Photos Mongolia
In October 2014 I went to Mongolia together with my girlfriend and a few friends. The first 10 days we went to Hustai national park to spot the wild Przewalski horses, we visited the ancient Buddhist monastery in Karakorum and then we drove to the Gobi desert and explored the vast steppe plains, the beautiful sand dunes of Khongoryn Els, the red cliffs of Bayanzag, the Yolin Am canyon ... We saw many nomads with their gers and herds of horses, sheeps, goats and camels.
Then we flew to the Altai Mountains in the west. There we drove through beautiful remote landscapes with snowcapped mountains, rivers and lakes and we discovered prehistoric petroglyphs and we met the friendly Kazakh nomads with their horses and yaks.
The main goal of our journey was to see the old Kazakh tradition of hunting with trained golden eagles and trying to make great images of them. Today, approximately 250 Kazakh people still practice this ancient art. They are dependent from the season. In winter time they use their eagles to hunt rabbits, foxes and wolves which were essential for food and clothing in the past. But it is more, it's an art form in which the right balance between strength, agility and smoothness is required and where an intense bond between bird and its master is required. We attended the very exciting two-day Golden Eagle Festival where up to 70 eagle hunters gather and compete in several fascinating competitions. We also met some young people who help to keep their cultural heritage alive. Undoubtedly these days in the Altai mountains were the highlight of our journey.
The last days we made a hike through Terelj NP and Khan Khenti east of the capital Ulaanbaatar.
Przewalski horses
Przewalski horse
Przewalski horses
Red deer
Nomads with herds
Nomad
Nomads with herds
Herd of horses
Cinereous vulture
Ovoo
Erdene Zuu
Erdene Zuu
Erdene Zuu
Erdene Zuu - Prayer wheels
Erdene Zuu
Erdene Zuu
Erdene Zuu - Monk
Erdene Zuu by night
Erdene Zuu by night
Demoiselle cranes
Horse memorial monument
Horse memorial monument
Camels
Khongoryn Els - Animal skull
Khongoryn Els
Khongoryn Els
Khongoryn Els - Camel
Khongoryn Els - Calm before the storm
Khongoryn Els - Ger and minivan
Gobi
Jacky
Yolin Am
Yolin Am - Pika
Sunset
Gers and milky way
Bayanzag - Tuva toad-head agama
Bayanzag
Bayanzag - Sunset
Baga Gazryn Chuluu
Gandan monastery
Gandan monastery - Statue
Gandan monastery - Monk
Gandan monastery
Altai
Yaks
Yak
Altai
Ger and nomad
Khushuut - Yaks
Horses
Prehistoric rock art
Prehistoric rock art
Prehistoric rock art
Prehistoric rock art
Altai Tavan Bogd
Sunrise
Sunrise - Camels
Camel
Tuvan woman with child
Altai Tavan Bogd
Altai Tavan Bogd
Golden Eagle Festival - Eagle hunter
Golden Eagle Festival - Ashol-Pan and her father
Golden Eagle Festival - Eagle hunters
Golden Eagle Festival - Eagle hunter on camel
Golden Eagle Festival - Opening ceremony
Golden Eagle Festival - Berkutchi
Golden Eagle Festival - Eagle
Golden Eagle Festival - Horse saddle
Golden Eagle Festival - Eagle hunters
Golden Eagle Festival - First competition
Golden Eagle Festival
Golden Eagle Festival
Golden Eagle Festival
Golden Eagle Festival - Nurgaiv
Golden Eagle Festival - Berkutchi
Golden Eagle Festival
Golden Eagle Festival - Ashol-Pan
Golden Eagle Festival
Golden Eagle Festival - Couple
Golden Eagle Festival - Archers
Golden Eagle Festival - Archers
Golden Eagle Festival - Archer
Golden Eagle Festival - Tenge Ily
Golden Eagle Festival - Eagle hunters
Golden Eagle Festival - Second day
Golden Eagle Festival - Fur coats
Golden Eagle Festival - Ashol-Pan
Golden Eagle Festival - Berik
Golden Eagle Festival - Shyrga tartu
Golden Eagle Festival - Shyrga tartu
Golden Eagle Festival - Eagle
Golden Eagle Festival - Camel race
Golden Eagle Festival - Old man
Golden Eagle Festival - Old man
Golden Eagle Festival - Chokan
Golden Eagle Festival - Berkutchi
Golden Eagle Festival - Ashol-Pan
Golden Eagle Festival - Kukhbar
Golden Eagle Festival - Kukhbar
Golden Eagle Festival - Kukhbar
Amanbol and Bazarbai
Young eagle huntress Amanbol
Movie actor Bazarbai
Bazarbai on his horse
Bazarbai releases his eagle
Amanbol
Bazarbai
Turtle rock
Aryapala monastery
Siberian chipmunk
Khan Khentii
Autumn colors
