Photographers of all experience levels are invited to join Pui Hang for this 5-night Greek Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday in Kerkini, Northern Greece. You will spend four days photographing the Dalmatian Pelicans on one of the most important wetlands in Europe.


This trip, scheduled for 11th - 16th January 2025, has an itinerary which transfers you from Thessaloniki to Kerkini Lake to capture images of the Dalmatian Pelicans on Lake Kerkini during winter.

Over the 5-night trip, the locations should provide opportunities to capture images primarily of the Dalmatian Pelican, but other species may be possible.

Throughout this 5-night photography holiday, , a member of the NaturesLens guiding team, will be on hand to guide & lead you; she will provide assistance & advice as needed & helping you develop your skills. will help you capture images of the Dalmatian Pelicans with the impressive backdrop of the lake & surrounding snow-capped mountains.

We've been leading trips to Kerkini Lake National Park since 2014, working with the same boatman since the beginning; this results in him knowing precisely what our photography group requires & where to position the boat for the best images.

A Group Of Kerkini Lake Flamingos Take Flight From The Waters Of Lake Kerkini

About the Pelicans of Lake Kerkini


The (Pelecanus Crispus) is the biggest pelican species. Adult birds can have a wingspan of 3 – 4 metres, making the one of the world's larger flying birds. At 11 – 15 kg in weight, the is also the world's heaviest flying bird.

Male Dalmatian Pelicans are much larger than the females of the species; however, both display bright orange or red gullets throughout the breeding season. After mating completes, these unusual pouches fade to a much more subtle yellow.

The breeding range of the Dalmatian pelican stretches from southeastern to Russia, & China; the birds prefer shallow lakes & wetlands.

A Trio Of The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Drifting On The Calm Waters Of Lake Kerkini

During recent decades, the pelican population experienced a surprising worldwide decline due to habitat loss, disruption & poaching. Protection efforts have been victorious in core areas of their range. Building artificial nesting platforms & removing power lines has seen a distinct upturn in the breeding population.

How many species of pelicans are there on Lake Kerkini?


Lake Kerkini is a renowned bird-watching destination located in . It has been included in the international network of protected wetland sites of Ramsar & several national & international parks. Every year, Lake Kerkini attracts many migratory & local birds, including the majestic pelicans. Two main species of pelicans can be seen on Lake Kerkini, namely the Great (Pelecanus onocrotalus) & the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus). In addition to these two, a few other rare species have been spotted in the area, such as the Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) & the White-breasted or Eastern (Pelecanus onocrotalus). All in all, four known pelican species thrive on Lake Kerkini; but the famed Dalmatian Pelicans are the most common by far.
One Of The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Drifting On The Still Waters Of Lake Kerkini

Greek Pelicans of Lake Kerkini Photography Holiday Itinerary

The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.
  • Day 1 - Assemble Thessaloniki airport Macedonia - transfer to Kerkini - overnight Kerkini
  • Day 2 - Morning photography of the Dalmatian Pelicans from a boat, afternoon at the shoreline - overnight Kerkini
  • Day 3 - Morning photography of the Dalmatian Pelicans from a boat, afternoon at the shoreline - overnight Kerkini
  • Day 4 - Morning photography of the Dalmatian Pelicans from a boat, afternoon at the shoreline - overnight Kerkini
  • Day 5 - Morning photography of the Dalmatian Pelicans from a boat, afternoon at the shoreline - overnight Kerkini
  • Day 6 - Transfer to Thessaloniki airport Macedonia
One Of The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Flying Over The Waters Of Lake Kerkini

Greek Pelicans of Lake Kerkini Photography Holiday Itinerary Highlights

We have taken care to refine the itinerary for this wildlife photography holiday; as such, we consider the following to be amongst the highlights of this tour.
  • Morning & afternoon boat trips to photograph the charismatic Dalmatian Pelicans
  • Afternoon shoreline feeding of the Dalmatian Pelicans
  • Our boat is captained by an experienced boatman who we have been using for many years
  • The perfect backdrop to your images is provided by the snow-capped Beles mountains
  • Single occupancy accommodation is provided at no extra cost to you
  • Guided by Pui Hang with the assistance of a fantastic local guide
  • Our itinerary is planned for January - the optimum time for photographing the Dalmatian Pelicans in their breeding plumage
  • May be combined with our Dalmatian Pelicans of Greece photography holiday for those who want a longer trip
One Of The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Landing On The Waters Of Lake Kerkini
One Of The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Drifting On The Waters Of Lake Kerkini
A Group Of The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Drifting On The Waters Of Lake Kerkini

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance – it is a requirement when booking on any wildlife photography holiday scheduled by NaturesLens that you have adequate travel insurance, we suggest a policy from TrailFinders or Campbell Irvine.

