Fall/Winter Photography Tour in Northern Greece: Capturing the Ancient Large Water Birds of Kerkini lake: The Dalmatian Pelicans!

Many people plan their travels around the exotic Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos or the ancient history of The Acropolis in Athens, but the mainland has much to offer with its enchanting mountains, beautiful rivers, and unique wetlands. One of the most breathtaking destinations in northern Greece is the area of the coastal forest, including Lake Kerkini, where we travel for the opportunity to photograph 276 recorded species of birds, which constitutes 68% of the species that exist in the country. 70 of these species are endangered, including the incredible Dalmation Pelicans, one of the largest birds on the planet. As the temperature drops, this marks the beginning of their breeding season, when their beaks turn red, thus being the best time to witness them and capture them on film.
We invite you to take advantage of the fall and winter seasons to photograph the natural landscape of Greece and its wildlife at its finest. Book this four-day tour now to observe and capture this unique and interesting natural phenomenon.

Tour Highlights

 

Small group Photo Tour.

Photograph the Dalmatian Pelicans.

Explore the landscape and wildlife of the area.

Taste traditional food of the area.

Explore the basics in photography if needs.

Every day post prosessing session.


2024 Travel Dates
Dates between January 08 to February 29. A 5-Day Kerkini Lake Photo Tour can be organized on a date that suits you best. Let us know if you need special accommodations and we will help you. If you want a private tour contact us and we will organize it only for you. We recommend days from end-November to early March.
*Minimum of 2 participants

Included

  • Meal prices
  • Accommodations
  • Refreshments
  • Snacks
  • Souvenir

Not included

  • Airfare to and from the airport
  • Hotel services besides lodging

Difficulty

  • 5 Days
  • Up to 5 persons
  • Minimum 2 persons
  • Fitness easy to moderate
  • Photo Skills beginner to Pro

Trip cost

  • Person: 2190€

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What to expect during the 5-Day Kerini Lake Photo Tour

This is a Private multi-day photography small group tour. We will guide you through Kerkini Lake as we capture the fall and winter natural landscape, scenery and the Dalmatian Pelicans of the lake, as well as other species. A few of these are private boat trips to photograph the pelicans from the water, including portraits of the birds, wide angles, and capturing them in flight. We will drive around the lake, exploring and capturing other wildlife from the shoreline of the wetland. Of course, the editing and post-processing of our photos are on the list! While we focus on colorful seasonal landscape and photography on this tour, the local food of Greece will also be a focal point and we will taste local foods and wines each day!
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Day 1 | Thessaloniki to Kerkini

On the first day we will pick you up from the airport in Thessaloniki in Northern Greece where we will transfer to our hotel just a short distance from the shore of Lake Kerkini. Depending on the time of your arrival, there will be the option of exploring the area and photographing at sunset. We will have a traditional Greek dinner.
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Day 2 - 4 | Kerkini

During days 2 thru 4 we will have a series of photo sessions to capture images of the Dalmatian Pelicans as well as other wildlife that we will encounter on Lake Kerkini. We usually start each day at dawn-sunrise and continue with taking advantage of the morning light on a boat trip on the lake to photograph the beautiful pelicans from the water. These boat trips will offer various photographic opportunities, such as wide angles, portraits and immortalizing pelicans in flight. Since our tour is private, we can be flexible, so we will make the most of the different lighting conditions and views we come across. On the third or fourth day, depending on the forecast, we will visit and photograph the traditional villages of the area, visit one of the largest buffalo farms and taste original products made by the buffalos of Kerkini Lake. Every afternoon you will learn the basics of post processing your frames and finish the day with traditional Greek meal.
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Day 5 | Kerkin - Thessaloniki

On the last day of your trip, we will try take a more relaxing pace, enjoying breakfast and then drive to Thessaloniki airport. If time allows, depending on your time of departure, we could have the option of stopping at the lake of Doirani to shoot more or fly the drone to the shoreline of the Lake.


Our tours are suitable for all levels, from amateur to professional photographers. The tour is led by Christos and Konstantina, professional photographers and Meteora locals. There will be discussions and tips on composition, different angles, technical aspects and everyday usage of your camera, and some historical facts about the area of Kerkini lake.

The tour will be conducted by vehicle combined with easy-paced walking and small to medium elevation changes along the way. There will be some walking on uneven routes so make sure you wear appropriate shoes.

It is recommended that you bring a tripod, or ask us to bring one for you!

It is recommended to use wide-angle and telephoto lenses, at least 70-200, when shooting the Kerkini area and the birdlife. You can use polarizer or ND filters to enhance images of rivers and waterfalls (depending on the season).

In case of heavy rain, we will reschedule. If the rain starts and stops or it is just a drizzle we will use umbrellas or take a coffee break and continue when the rain subsides. Keep in mind that usually in the art of photography unstable weather can give us opportunities for the best photos.

If a child is in your group please send us an email or give us a call for special prices and accommodations.

*Wanting to explore and photograph more days? Perfect! We can add more days on this tour, visiting the area of Meteora and-or  Zagori, giving you more time to explore and photograph additional areas with spectacular landscapes! Contact us

Cancellation Policy

  • 100% refund if you cancel your reservation up to 7 DAYS prior to the start time of the tour
  • 50% refund if you cancel your reservation up to 3 DAYS prior to the start time of the tour
  • Cancellations received within 1 day of departure will incur a penalty of 100% per person.
  • Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit the entire payment.
  • Should Meteora Photo Tour need to cancel a tour, any payments will be fully refunded.