Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour – was it a success?

Tom Bourdon 0 Comments ,

I know, you thought this blog had died, right?

Well, that’s not far from the truth, but I really wanted to tell you how my photo tours went this summer. So, for the moment, at least, the blog lives!

As you might know, I ran 2 identical photo tours in Kyrgyzstan in July and August. I was super excited about running them. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about anything. 

Photographers on the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021
Stopping off to shoot locals

Kyrgyzstan quickly became one of my favorite destinations after a 3-month stint there back in 2019 when I was traveling in the motorhome. It was during that trip I realized how great it would be to bring a group of photographers to share what this relatively unknown country has to offer. And with that, the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour was born.

Eagle hunter during the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021
The traditional Eagle Hunters

I wanted the tour to be, above all, authentic. Despite the fact Kyrgyzstan isn’t really a tourist destination there is still a bit of a tourist route that most visitors travel along. I wanted to avoid that as much as possible and head to the rural, but harder to reach, areas. After months of planning, a route was finalized and everything set. And then Covid happened. The 2020 tour had to be canceled, but with only a few adjustments to the itinerary, I’m happy to say this year both tours were a complete success.

I vowed at the beginning of each tour that I wasn’t going to shoot much myself.

It’s a common issue I hear from photography tour participants that the lead photographer spends too much time shooting their own images rather than helping participants get the shots – this was a trap I was determined not to fall into. And, for the most part, I kept to it, but Kyrgyzstan is such a beautiful place that I couldn’t help get a few shots. I actually ended the tour with a fair few images that I’m quite proud of.

Nomad during the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021
A nomadic shepherd who, during the summer months, lives in a simple yurt at almost 3000m near the Urunbash pass

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Exceeded Expectations

Wow, what an adventure! Tom and his team organized a world-class photography expedition, jammed pack with opportunities for pro photographers, or beginner. With a passion for exploring the road less traveled. Tom is a true professional and a pleasure to travel with, he worked very hard to make sure you get the photos you’re trying to achieve. This trip really raised the bar for photography adventures.

I highly recommend Tom Bourdon Photography Tours.

Testimonial from Ron C Participant in the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021
Village baker in Kyrgyzstan
A village bakery unloading a batch of freshly baked bread

For me, the highlight of the tour was not what you might expect. Yes, the landscapes are beautiful, the locals are extremely generous and the nomadic lifestyle is fascinating, but what actually really cheered me up was simply meeting new people and to be traveling once again. I was already familiar with the country and had met some of the people on my previous trip so I was well prepared for what lay ahead.

Sure, it was super cool to meet the nomadic shepherds, the local baker, and the soon-to-be-famous sock-man. But having spent much of the last 18 months in some form of lockdown with very minimal socializing, meeting like-minded photographers and swapping travelers’ tales gave me a warm feeling inside. Half the time it felt like Covid wasn’t even a thing.

inside a yurt during the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021
Nomadic life is simple and comes with many many cups of tea

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This was the trip of a lifetime for me!

I learned so much about photography as well as the geography and culture of Kyrgyzstan. Tom did an excellent job of coordinating our activities each day. Teaching us how to take better photos no matter what our skill level was and making sure everyone was safe, well-fed, and had comfortable sleeping quarters each night :)

Tom went above and beyond to make sure that we had a great learning experience.

Testimonial from DEBORAH W Participant in the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021

Both groups were really fun to spend time with, so on top of having stunning scenery, amazing locals, fascinating traditions, and beautiful light I feel like I’ve made some friends. The good thing about traveling in the same place is that you always find something new and new way of shooting.

Milking a cow in Kyrgyzstan

I’d never really shot any astrophotography before. But the clear skies and interesting foreground elements were too much for me, and the group, to resist.

With the nearest streetlight being hours away, Song-Kul which stands at 3000m above sea level is an excellent place to see a clear night sky. We weren’t lucky every night, but when the clouds did part we were faced with a stunning scene. The yurts in this shot were actually where we slept, so it wasn’t a far walk back to a warm bed.

The milyway on Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021

This year’s Kyrgyzstan tours were so successful, I enjoyed them so much and so did the participants (I guess you read their comments!), that I couldn’t help but organize new adventures. I am proud to tell you that I still have a few places left on my next Photo Tour to Uzbekistan in May. If you’d like more information then check it out, or send me a message

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Amazing photo opportunities and possibilities to learn!

I really enjoyed taking this trip with Tom! The places were fantastic with incredible photo opportunities. Tom is kindly always available to help and support anyone with their photography. I got so many tips and learned so much!

I highly recommend photo tours with Tom!

Testimonial from GIULIA V Participant in the Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour 2021