Mongolia

 🌍✨ Continuing our adventure in the Gobi Desert! To the evening, we arrived in the city of Dalanzadgad, nestled high on a plateau at an altitude of 1,590 meters above sea level. This little city lies 540 kilometers south of Ulaanbaatar, close to the Mongolian-China border. With a population of just 13.2 thousand people and a vast area of 476 square kilometers, Dalanzadgad is a unique blend of culture and nature. 

We spent the night at a yurt camp just outside the city, and the next day we set off to explore the wonders of the Gobi Desert! 

Our first stop was the stunning Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, named after the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, which translates to “three beautiful ridges.” This majestic range forms the eastern part of the park, while the rest is a mosaic of arid deserts and shifting sand dunes.

The desert wasted no time in reminding us that the road wouldn’t be easy. Our first vehicle had a flat tire, and rain made the clay roads muddy and treacherous. But we pushed through, with a bit of help from some cheerful locals who offered advice and assistance. 

What amazed me was how the Mongolians wear their traditional clothing—the beautiful, colorful, and warm deels—every day. Young people happily posed for photos with us, and we shared a few laughs together. Later, we spotted some of them again in the canyon, bringing warmth and joy to the rugged landscape. 

Stay tuned for more incredible moments from our journey through the Gobi Desert! 

#GobiDesert #TravelDiaries #PhotographyAdventure  

  High above the peaks of one of the three ranges of the Gobi Altai, majestic birds circle the skies. In the heart of the Gobi Desert, in southern Mongolia near the border with China, lies the mysterious Yolyn Am Valley, also known as the “Vulture Valley.” 

Perched at an altitude of 2,500 meters above sea level, Yolyn Am is a massive gorge with sheer rock walls reaching up to 200 meters high. This stunning valley was formed by a powerful earthquake that cleaved the mountains apart. It is incredibly deep and narrow; in some places, two people standing side by side could block the path!

The mountains retain moisture, allowing blooming plants and grasses to flourish in the valley. We even discovered a small waterfall that swells with strength during spring and early summer, adding to the magical atmosphere. 

In the river valley below, we saw horses grazing peacefully. It was the perfect opportunity for horseback riding! Our lovely Ksenia attempted riding for the first time and absolutely loved it. Suddenly, a group of Mongolian horsemen galloped past us, creating a moment that felt like back in time. The horses raced deep into the gorge, but one batyr returned, offering Ksenia a chance to ride through the valley.

Fearlessly, Ksenia accepted the challenge, holding her ground in the saddle like a true champion. Not every girl can ride a horse across the rocky riverbed of the Vulture’s Valley in the Gobi Desert, but she did it with grace. We captured countless beautiful shots in this hidden world, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll dive deeper into the magical world of these magnificent horses… 

 #GobiDesert #YolynAm #PhotographyAdventure #Mongolia  

  Unique Moments Of Mongolia’s Life: A Photographer’s Journey. Nomads  

For a photographer, capturing the unique moments of local life is a true stroke of luck. Mongolia has gifted us yet another remarkable experience.

After leaving the Vulture Gorge, we continued our journey. We had already observed herds of horses and camels, as well as flocks of goats and sheep. Thanks to the intuition of one of our “dream team” members, who suggested we see how the nomads live, we were able to capture an event that rarely invites photographers. We veered off the road and approached one of the yurts scattered across the Mongolian steppe. 

Here it was—the miracle! That day, neighbors gathered to help a family round up horses with foals for milking the mares. The milk is used to make traditional fermented drinks like ayrag and kumis.The Mongolian horse breed has hardly changed since the time of Genghis Khan. Nomads, who number less than 0.5 million, tend to more than 2 million livestock. 

Mongolian horses are small and live outdoors year-round, even in temperatures soaring to +30°C in summer and dropping to -40°C in winter, foraging for food on their own. Thanks to the generosity of nature, raising Mongolian horses costs almost nothing. They are an integral part of daily life, where a significant portion of the population still lives as their ancestors did long ago (though now they enjoy solar panels, mobile phones, and satellite dishes).The horse herd roams around the family’s dwelling, usually staying within a few kilometers. Owners interfere little with the herd’s life, allowing them to choose pasture. Horses can disappear for several days before their owners set out to look for them. Once a horse learns to carry a rider, it becomes calm, friendly, and reliable.

 “A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without wings, ” goes the saying. Nomads come together to help one another. Several families gather, and the most experienced, agile, and strong man catches a foal using a lasso, pursuing it on horseback.

 A few people tie the foal to a special harness. There are so many emotions—raw, intense, and ancient: the foal’s fear, anger, and desire to escape, and the mare’s concern for her child. I felt heartbroken for the little one, but I was assured that these actions are necessary and have been a part of nomadic life for thousands of years.

Participants in the event wore vibrant national costumes, and it was hard to believe this wasn’t a staged theatrical performance. However, the desert gifted us a unique opportunity to capture these incredible moments. 

Each shot is not just an image, but a window into a wondrous world where traditions and nature intertwine seamlessly.Moreover, I realized that every moment of our daily life—every routine action, like caring for animals, playing with a child, reading a book, or even cooking—can become a beautiful memory if we look at it through the eyes of a photographer.