Camera Insurance

Insuring your camera equipment before embarking on any wildlife photographic holiday is crucial. Our trips often involve venturing into remote, & sometimes unpredictable environments where accidents & unexpected incidents occur. Insuring your camera gear provides financial protection against theft, loss, or damage, ensuring your investment is safeguarded.

Wildlife photography involves capturing unique & irreplaceable moments, & without proper insurance, any unforeseen mishap could result in significant monetary losses. By insuring your equipment, you can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that you’re covered in case of any unfortunate events, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring world of wildlife & capture stunning photographs without worry.

We recommend PhotoGuard for amateur photographers or Glover Howe, who we use.

One Of The Nesting Platforms Built On The Lake Kerkini For The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini

Capture Stunning Silhouettes of the Pelicans of Lake Kerkini


Typically our group head out before dawn for at least several of the days on the waters of the lake; this is to ensure that our guests leave with a selection of silhouette images of the Pelicans of Lake Kerkini, landing on the water, flying over the lake or drifting serenely on the waters of Lake Kerkini.

One Of The Pelicans Of Lake Kerkini Flying Over The Waters Of Lake Kerkini With It's Reflection Beneath

You are invited to join us for our 5-night itinerary to photograph the Greek Pelicans of Lake Kerkini on one of the most important wetlands in Europe

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday is a five-night duration event, that costs £1599 & takes place in Kerkini in Greece, between the dates of 11th - 16th January 2025. It is ideal for photographing the charismatic Greek Pelicans of Lake Kerkini during the winter months. This photography holiday is led by Pui Hang Miles for NaturesLens.

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday is offered on a full board, single occupancy with no single supplement payable basis.

Group size for this photography holiday is a minimum of 5 participants & a maximum of 7, plus Pui Hang.

We consider this to be a photography holiday requiring easy effort or exertion, if you have any questions about your suitability for this photography holiday, please contact us before making a booking enquiry.

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday starts & ends at Thessaloniki Airport. .

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday requires a deposit of £300 to secure a place.

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday is a five-night duration event, that costs £1599 & takes place in Kerkini in Greece, between the dates of 11th - 16th January 2025. It is ideal for photographing the charismatic Greek Pelicans of Lake Kerkini during the winter months. This photography holiday is led by Pui Hang Miles for NaturesLens.

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday is offered on a full board, single occupancy with no single supplement payable basis.

Group size for this photography holiday is a minimum of 5 participants & a maximum of 7, plus Pui Hang.

We consider this to be a photography holiday requiring easy effort or exertion, if you have any questions about your suitability for this photography holiday, please contact us before making a booking enquiry.

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday starts & ends at Thessaloniki Airport. .

The Pelicans of Lake Kerkini photography holiday requires a deposit of £300 to secure a place.

NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.

The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.

NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead.

In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.

Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.

Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.

All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.

NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.

NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.

NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday participants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.

Payment of deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.

All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.

Galleries related to Pelicans of Lake Kerkini

This gallery showcases the beauty & majesty of the Dalmatian Pelican, which can be found at the stunning Lake Kerkini in northern Greece. These majestic birds have captivated wildlife photographers for many years, & Lake Kerkini is a critical habitat for the birds, boasting one of the best-known colonies in Europe.

We invite you to enjoy the images below, showing the birds in their natural habitat, flying, drifting on the waters & feeding in their stunning snow-capped mountain-backed environment. With its sparkling waters, peaceful atmosphere, & diversity of flora & fauna, Lake Kerkini is an idyllic location to observe these beautiful birds.
We hope you enjoy this gallery of images of Dalmatian Pelicans on Lake Kerkini – all the photos were captured by Pui Hang while leading trips during January 2023.

Welcome to this photo gallery of the Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini – one of the most beautiful nature encounters – Alison Jenkins captured these images in January 2023.

Located in northern Greece, Lake Kerkini has a significant population of these majestic birds. The purpose of this photo gallery is to share the beauty of the Dalmatian Pelican with the world & to educate & raise awareness about the conservation of this species.
Here, you can see breathtaking images of the pelicans in their natural habitat, from soaring above the lake to squabbling for fish. Enjoy the magnificent views of these graceful creatures!

Explore the serene beauty of the Dalmatian Pelican, the undisputed highlight of photography on & around Lake Kerkini in northern Greece. Photographers flock to this unique wildlife habitat each winter to capture images of these majestic creatures.

With images showing them feeding to soaring in their snow-topped mountain backdrop, this gallery will transport you to the idyllic setting of Lake Kerkini.
Each photo was taken in January 2023 by Simon Jenkins, who joined one of our Dalmatian Pelican photography holidays.
Experience the natural beauty of the Dalmatian Pelican & the surrounding environment of Lake Kerkini with this collection of images.

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