MAX
Group Size
MIN
Group Size
Days Away From Home
4
6
5
Why Travel With Us To
Kerkini, Greece?
Typical Operators | FOW's "Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini" |
5-8 guests typical | Maximum 6 participants, usually 5 |
Post-processing brief or informal | Dedicated 2-hour post-processing workshop |
Either photographer OR local guide (rarely both) | Photography instruction + ornithological guide |
Transfers at extra cost or meet-on-location | Thessaloniki airport transfers included |
Often sunrise-to-sunset schedule | Comfortable pace with rest during harsh light |
Basic accommodation + limited inclusions | Comprehensive approach (meals, transfers, guidance) |
Key Differentiators
Structured pre-briefings, dedicated post-processing workshop, and take-home materials create lasting value beyond the trip itself. Most operators provide location guidance but limited formal instruction.
Rest during harsh midday light rather than filling every hour. This approach results in better images and less fatigue than dawn-to-dusk schedules.
Basic Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Northern Greece
Day 2 - First Dawn Session & Boat Photography
Day 3 - Peak Feeding Behaviour & Flight Photography
Day 4 - Coordinated Fishing & Behavioural Documentation
Day 5 - Departure & Final Opportunities
Want a more detailed itinerary?
What's Included
4 nights in comfortable accommodation with en-suite facilities
Daily breakfast, packed lunches for field sessions and evening meals
Dedicated dawn sessions
Boat-based sessions with experienced boat pilots
Afternoon/evening sessions for different lighting approaches
All transport to and from photography locations
Professional photography instruction throughout
Pre-session briefings for all activities
Evening image review sessions
Post-processing workshop (2 hours)
Take-home reference materials and recordings
Airport transfers from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
All ground transportation during the tour
Boat hire for water-based sessions
Access permits where required
What's Not Included
International flights to/from Thessaloniki
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Alcoholic beverages
Personal equipment and memory cards
Optional additional activities outside the scheduled programme
Recommended Gear
Telephoto lens 200-600mm (make sure you comfortable holding this setup on a boat)
Weatherproof clothing appropriate for January conditions (cold weather)
Comfortable walking boots for short walks
Important Notes
Boats can be tricky for photography - listen to thise who have done this before
No standing at any time in the boats unless you are told to
There will be short walks to boats and shorelines. No strenuous activity involved. Suitable for anyone with normal mobility who can manage gentle walking for 5-10 minutes
January Weather: Short winter days with crisp, cool temperatures ranging 0–10°C. Frosty mornings are common, with occasional rain or light snow. From a boat, you’ll experience the lake’s serene winter light and atmospheric mist, perfect for dramatic wildlife photography.
Language: All instruction and guiding conducted in English
Insurance Requirements
All participants are required to have both travel and equipment insurance for the duration of the tour. This ensures protection for yourself and your gear, giving peace of mind while in the field. Insurance is the sole responsibility of each participant and must be arranged prior to departure, as Focused On Wildlife does not provide coverage.
Focused On Wildlife, however, is fully covered under the UK Package Travel Regulations against financial failure, giving participants reassurance that all bookings are financially protected.
This Tour Is Not About Bird Watching
This tour is designed around creating compelling avian images whilst experiencing the exceptional wildlife spectacle of Lake Kerkini. Rather than simply positioning you lakeside with a long lens, the experience is structured around helping you develop stronger bird photography skills.
Throughout the tour, you'll learn:
How to capture flight dynamics with the right shutter speeds and panning techniques
How to work with water reflections and early morning light effectively
To anticipate behaviour in order to capture decisive action moments rather than relying almost exclusively on static portraits
How to compose images that convey scale and atmosphere
We provide hands-on guidance throughout to support your composition choices, technical decisions, and understanding of pelican (and other wildlife) behaviour patterns.
Dedicated Sessions at Europe's Premier Pelican Location
Lake Kerkini hosts one of Europe's most significant breeding colonies of Dalmatian pelicans, alongside substantial populations of great white pelicans. The concentration of birds here is exceptional.
What sets these sessions apart:
Multiple photography locations strategically selected for different lighting conditions, backgrounds, and behavioural opportunities
Boat-based sessions providing intimate access to feeding behaviour, flight approaches, and social interactions without disturbing the colony
Shore positions for reflections, dawn light, and large group compositions
Experienced local guides who understand pelican ecology and can predict feeding patterns, flight times, and breeding behaviour
Natural behaviour documentation including (when they present themselves) courtship displays, feeding coordination, parental care, and territorial interactions
Dawn sessions capture the atmospheric light pelicans are famous for, whilst mid-morning boat sessions position you for active feeding behaviour.
Not Just Pelicans Though
Winter at Lake Kerkini brings a stunning array of wildlife:
Birds: Dalmatian and great white pelicans, cormorants, herons, glossy ibis.
Birds Of Prey: White-tailed and lesser spotted eagles, marsh harriers.
Seasonal visitors: Ferruginous ducks and wintering waterfowl.
Mammals: Golden jackals along the quiet lake margins.
Perfect for photographers seeking varied species, dynamic compositions, and the unique winter light of Kerkini.
The Pace Of This Tour
The pace is deliberately structured around optimal light, allowing rest during harsh midday conditions and maximising productivity during golden hours. You're never rushed when light is working in your favour.
Throughout the tour, conversations naturally cover technical approaches specific to bird photography, understanding avian behaviour, ethical practices, and the conservation success story that brought Kerkini's pelicans back from near-extinction.
The tour includes structured learning that extends beyond the immediate trip:
Pre-session briefings: covering behaviour expectations, equipment recommendations, and boat protocols
In-field guidance: real-time support with flight photography, panning techniques, and moment anticipation
Post-processing workshop: dedicated session on editing bird images, managing water reflections, and sequence selection
Take-home materials: reference guides on pelican behaviour and flight photography principles
Evening discussions: optional image reviews, critique sessions, and creative approach conversations
This educational structure means you develop transferable skills that improve your bird photography across all wetland environments.
Who This Tour Is For
This experience works particularly well for photographers who:
Want world-class pelican encounters in an accessible European location
Value small group dynamics with people that share similar interests
Appreciate the combination of boat work and land-based positions
Need a focused format that delivers concentrated opportunities
All skill levels are welcome. Beginners receive foundational support on camera settings and technique, whilst experienced photographers are challenged with behavioural interpretation and sophisticated compositional approaches.
What You'll Take Home
By the end of this tour, you'll have:
A portfolio of Dalmatian pelicans, great white pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants, raptors, and wetland landscapes across different lighting conditions
Enhanced technical skills: Flight photography techniques, water reflection management, low-light capability, and high-speed continuous shooting approaches
Post-processing techniques: Specific workflows for bird images, sequence editing, and optimization for different output purposes
(Most importantly) Memorable experiences: Dawn light on the lake, coordinated pelican fishing, close encounters from boats, chats with the locals and the spectacle of hundreds of pelicans in flight
The combination creates a comprehensive photographic narrative of one of Europe's most important wetland ecosystems.
Winter transforms Lake Kerkini into a sanctuary for pelicans and other waterbirds. Drift silently across the lake as these majestic birds move through soft morning light. This photography-focused experience offers rare opportunities to capture intimate wildlife behaviour in one of Europe’s most atmospheric and visually striking winter landscapes.