WINTER MIGRATION • MARCH 11 – 24, 2027
Mongolia
Join me and Karai Expeditions for a rare opportunity to photograph Mongolia’s winter migration. On this once in a lifetime journey, I will be joining as a special guest photography instructor while we live and travel alongside nomadic families, photographing daily life as they move their animals across the steppe. Our access comes from relationships that Karai Expeditions has built over years, giving us the opportunity to experience and photograph a side of Mongolia few travelers ever see.
14 DAYS • ONLY 8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
Photo credits: Thom Cytrynowicz / Karai Expeditions
01 • OVERVIEW
A RARE JOURNEY INTO A disappearing way of life
This expedition follows in the footsteps of renowned photographer Timothy Allen’s original winter migration, a trip that has captured the senses of countless travelers over the years. Karai Expeditions are now reopening this once in a lifetime adventure to the far reaches of the Altai region, with there nomadic friends as trusted guides.
We will join a Kazakh family on a epic migration following over 1000 animals, witness the mastery of ice archery, marvel at the skills of eagle hunters during a private eagle festival and have the chance to bet on the outcome of a camel race. This is a journey shaped by weather, animals and the people who have made this landscape home for generations.
02 • THE EXPERIENCE
live with the migration
Through friendships built over years with the Karai expeditions team, we’ll spend time with nomadic families in their homes and join them for part of their winter migration. You’ll photograph the work of moving herds across the steppe and the quieter hours around it with time to get to know the people in your photographs and an intimate look at a way of life that is rapidly changing.
03 • PHOTOGRAPHY
COME PHOTOGRAPH WITH me & THE Karai team
You’ll be photographing alongside the expedition leader Thom Cytrynowicz and myself, with instruction from both of us throughout the workshop. You’ll see how we approach people, read a situation, decide when to stay and when to move on, and what we do when nothing seems to be happening.
Thom Cytrynowicz, is a documentary photographer, filmmaker and our expedition leader. His work includes humanitarian and development projects for NGOs. He brings experience leading expeditions and close knowledge of the remote communities we’ll visit, helping us understand the people and places we’re photographing.
We’ll be looking at your work as we go, helping you see what’s working, what you’re missing and where you could push further. Fourteen days gives us time to move beyond the first photographs, try different approaches and follow through on the feedback you receive.
Discover more about Karai Expeditions and their photography at karai.org →
04 • THE GROUP
Eight photographers
We keep these workshops small for a reason. With only eight photographers, we can move easily, spend more time in the places we find interesting and work without overwhelming the situations we’re there to photograph.
It also means Thom, Emi and I have time for everyone. We’ll shoot together, look at work as we go, talk through what’s working and what isn’t, and have the kind of conversations about photography that happen naturally after spending two weeks in the field together.
05 • THE STORY
YEARS IN THE MAKING
This journey began long before we decided to turn it into a photography workshop. The relationships along this route were first formed by photographer Timothy Allen while working on Human Planet. Thom later traveled with Tim through the region and returned to make a film for the families, building relationships that have continued over the years.
Those connections are what make this experience possible. We’re not arriving as strangers or following a standard photography tour itinerary. We’re returning to families Thom and Emi knows, spending time with them at home and joining them for part of their winter migration.
LOCATION:
Western Mongolia
DATES:
February 8 - 21, 2027
DURATION:
14 Days
GROUP:
8 Photographers
BEFORE YOU BOOK
THE ITINERARY
DAY 1 · ARRIVAL IN ULAANBAATAR
Airport transfer to the city hotel. Meet the group over dinner.
DAY 2 · ULAANBAATAR
Explore Gandantegchinlen Monastery, the main square and the black market. Dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 3 · FLY TO ÖLGII
Morning flight west, a private ice-archery tournament, then travel to camp with our Kazakh hosts.
DAY 4 · THE MIGRATION BEGINS
Set off at first light with the family and their herd.
DAY 5 · ON THE MIGRATION
Walk and photograph alongside the herd, with vehicle support and a warm ger camp at night.
DAY 6 · ON THE MIGRATION
Continue across the winter landscape with the family and animals.
DAY 7 · ON THE MIGRATION
Another day on the route, photographing the herd and life along the way.
DAY 8 · ARRIVE AT SPRING CAMP
Complete the migration, reaching spring camp in the afternoon.
DAY 9 · AT SPRING CAMP
A rest day with the family in Tavan Bogd National Park.
DAY 10 · PORTRAITURE
Natural-light photography guidance and portraits with our hosts.
DAY 11 · EAGLE HUNTING & FESTIVAL
Eagle hunting followed by a private festival featuring eagle training and traditional Kazakh sports.
