Californian Pelicans & Whales Photography Tour

14th - 21st Feb 2029 - £5499

One of California's Brown Pelicans standing on coastal rock

Californian Pelicans & Whales - 14th - 21st Feb 2029 - £5499 - Single occupancy

Reserve with a deposit of £1100

No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.

Make A Booking Enquiry

No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.

No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.

The coastline around San Diego offers direct access to the Californian Pelicans & other wildlife without distance or disguise. Cliffs drop straight into the Pacific, beaches allow eye-level work with resting seals, & nearshore waters hold some of the most reliable pelican flight photography in North America. Mornings begin early, with cool air, clean light & predictable movement along the coast.

Photography of the Californian Pelicans dominate the first hours of the day, launching from cliff edges & banking low over the surf as light strengthens. Seals & sea lions haul out onto sand or rocks, allowing close, low-angle portrait work that shifts naturally into behaviour as activity increases. Offshore, winter seas hold migrating Grey Whales, regular humpback encounters, dolphins & feeding-associated seabirds, offering opportunities for sequence-driven storytelling rather than single frames.

This trip is structured around repetition & access. Land-based sessions are timed to specific locations & light conditions, allowing photographers to return to the same subjects under improving conditions. Offshore days are spent aboard full-day private charters, giving full control over positioning, timing & photographic priorities. Small group sizes ensure space to work both on deck & on land, with experienced guidance throughout.

By the end of the week, photographers leave with a cohesive coastal portfolio rather than a collection of one-off encounters. The emphasis is on refining flight technique, working behaviour at eye level, & building confidence photographing large marine mammals from a moving platform. It is a trip designed to sharpen skills through focused repetition & varied conditions.

A Californian Brown Pelican standing on rocks

Californian Pelicans & Whales Photography Holiday Itinerary

The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.

  • Day 1 - Assemble at San Diego International AIrport - transfer to La Jolla - overnight La Jolla
  • Day 2 - Photography sessions covering Pelican flight, seals & sea lions - overnight La Jolla
  • Day 3 - Full-day offshore whale photography using private boat charters - overnight La Jolla
  • Day 4 - Photography sessions covering Pelican flight, seals & sea lions - overnight La Jolla
  • Day 5 - Full-day offshore whale photography using private boat charters - overnight La Jolla
  • Day 6 - Photography sessions covering Pelican flight, seals & sea lions - overnight La Jolla
  • Day 7 - Full-day offshore whale photography using private boat charters - overnight La Jolla
  • Day 8 - transfer to San Diego International AIrport
A Californian Brown Pelican standing on a coastal rock

Californian Pelicans & Whales Photography Holiday 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.

  • Brown Pelican flight photography from coastal cliffs
  • Eye-level harbour seal portraits on sand
  • Sea lion behaviour, interaction & vocalisation
  • Full-day offshore whale photography sessions
  • Grey Whale migration & humpback encounters
  • Dolphin pods & pelagic seabirds offshore
A Californian Brown Pelican preening by the blue sea

What Do You Need To Bring With You?

The items listed below are intended as guidance rather than requirements. They outline optional & recommended clothing & camera equipment to help you prepare for the conditions & photographic opportunities you may encounter.

Clothing We Recommend

Clothing suggestions for the conditions expected.

  • Clothing suitable for moderate temperatures
  • Warm layers for early mornings & evenings
  • Windproof & waterproof outer layers
  • Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots
  • Sun hat or cap
  • Sunglasses

Camera Equipment We Recommend

Suggested camera equipment for the opportunities expected.

  • DSLR or mirrorless camera body
  • Spare camera body
  • Spare batteries, charger & memory cards
  • Telephoto zoom lens for wildlife photography (e.g. 70-200mm, 100-400mm)
  • Super-telephoto lens (e.g. 400mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm)
  • Teleconverter (optional)
  • Tripod or Monopod
  • Monopod or bean bag
  • Camera rain cover or waterproof protection
  • Lens cleaning kit
  • Camera backpack or suitable carry-on bag
  • Laptop or storage device for image backup
A pair of Californian Pelicans resting on coastal rocks

What's Included & What's Not Included On The Californian Pelicans & Whales Photography Holiday

Before booking the Californian Pelicans & Whales Photography Holiday, we recommend reviewing what is included in the trip price, along with any items that are not. This helps ensure you have a clear understanding of what is covered, allowing you to focus fully on the photographic experience.

Included In The Trip Price

Most services & experiences are included in the trip price.

  • Guidance from our experienced team members
  • Accommodation on a Single occupancy basis
  • Internal transfers
  • Boat trips
  • Meals on a half board basis

Not Included In The Trip Price

Some items & services are not included in the trip price.

  • International flights
  • Internal flights
  • Camera equipment
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • All drinks
A Californian Brown Pelican standing on coastal rocks

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.

A Californian Brown Pelican preens it's feathers on a rocky shore

Who is This Trip for?

This trip suits wildlife photographers looking to refine technique through repetition, particularly flight photography, marine mammal behaviour & offshore shooting from boats. A basic level of fitness & comfort at sea is required. All photographic skill levels are welcome, provided participants are happy working early starts & variable conditions.

A Californian Brown Pelican perched on a rock

Where You'll Be Photographing on The Californian Pelicans & Whales Photography Holiday

This holiday is built around locations including La Jolla, which David Miles, your guide, knows well and returns to for close, reliable encounters, rather than a vague region you’re left to explore alone.

Additional Information

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 a 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.

Similar Photography Tours

Difficulty
Easy
Group size
4-6 guests
Photography style
Boat Based & On Foot
Activity period
Daytime
Itinerary type
Photography Tour

We explore wildlife photography in the United States in greater depth in Why Photographers Are Drawn to the United States.