Highlights

Otherwordly Saltflats by Drone
Tour length
9 Days
Dates
2027: Sept 25 - Oct 32028: Sept 24 - Oct 2
Activity level
Easy
Group size
Max 8
Price
2026: €4,9502027: €4,975
Join us on an unforgettable adventure through one of the world’s most unique and rarely photographed landscapes. During the Kazakhstan Drone Photo Tour, we’ll explore the extraordinary Mangystau region—a photographer’s paradise filled with vast deserts, surreal rock formations, dramatic viewpoints and intricate natural patterns.
From the air, Mangystau reveals an entirely different world, offering endless opportunities for abstract drone photography. With no hiking required, our 4×4 vehicles take us directly to the best locations, while you remain free to explore and discover your own compositions.
We’ll travel with experienced drivers and a fully equipped mobile camp, including a private chef, kitchen tent, tables, chairs, coolers and plenty of food. A generator will also be available to keep your camera and drone batteries fully charged throughout the adventure.
Places are strictly limited for this one-of-a-kind Kazakhstan photography tour.

Why photograph Kazakhstan with Max
Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region feels like stepping onto another planet. You’ll photograph white mountains, tiramisu-colored hills, extraordinary rock formations, a volcano-shaped mountain rising from the desert and incredible patterns that can only be fully appreciated from the air.
Mangystau is made for drone photography. Max will share precise location knowledge, composition ideas and panorama techniques to help you capture the region’s most striking aerial perspectives.
Max and Madee have personally explored Mangystau and know how its locations work in different conditions. This allows them to adapt the itinerary and place the group at the right location at the right time.
The Kazakhstan Mangystau Drone Tour is more than a photography trip. Travel through remote landscapes by 4x4, camp on salt flats and enjoy freshly prepared meals from our private chef—returning home with remarkable images and unforgettable memories.

Our Kazakhstan drone adventure begins at 10:00 AM, with pickup available from either Aktau Airport or the city. After a scenic two-hour drive, we’ll stop for lunch in a small town before continuing toward our first sunset location.
Along the way, we’ll pass the lowest point in Kazakhstan—133 metres below sea level—surrounded by vast and otherworldly desert scenery. For sunset, we’ll photograph two striking rock formations overlooking the endless landscape. Our viewpoint is reached by a short, 10-minute uphill walk and offers excellent opportunities for both camera and drone photography.

We begin the day photographing an extraordinary isolated white mountain in the first light of sunrise. Several compositions are possible, including a panoramic view framing the mountain between surrounding peaks.
Afterward, we’ll drive around 1.5 hours to an incredible area filled with patterns, textures and abstract compositions, perfect for both drone and ground photography.
For sunset, we’ll photograph the colourful layers of Tiramisu Mountain from the ground and air before camping nearby. If skies are clear, the Milky Way will rise directly above the mountain, with cracked mud patterns creating striking foregrounds.

After sunrise at Tiramisu, we’ll continue toward the salt flats, one of the finest areas on the tour for abstract photography. We’ll explore several viewpoints and drone perspectives, giving everyone plenty of time to search for the strongest patterns and compositions.
Later, we’ll return to the mountains photographed during the first two days—but from a completely different angle. This time, we’ll work from below, using the striking leading lines and textures in the foreground to create powerful images with both our cameras and drones.
During the night between Days 3 and 4, we’ll stay in a comfortable hotel in town.

After leaving the hotel, we’ll travel to another spectacular location filled with dramatic mountains, unusual rock formations and textured foregrounds. We’ll photograph the area during both sunset and sunrise, using our cameras and drones to capture it from every possible perspective.
That night, we’ll stay nearby in a traditional yurt camp, adding an authentic local experience to the adventure.
On Day 5, we’ll continue toward one of the tour’s most extraordinary destinations. Although this day involves a longer drive and less photography, the journey takes us through constantly changing desert scenery. The drive will be more than worth it—the location waiting at the end is unlike anything most photographers have ever seen.

Our final major location features an enormous salt flat with a solitary mountain rising from its centre. It is a surreal and incredibly remote landscape—and one of the true photographic highlights of the entire tour.
We’ll spend several days exploring the area, allowing us to photograph the mountain under different light and weather conditions while searching for the best possible aerial compositions.
Although the region is usually extremely dry, occasional rainfall can completely transform the landscape. Just one hour of rain may create a temporary lake around the mountain. While the water can wash away some of the white salt, it replaces it with something equally spectacular: a vast, mirror-like reflection of the mountain and sky.

