Ayan Project

Ayan Project is a cultural and nature tourism initiative dedicated to showcasing and preserving Mongolia’s most unique trasures. Through photography tours and cultural events, the project actively contributes to sustainable cultural and nature-based tourism while raising awareness of Mongolia’s unique traditions and landscapes.

Our Journey: From Travel to Conservation

With almost two decades of travel experience in Mongolia, Ayan Travel has evolved from exploration to actively supporting cultural and natural heritage conservation. Instead of focusing on the decline of traditions and wildlife, we highlight successful conservation efforts. By sharing stories of resilience and preservation, we aim to inspire a positive impact.

Key Initiatives and Achievements

Ayan Project is committed to cultural preservation and nature conservation through impactful initiatives. From revitalizing ancient traditions to documenting Mongolia’s landscapes and nomadic heritage, our efforts help sustain and celebrate the country's unique identity.

The Eagle Festival Mongolia: Sustaining a Living Tradition

Ayan Project organizes the Sagsai Eagle Festival in Sagsai village, home to Mongolia’s largest community of eagle hunters. We chose this region to directly support and preserve this centuries-old tradition. Our goal is to ensure that eagle hunters continue passing down their knowledge and skills to future generations.

Through tourism, we provide direct economic support to eagle hunter families, helping them sustain their way of life. Visitors contribute by engaging with eagle hunters, learning about their traditions, and supporting the local community. This approach not only safeguards the practice but also strengthens the local economy, ensuring the tradition remains a vital part of Mongolia’s heritage.

Preserving Mongolia's Heritage Through Photography

Ayan Project is dedicated to documenting and showcasing Mongolia’s cultural and natural heritage through high-quality photography. Led by our company’s director, photographer, traveler, and author Batzaya Choijiljav, this initiative has produced a series of large-format photography books under the National Geographic name. These books not only highlight Mongolia’s stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife but also serve as a visual record of its nomadic traditions, ensuring they are preserved for future generations.

Ayan Photography Book Series

Snow Leopard: A Rare Encounter in the Mountains of Mongolia

Batzaya Choijiljav has ventured into Mongolia’s remote snow-covered mountains, capturing rare and intimate moments of the elusive snow leopard. The Snow Leopard book documents his journey, the thrill of the first encounter, and the challenges of photographing one of the world’s most mysterious wild cats. The book combines stunning imagery with scientific insights, maps, and infographics, offering a comprehensive look at Mongolia’s wildlife and environment.

200 pages

Over 100 photographs

Infographics and maps

Mongolian language

Released on March 3, 2022

Hardcover with paper jacket

ISBN: 991925733-0

Dimensions: 28.5 x 32.5 x 2.5 cm

Weight: 2.0 kg

Tsaatan: The Last Reindeer Herders of Mongolia

This book provides a rare glimpse into the Tsaatan people, Mongolia’s last reindeer herders. Featuring high-quality photographs, travel notes, and cultural insights, Tsaatan captures their unique customs, traditions, and way of life in a changing world. It is an essential resource for those interested in Mongolia’s ethnic heritage.

216 pages

Over 150 photographs

Infographics 

Mongolian language

Released on December 22, 2022

Hardcover with paper jacket

ISBN: 991951190-6

Dimensions: 28.5 x 32.5 x 2.5 cm

Weight: 2.3 kg

Eagle: The Art of Falconry in Mongolia

Eagle showcases the rich tradition of eagle hunting among Mongolia’s Kazakh people, who have safeguarded this practice for generations. The book includes striking images, personal interviews with eagle hunters, and in-depth coverage of the Eagle Festival, along with detailed infographics and maps that provide a deeper understanding of this ancient tradition.

200 pages

Over 100 photographs

Infographics

Mongolian language

Released on March 3, 2022

Hardcover with paper jacket

ISBN: 991925733-0

Dimensions: 28.5 x 32.5 x 2.5 cm

Weight: 2.3 kg

From Expeditions to Fine Art Publishing – AYAN EDITIONS

Under the Ayan Project, AYAN EDITIONS is a Mongolia-based fine art photography book publishing initiative developed from years of field expeditions and visual documentation. Between 2024 and 2025, the project expanded into international publishing, culminating in the release of the English edition of the Snow Leopard photography book in July 2025. Created for international readers, photographers, and future travelers, the book presents rare, high-quality images captured during long-term fieldwork in Mongolia’s remote mountain landscapes.

Snow Leopard – A Photographic Journey Into Mongolia's Wildest Mountains - English Edition:

Snow Leopard is a fine art photography book shaped by a decade of fieldwork in Mongolia’s remote mountains. Created by Mongolian photographer and author Batzaya Choijiljav, the book grows out of a deep personal connection to the land and the quiet rhythms of high-mountain life. Rather than chasing dramatic moments, it presents the snow leopard as it is rare, patient, and closely tied to its environment.

At the heart of the book is a rare moment from the Altai Mountains, when three snow leopards appear together, briefly aligning into a single form with three heads. Captured after years of waiting, this image represents a way of working based on patience, quiet observation, and respect for wild animals.

More than a photography book, Snow Leopard offers a thoughtful look at coexistence between wildlife, landscape, and people, inviting readers and future travelers to see Mongolia’s mountains with greater care.

216 pages

Over 120 photographs

Rich infographics and field notes

English language

Released: July 10, 2025

Hardcover with paper jacket

ISBN: 978-9919-4966-9

Dimensions: 28.5 × 34.5 × 3.0 cm

Weight: 2.5 kg

Future Endeavors

The Ayan Project continues to develop new photography books and international editions while conducting expeditions across Mongolia to document its cultural and natural heritage.

If you are a photographer, an adventurous traveler, or a cultural explorer, we invite you to join our project expeditions. Experience Mongolia through a new lens and be part of this journey to preserve and promote world's one of the beautiful heritages.