Clare Oliver, a local photographer, recently returned from an adventure into the heart of Mongolia, and along with the tour hosts and participants is eager to share their story from the Mongolia tour. For all involved, the mission is clear: to ensure this incredible corner of the world receives the recognition it deserves.
The Mongolian culture and its people benefit significantly from the genuine interest and support of western travelers, making this form of tourism a powerful vehicle for cultural exchange.
This is not a typical tour route involving buses or trains. Tourism here is wonderfully raw and challenging. Accessing the remote areas visited requires days of 4WD travel across demanding terrain—a massive undertaking that the travelers found entirely worthwhile. The goal of the journey is not just sightseeing, but fostering connection, creativity, and kinship between two vastly different cultures, with photography often serving as the primary bridge.
These adventure tours are run by Glenn McKimmin, who specializes in taking people to places they cannot reach without extensive research, pre-trip logistics, and a dedicated on-ground crew. The team includes expert drivers and cooks, and accommodations involve staying at local farms and being hosted by Mongolian Eagle Hunters. Guests eat, drink, and live alongside their hosts in Yurts, participating in a genuine, real, and raw cultural experience where the hosts proudly share their heritage.
The recent tour’s instructional team consisted of Clare Oliver (Arcadian local professional photographer) Glenn McKimmin the tour owner and David Oliver (Clare’s father also professional photographer). They were supported by their essential on-ground Mongolian host, Daulet.
The culture-sharing mission is beautifully illustrated through the experience of one of this year’s participants, Jenny Guest.
Jenny, an Arcadian local and owner of the luxury B&B, “Guestlands,” participated in the tour. While she initially sought to learn photography, her main drive was the desire for a completely different kind of adventure travel. Jenny embraced every aspect of the tour, not only developing her photography skills but also demonstrating incredible bravery—she was even courageous enough to catch an eagle!
The success of these trips continues, with the next adventure to Mongolia scheduled for September of next year. A local lady from Berilee, Lenore Shipley, is already booked to join the group.
