Boat Trip to Photograph Dalmatian Pelicans

Lake Kerkini is the best place in the world to photograph Dalmatian Pelicans. From late November to the first week of March, the birds are at their most spectacular, dressed in full breeding plumage.

These pelicans are remarkably unafraid. They don't flee at the sight of a boat. They turn to face you, drift alongside, and sometimes rest right on the boat itself. It's a closeness to wildlife that's almost impossible to find anywhere else: sweeping landscapes, intimate portraits, and fine detail, all within arm's reach, into the wild.

We recommend tours led by a photography guide. This is the real secret to success. A photography guide significantly increases your chances of getting spectacular shots. We also recommend only boats suited for photography: stable, and low enough to let you shoot at water level.

In the experiences we recommend, the tours are run in the morning and evening, at the best hours for photography.

We strongly recommend booking well in advance. The days of showing up at the port and finding a boat for today or tomorrow are over. Boats are few, the ones suited for photography are fewer still, and the ones led by a photography guide are only a small part of those. Trying to book last minute gives you very little chance of getting a spot in the right boat. It would be a shame to travel all this way for mediocre photos.

Because what we recommend isn't really a boat trip, and it isn't just a photo tour. It's an experience.