This exclusive 9-day, 8-night in-country photography workshop will take us to Mongolia to experience one of the world's most incredible cultures, traditions, and landscapes from July 5-14, 2025.
You'll enjoy private photography sessions, immerse nomadic Mongolian culture, experience the Gobi desert with its dunes and camel herders, the Deeltei Mongol national costume festival, and experience the world-renown Naadam Festival with wrestling, archery, horse racing, and more. Join our intimate small group photo workshops in some of the world's most exciting destinations led by a world renowned travel photographer.
Take your visual storytelling to the next level.
Your daily itinerary
Only six (6) spots
I will be taking only 6 participants for dedicated workshops and one-on-one daily photo reviews on location.
Unique experiences
We will explore the brilliant Flaming cliffs and Yol Valley /Eagle Valley in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. We will climb the Khongor Sand Dunes, known as Singing Dunes and see the sunset.
Cultural immersion
We will experience both the Deeltei Mongol Festival and the world-renown Naadam Festival with wrestling, archery, and horseback racing.
Here is the high level itinerary of our time together to give you a taste - Our first two days will include in-person photography lectures and subsequent days will include daily photo reviews, critiques, and workshops. A detailed itinerary will be provided once you've secured your spot!
Day 1 - Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. Have a half-day city tour, visiting Gandan monastery and the Museum of National History Museum. Enjoy a folk music concert tonight. (D)
Day 2 - Take a flight to the Gobi Desert
Drive through the classic desert of rock, red sands, scrub, sun, and unbelievable emptiness has become known to the world as the "Cemetery of Dinosaurs" and so much more. (B/L/D)
Day 3 - Drive to Khongor sand dunes
Today, we venture to the majestic Khongor Sand Dunes, renowned as the "Singing Sands," Mongolia's largest and most captivating natural wonder. (B/L/D)
Day 4 - Yol Valley in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan
At Yol Valley or Eagle Valley, photographers step into a world of wonder nestled within the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan mountains. (B/L/D)
Day 5 - Flight back to Ulaanbaatar
Transfer to the hotel and after checking in we visit Central Square to see and photograph the Deeltei Mongol show. (B/L/D)
Day 6 - Local Naadam festival in Lun village
After breakfast drive to the Lun village to experience and photograph the local Naadam festival. Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. (B/L/D)
Day 7 - Naadam Festival Days
Happy Naadam Holiday! Enjoy festival colors and tradition: famed wrestlers, horse racers, and archery athletes will compete for the best titles.
(B/L/D)
Day 8 - Naadam Festival Days
More time spent experiencing the festival and taking photographs.
Day 9 - Departure day
Morning transfer to the airport for the departure home.
Meet your award-winning instructor
Award-winning author and travel photographer Lola Akinmade has dispatched from 80+ countries for various publications.
She is a Hasselblad Heroine and Bill Muster Travel Photographer of the Year.
Her work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Travel + Leisure, New York Times, Travel Channel, Adventure.com, The Sunday Times, AFAR, Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, amongst others. She has collaborated with high profile commercial brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Dove, Intrepid Travel, and Electrolux.
She was featured in a vignette called “Through The Lens” which aired on National Geographic Channels across the globe.
Her photography is in the National Geographic Image Collection
The essentials - What you need to know
Who is this experience for?
- Beginner to intermediate photographers who are ready to improve their travel photography and visual storytelling skills.
- If you're a professional photographer and would like to experience photographing the traditions and landscapes with us, you're also welcome.
What this experience includes:
- Roundtrip domestic flights between Gobi and UB
- Best accommodation + ger camps (Superior)
- Single-room supplement at all locations
- Guiding and interpreting service
- Full board meals
- Transport: Bus and 4x4 jeeps in the Gobi
- Naadam festival ticket
- Entrance fees to protected areas and national parks
- Museums and cultural performance
- Photo session at Khongor sand dunes
What is not included:
You are fully responsible for the following:
- International Airfare
- Personal equipment
- Optional activity cost
- Excess baggage charges (15 kg allowed)
- Travel and health insurances
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips for our guides
Before you sign up - Please read our terms and conditions
Deposits and Payments: A deposit of 30% per person is required to secure reservation.
If cancelled 90+ days before the experience, the deposit will be fully refunded. No reservation is considered confirmed until a deposit is received.
Full payment must be received no later than May 1, 2025.
Payments are accepted by all major credit cards.
Life happens and sometimes cancellations occur. Here is our cancellation policy for this experience:
- 90+ days prior to departure: Full refund.
- 35+ days prior to departure: 50% of total trip cost will be refunded
- Within 35 days prior to arrival: No refund
- Once we have started to provide our service from the point of your arrival in Swedish Lapland, no refunds will be made for unused trip arrangements for any reason.
- Refunds will not be made for no-shows, early departures, or unused services.
You can always ask more questions using the blue "Contact us" button on the right side of the screen.