 15th in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (UBN airport code). We return to to the city by early afternoon, which allows us to drop you off either at the airport or at a hotel of your choice if you are planning on sticking around for a few more days.
*Please confirm your flights with me before purchasing anything to make sure everything lines up
For this workshop, you will fly in and out of the Ulaanbaatar airport in Mongolia (UBN airport code).
It is not required but highly recommended. I recommend Insured Nomads or World Nomads. Reach out of your want a referral link…
With this Mongolia adventure spanning a wide variety of locations, our hotel accommodations will vary from nice 3-4 star hotels while in major cities, to famous Ger Camps built for tourists, to one night where we will sleep in an Eagle Hunters ger hut with him and his family. Our goal is to provide you with a rich mixture of authentic Mongolian experiences while putting you and the rest of the group as close to our photographic goals/locations as possible. Please do reach out if you have any specific questions.
Yes, your tuition fees as based on the idea that you will be sharing a room with another workshop client of the same sex. If you wish to have your own private room, that can be arranged for an additional $950 USD charge, but just know that this will only apply to our standard hotels and not our stays that involve Ger camps or one night of our homestay with an Eagle Hunters family.
With this photo adventure covering a wide variety of photographic opportunities, there are a number of lenses & cameras that I recommend. Be sure to check out the “Gear” section found above on this workshop page for plenty of details!
This workshop is not overly challenging in terms of the physical activity involved. While we do have some small hikes around the Gobi desert, most of our other locations will be fairly accessible throughout the course of this trip.
My goal is to have each of my clients feel safe, healthy, and comfortable throughout the workshop. We will abide by any local or federal COVID-19 regulations put out by the Mongolian government.
To learn more about Colby Brown Photography workshops in general, please visit our FAQ page…
Meet Your Instructors & Guides
Colby Brown
Owner/Photographer/Author
Colby Brown is a photographer, photo educator and author based out of Eastern Pennsylvania. Specializing in landscape, travel and humanitarian photography, his photographic portfolio spans the four corners of the globe and all 7 continents. Not too long after picking up his first digital camera in 2006, Colby was leading workshops for National Geographic in South America, further spurring his love for both travel and photo education. In 2011, he founded The Giving Lens, an organization that blends photo education with support for various non-governmental organizations (NGO) and causes around the world, such as child education, clean drinking water projects, and women’s rights.
Testimonials
The Iceland Winter 2022 workshop was my first workshop with Colby Brown Photography. I knew immediately it would be the first of many. Winter in Iceland can be demanding, which presented even more challenges for me as I was coming off of a year of medical treatments. Colby and Pedro made sure that I had everything I needed to keep up with the group and have an amazing time! No matter what Iceland threw at(...)
us, wind, hail, a blizzard, Colby and Pedro handled it with grace, smarts and humor. I quickly realized that I was surrounded by an amazing group of people. I had a great time and learned so so much! This particular workshop meant more to me than they will ever know:)As I spend the next few months going over my catalog of images, I will be looking forward to my next workshop. #TeamColbita 😉
Having been to Iceland twice already in winter under my own steam the initial attraction of the summer workshop with Colby was the fact that everything would look totally different without the snow and ice. I soon realized what a great advantage it was not to be concerned with accommodation (in this case camp sites), transportation or timing for the good light. In fact the light was incredibly good for most(...)
of the trip, with the sun dipping below the horizon for a just few short hours between midnight and 3AM.Colby has been to Iceland more than anyone else that I know and has intimate knowledge of the island and where to be at which time of day to maximize the chances of a productive shoot. There is a high level of preparation with realistic back up options in place should the light or weather not cooperate.
Colby’s has a natural sensitivity towards the individual photographic needs of his customers as well as a profound empathy for people in general. He is fun to be around and is probably also the most traveled person I’ve met.
The high number of repeat customers on each trip is in itself testimony to how good his workshops are. It is always great to see old friends on Colby’s trips and equally good to make new ones.
I would absolutely recommend any of Colby’s workshops to anyone looking to shoot at some of the world’s premier photo locations as well as at many perhaps some people might not have considered.
Pros: Friendships, Relaxed & Stress-free, Meticulous Planning, Great Locations
Cons: I needed to buy a bigger tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag when I returned!
Colby and his staff provided just what I was looking for, a program to improve my photo skills and post processing ability in a most amazing setting. At photo locations, Colby would provide instruction on composition and perspective that improve the appeal of my photos. His expertise and attention to detail were readily apparent. Seeing other photographers work in daily photo review sessions also helped me(...)
expand the ways I would approach a scene. This was a most enjoyable way to improve my photography.Other Workshops Worth Checking Out!
Bolivia Astro Photography Workshop
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Iceland Winter Photo Workshop – Ice Caves & Auroras
Winter in Iceland is one of those unique experiences that everyone should have at least once in their life. With this workshop, we will focus our time on the South of Iceland, focusing our time on Ice Caves, Northern Lights, and glaciers, but we will also photograph a number of waterfalls such as Gullfoss, Bruarfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogarfoss and more.
The Faroe Islands Photography Workshop
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Alaska Bald Eagle Photography Workshop
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Cancellation & Refund Policy
No one wants to miss out on a trip of a life time…but things do happen. In those situations, the following applies…
The first thing to note is that deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable. In addition, all cancellations are subject to a minimum of a $150 service charge to cover PayPal transaction fees. In most situations, we ask for the remaining balance of a workshop is to be paid 120 days from the start of the workshop in question. If you wish to cancel within 120 days from the start of a workshop and we find someone to fill your spot, you would be entitled to receive a refund (minus your deposit and the $150 processing fee) or transfer to another workshop with no penalties or fees.
If we don’t find someone to fill your spot, what does your refund window actually look like?
120 Days or More...
Your deposit will be transferable to another Colby Brown Photography Workshop without issue.
90 to 120 Days
You will receive a refund of 50% of the full tuition fees minus the non-refundable deposit.
Less Than 90 Days...
If you wish to cancel within 90 days of your workshop starting, you are not entitled to a refund.