DAY 12 · RETURN TO ÖLGII
A full day driving, then a hotel stay and traditional Kazakh music over dinner.
DAY 13 · CAMEL RACING
Visit a nearby village for a camel-racing tournament.
DAY 14 · RETURN TO ULAANBAATAR
Morning flight back and a farewell dinner. The workshop ends here.
WHAT’S INCLUDED / NOT INCLUDED
INCLUDED
• Airport transfers in Ulaanbaatar
• Hotel stays in town and ger camps in the Altai
• Expedition vehicles and professional drivers
• Local guiding and translation
• Meals, snacks and hot and cold drinks during the expedition
• Photography guidance and image reviews with Jody and the Karai team
• A contribution to Karai’s local community initiative
NOT INCLUDED
• International flights
• Visa costs
• Travel and cancellation insurance
• Personal expenses, including laundry and telephone calls
• Excursions outside the itinerary
Domestic flights between Ulaanbaatar and Ölgii are part of the route; their inclusion in the workshop price is being confirmed.
WHAT TO EXPECT
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Five days alongside a Kazakh family and their herd. Winter landscapes in the Altai. Ice archery, eagle hunting, a private eagle festival and camel racing. Time at the family’s spring camp to photograph portraits and everyday life.
LIFE ON THE EXPEDITION
This is a remote winter journey with walking and overland travel. Off-road vehicles, drivers, cooks and local translators support the group. Warm ger camps and cooked meals await each evening; hotels bookend the time in the mountains.
THE CONDITIONS
Night temperatures can reach −30°C (−22°F). Come in good overall physical condition and prepared for sustained cold. Vehicle support allows breaks during the migration.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We’ll photograph people, landscapes, daily life and local events, with guidance in the field and time to discuss your images. Beginners and experienced photographers are welcome.
PAYMENTS & CANCELLATIONS
The workshop is US$11,000 per person. A US$650 non-refundable deposit secures your place, with the remaining balance paid later.
The balance payment schedule and full cancellation terms will be added before booking opens.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
DO I NEED PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE?
No. Beginners and experienced photographers are welcome. Guidance will be tailored to your level, with help in the field and opportunities to review your photographs with Jody and the Karai team.
HOW COLD IS IT, AND HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
Night temperatures can reach −30°C (−22°F). You should be in good overall physical condition and ready for winter walking in a remote setting. The migration lasts five days; expedition vehicles provide support and the opportunity to take breaks.
WHERE WILL WE SLEEP, AND WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
We’ll stay in hotels in town and warm ger camps during the migration and our time in the Altai. Meals are prepared by the expedition cooks, host families and hotels. Expect local food; tell us about dietary requirements before the trip so the team can plan.
WHAT CAMERA GEAR AND CLOTHING SHOULD I BRING?
Bring your own camera and lenses for portraits, landscapes and events, plus spare batteries, memory cards and a laptop for image reviews. There is no required camera system. A detailed pre-departure guide will cover clothing, equipment and preparation for the winter conditions.
WHERE DOES THE TRIP START, AND HOW DO WE GET AROUND?
The workshop starts and ends in Ulaanbaatar, with airport pick-up and drop-off. We fly between Ulaanbaatar and Ölgii, then travel by private off-road vehicles with professional drivers. During the migration, we walk alongside the herd with vehicle support. Local guides and translators accompany the expedition.
WHAT ABOUT VISAS, INSURANCE AND MEDICAL NEEDS?
You arrange your international flights, visa if required, and travel and cancellation insurance. Choose cover appropriate for a remote winter expedition, including emergency evacuation, and check the policy’s exclusions.
The Karai team will help you prepare for travel. Discuss vaccinations and any medical needs with your doctor, bring your personal medications and tell us about relevant requirements before departure. The expedition carries a basic medical kit.
HOW DOES THE EXPEDITION BENEFIT LOCAL COMMUNITIES?
Host families are paid for their hospitality, and the trip includes a contribution to Karai’s local community initiative. In Mongolia, that initiative supports Kazakh livelihoods and rangeland protection. The journey builds on Karai's longstanding relationships with the families along the route.
RESERVE
YOUR PLACE
11 - 24 MARCH 2027 · WESTERN MONGOLIA
WINTER MIGRATION · MARCH 2027
US$650
Non-refundable deposit per person
Your deposit secures your place and helps us confirm hotel accommodation and arrangements with our Kazakh hosts.
Total workshop price: US$11,000 per person
Your deposit counts toward the total.
Only eight places available for this workshop.
Reserve your place
$650 USD
Non-refundable deposit per person. Choose how you’d like to pay.