On our final day, we’ll drive back to Aktau and check into our hotel, bringing an unforgettable journey through Kazakhstan to a close.
We’ll return with far more than a collection of rare and extraordinary photographs. We’ll also take home incredible memories of exploring one of the world’s most remote and surreal landscapes—a place that very few people have ever seen, photographed or experienced for themselves.
Max is one of the most experienced guides you could have in the Dolomites, with an intimate knowledge of the best locations, compositions and changing conditions. Alongside him is Madison McCardle, an incredibly talented landscape photographer and assistant, always ready to help, guide and make sure every participant gets the most from each location.
During the tour, we’ll enjoy a varied combination of hotels, a traditional yurt camp and comfortable camping in the wilderness. We’ll spend two nights in a hotel, giving you time to relax, recharge and enjoy a hot shower. Another night will be spent in a traditional Kazakh yurt camp, offering an authentic experience and a memorable taste of local culture.
For the remaining nights, we’ll camp close to some of Kazakhstan’s most extraordinary photography locations. Each participant will have a spacious two-person tent for private use, so you won’t need to share. The tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags will be prepared for you.
Our campsite will also include a dedicated kitchen tent and private chef, who will prepare fresh meals throughout our stay. This setup allows us to sleep close to the best sunrise, sunset and night-photography locations while still enjoying a comfortable and well-organized camping experience.
All meals are included throughout the tour, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks between shoots. While camping in the remote landscapes of Kazakhstan, our private chef will prepare fresh and delicious meals at camp.
After an early sunrise session or a long day of exploring and flying your drone, you can return to camp knowing that a warm and satisfying meal will be waiting. This allows you to focus completely on the adventure and your photography—we’ll take care of the food.
Throughout the tour, we’ll travel in three to four comfortable 4x4 vehicles and spacious SUVs, giving everyone plenty of room for themselves and their photography equipment. These vehicles are perfectly suited to Kazakhstan’s vast desert landscapes and remote off-road terrain, allowing us to reach extraordinary photography locations far beyond the usual tourist routes.
With several vehicles available, the group can travel safely, comfortably and efficiently while enjoying the spectacular scenery along the way. Reaching these remote areas is part of the adventure—and often leads us to some of the most unique drone photography locations in Kazakhstan.
After signing up, you’ll receive a massive bonus package: all 18 of Max’s editing tutorials, 9 Lightroom preset packs, and 3 exclusive In-the-Field tutorials. Everything is downloadable and comes with lifetime streaming access, so you can keep learning long after the tour is over.
One photograph of your choice can be edited by Max from start to finish, with the entire process screen-recorded and shared with the group. While completely optional, these edits can provide valuable ideas for processing images from each location—and give you access to additional editing videos featuring photographs and techniques from across the tour.
Travel insurance is required and must be arranged before the tour begins. We’re happy to provide advice and recommend suitable options if needed. It usually costs only a small amount compared with the overall trip, but can provide valuable protection and assistance should anything unexpected happen.
Alcoholic drinks and additional snacks purchased in town are not included in the tour price. You are, of course, welcome to buy your own drinks and favourite snacks whenever we stop in town.
Yes. We do not require a minimum number of participants, so the tour will go ahead even if the group is smaller than expected. For small hiking tours such as Patagonia, which are limited to six participants, last-minute cancellations may simply result in an even smaller and more personal group.
A tour would only be cancelled in exceptional circumstances, such as a serious geopolitical situation that makes it impossible to operate safely. Otherwise, you can book with confidence, knowing the tour will take place on the scheduled dates.
The camping is very comfortable, especially for such a remote desert adventure. At each location, your tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag will be fully prepared before you arrive.
Kazakhstan’s dry desert climate generally makes camping pleasant, while our dedicated kitchen tent and private chef ensure you can enjoy fresh, delicious meals after every day of photography.
Mangistau is known for its extremely dry desert climate. During the tour, daytime temperatures can reach a pleasant 25°C, while nights usually cool to around 12°C.
Conditions can occasionally be much colder, with daytime temperatures closer to 15°C and nighttime temperatures dropping to approximately 5°C. Strong winds are also possible, making it feel considerably colder—so warm layers and windproof clothing are essential.
Absolutely—this tour is designed around drone photography. Around 80% of the images in this PDF were captured from the air, revealing Kazakhstan’s extraordinary lines, colours, textures and contrasts from a completely different perspective.
The region’s vast, open landscapes provide plenty of space for everyone to fly safely. We’ll follow a clear flight protocol and keep enough distance between drones to prevent interference or collisions.
Any DJI drone is suitable for the tour, and our generator allows us to recharge batteries in the field, giving you plenty of flying time. No previous drone experience? No problem—I’ll be there to guide and assist you throughout the tour.
Before every shoot, Max will brief the group on where we’re going, the compositions we can expect, and which gear and clothing to bring. Once on location, you are free to explore and photograph independently or follow Max’s guidance.
Max will share different composition ideas and help with camera settings, focus stacking techniques, and refining your compositions. Every shoot is focused on maximizing your photographic results—finding strong and unique images while using the weather and light conditions to our advantage.
Yes. With almost no light pollution, the Mangystau region offers incredible conditions for photographing the night sky. We’ll plan several night photography sessions, especially at locations where the Milky Way aligns perfectly above the mountains, creating truly spectacular compositions.
A drone is essential for this tour, and we recommend bringing at least four batteries to make the most of every location. You should also bring a camera with a wide-angle lens between 14mm and 30mm for capturing the vast landscapes and dramatic rock formations from the ground.

I don't just show you the landscapes, I take you to experience them.
Photographer. Explorer. Storyteller.
Max is driven by discovering extraordinary perspectives and revealing landscapes in ways few have seen before. His distinctive photography has earned him international recognition and taken him to some of the world’s most remote and spectacular locations.
Every location on this Kazakhstan tour has been personally scouted by Max, with a focus on the surreal formations, desert textures and abstract patterns that look incredible from the air. His knowledge of the region will help you find the strongest compositions and make the most of the changing light and conditions.
Max genuinely loves guiding and sharing his experience. Throughout the tour, he’ll help you refine your aerial compositions, choose the right altitude and perspective, and transform simple patterns into powerful images. His goal is for you to return home with an exceptional drone portfolio and a completely new way of seeing the landscape.
YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
Have a question about the tour or ready to join? Send me a message below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

all you need to know
Download the complete guide to the Kazakhstan Photo Tour, with everything you need to know before joining.
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Refunds will be issued using the same payment method as the original transaction. Please note that transaction fees and currency exchange differences may affect the final amount received. Approved refunds will be initiated within 72 hours of the request being confirmed.
The €1,500 deposit is transferable and may be applied to a different photo tour.
For the remaining balance, which is due 90 days before the tour start date, the following cancellation and refund policy applies: