The trip’s focus on photography and on the roots of ancient cultures offers you a magnificent opportunity to explore the foundation of nomadic traditions stretching back thousands of years and persisting to this day.

After arriving at the Chinggis Khan International Airport, we transfer you to our hotel in Ulaan Bataar. In the evening you join Amy Frank for a trip orientation and welcome dinner at our favorite restaurant.

We board a domestic 3-hour flight to Bayan-Ulgii, in the far west of Mongolia. On a tour of this charming town, we visit the Kazakh Culture Museum. Afterwards, we drive out of town to our Ger Camp on the Khovd River, for dinner and overnight. (Ger is the Mongolian word for "Nomad Tent".)

Here in Ulgii we meet Esther Jacobson-Tepfer and Gary Tepfer, the workshop instructors, who will give us an overview of the trip and details about the following day.

After breakfast we load our gear onto our 4-wheel drive Russian Furgan vans, and head northwest towards the Tsagaan Salaa/Baga Oigor petroglyphic complex. Eddie Frank will have gone on ahead with our crew to set up camp for us at Twin Lakes. He’ll be waiting at our camp situated at the foot of the complex.

We arrive mid afternoon, and after settling into camp, take a look around, familiarizing ourselves with the area on a short hike. Gary discusses photographic concepts before dinner. Esther talks to us about the protocols for documenting rock art.

We spend the next two days exploring, photographing and learning about the petroglyphic subjects, styles, periods and paleo-environment of the historic rock art, dating from a period before the Bronze Age down through the Turkic period. We’ll be up early to take advantage of the crisp morning light.

Driving over the vast mountains and valleys, we have fantastic opportunities for photography, and viewing rock art. We arrive at the Tsagaan Gol campsite just after lunch. It is a spectacular camp - right on the banks of the Tsagaan Gol (River), at the foot of Sheveet Khairkhan Uul, a mountain considered sacred by the local Tuvan people. This is one of the richest areas in the Altai Mountains for ancient rock art and surface monuments.

These two and half days are spent exploring the area on foot and by vehicle in the river valley and around the sacred mountain. There are great hikes along the riverbank, as well as up to the Turkic Terrace. There is also a large panel that contains over 740 ancient images. Esther discusses the variety of image techniques and how they have changed over the millennia. We also learn the problems encountered in protecting this ancient art.

On our second morning at Tsagaan Gol, we drive up to the highest rock art section on the southwest side of the mountain. Here Gary instructs us on the finer techniques of landscape and petroglyphic photography. In the afternoon, we either hike back to camp, stopping at some impressive cliffs, or hike across the Khar Salaa (valley) to see the remarkable Bull Hill.

As always, in the evening we retreat into the “cave” - our dining tent, and talk about the adventures of the following day.

Arriving at the Mogoityn Valley just after lunch, we discover one of the richest areas of the Altai. During these two days we explore the long valley on foot, photographing and learning about the archaic Turkic image stones and khirigsuur (structures that include a central mound and a round or square surrounding frame). In other parts of Mongolia, hirigsuur appear to have sometimes functioned as burials. However, within the Altai–Sayan region, their function is uncertain - either funerary or memorial or related to other ceremonies. Khirigsuur are dated to the Bronze Age (2^nd –early first millennium BCE).

We arrive at this impressive camp on the banks of the Sagsay River.

The valleys and mountains provide us with a fantastic opportunity for landscape and archaeological photography. Esther guides us with her deep insights on ancient and current culture, while Gary imparts his profound photographic knowledge of the area. Over these two days we climb the nearby ridges for dramatic views of the river valley, and we explore ancient mounds and more khirigsuur.

We break camp, and on our short drive back to Ulgii, view one of the finest Stone Men in the Altai. Esther concludes the trip with an insightful look at art and culture.

Back at our Ger Camp on the outskirts of Ulgii, we wash up, and prepare for dinner.

Today we board our flight back to Ulaan Bataar, where the modern and the old world meet. After checking into our hotel, you can join us on a tour of the city’s museums and sites.

We enjoy our final dinner together at a local restaurant.

Transfer from our Ulaan Bataar hotel to airport.