Mangystau Photography Workshop

Day 2

Today our photo expedition begins. We say goodbye to civilization and after breakfast we go to the Valley of Balls Torysh. These spherical stones scattered around the valley were originally shark teeth, shells or just plants floating in the waters of the Tethys Ocean, around which minerals gradually accumulated. Similar concretions have been found all over the world, including New Zealand and the USA, but it is here in Kazakhstan that the largest accumulation of these huge and very unusual stones is located.

Having walked around among the fabulous balls and taken interesting pictures with them, we will visit an ancient underground mosque of the 17th century, and then go for lunch to another picturesque place - Karatau colored rocks (Kokala tract). While they are preparing lunch for us, we will be able to walk and take a few pictures of this place, which, although not a well-known landmark, looks very interesting.

After lunch, we will move to the place of our evening photo shoot and overnight stay - Mount Sherkala. When approaching it resembles a flying saucer, but if you drive around it from the other side, there is a lion's paw in front of us (hence the name of the rock, Sherkala means "lion's fortress").
It looks especially good when shot from a drone.

After the shooting, we'll head to the Airakty Valley of Castles, where we'll capture stunning cliffs reminiscent of medieval castles at sunset. We'll also spend the night here.

Day 3

During our morning shoot, we'll once again capture the magnificent cliffs of Airakty in the gentle sunrise light.
The Valley of Castles is a fitting name for this valley – the mountains here truly resemble castles built by man long ago. In reality, it's all created by water, wind, and time.

After breakfast, we'll make a short stop in the village of Shetpe, and then drive along a good asphalt road to lunch at a roadside cafe, where we'll also have the opportunity to take a shower.

Days 4-5

Sor Tuzbair can boast a truly endless number of interesting angles, and here everyone can make unforgettable - and most importantly, unique shots. Here we will have sunset shooting and here we will have dinner and spend the night in tents.

After a sunrise shoot at Tuzbair and breakfast, we'll make the long drive to the gem of Mangystau—the Boszhira gorge.

En route, we'll stop for lunch at a picturesque spot, and by evening, we'll reach Boszhira. Upon entering, it'll become clear why this place is called the Valley of Monuments. The views here are simply incredible, both at sunrise and sunset. We'll stay here for two nights to maximize our shooting time and capture the diverse corners of this otherworldly place.

Along the way, we will stop for lunch in another picturesque gorge - Kyzylodyr, admire its interesting stone mushrooms and realite mountains, and hit the road again. By evening, we will reach Boszhira, and already upon entering it will become clear why this place is called the valley of monuments. There are simply incredible views both at dawn and at sunset. Here we will stay for two nights to be able to have the most effective shooting and capture the most diverse photos of this unearthly place.

We will camp at the upper and lower observation decks and take a short walk to one of the most magnificent panoramic points on earth.

Day 6

After dawn shooting in the Boszhira tract and breakfast, we will encounter another interesting location - the Tiramisu (Kyzylkup) gorge and Mount Bokty. These rock formations, located close to each other, amaze with the brightness and variety of colors - from bright white to rich red and orange. The rocks seem to consist of thin colored layers. Particularly unusual shots can be obtained here from a drone, when the camera is pointed vertically downwards, and stunning multi-colored textures appear in the lens.

We will set up our camp in the Boszhira area.

Day 7

After dawn photography and breakfast, we set off on a long journey to the Karynzharyk Depression, where we'll stop for the night at the upper observation deck. We'll photograph the bizarre cliffs standing amidst a vast salt lake.

Karynzharyk is a unique place with incredibly fantastical landscapes, reminiscent of an alien world.

Three mountains, or "Three Brothers," rise amidst the white salt flats, formed by sedimentary deposits from the ancient Tethys Ocean.
The landscape is especially picturesque after recent rains, when the cliffs are reflected in the water.