Travel Photographer Of The Year: Beautiful, Inspiring Award-Winning Images

This year’s gorgeous winning images from the international Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY) are a celebration of the wealth and diversity of our planet’s peoples, cultures and landscapes and an inspiration to create our own visual journeys.

From intimate portraits to atmospheric landscapes and from infrared photos to iPhone shots capturing our changing planet and its inhabitants, this year’s winning Travel Photos were taken by both amateur and professional photographers from 56 nationalities.

The Travel Photographer of the Year awards, run by photographers for photographers, has been showcasing the best in travel photography for 22 years and has received entries from 157 countries.

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“So many images seen today are over-saturated, over-processed and even AI-generated,” said TPOTY founder Chris Coe. “A ‘less is more’ approach is often far more effective. It is therefore refreshing to judge images which demonstrate good camera craft and in-camera creativity – shot full-frame, or close to it, and with very little retouching.”

For the second year in a row, the overall honors have gone to a talented female photographer. American-born Piper Mackay lives in Kenya and has been exploring Africa’s wilds since 2004, capturing her journey through photography.

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She began with vibrant color imagery and, as technology evolved, has transitioned to a sophisticated monochromatic style, shooting in infrared. “Her portraits of African women are simply beautiful and exquisite in their detail, whilst her shots of giraffes in Kenya’s Maasai Mara are tremendously atmospheric,” the judges wrote.

The awards are judged anonymously by an international panel of imaging experts and the overall prize winner gets $2,500.

Overall Winner Travel Photographer

A Rendile girl, adorned in elaborate traditional attire, is covered in beads and ornaments symbolizing her readiness for marriage and attracting a husband. Her dress, rich in cultural significance, features layers of intricately woven beads, cowhide and other hand-crafted elements. With graceful poise, she holds a calabash, a symbol of nourishment and abundance.

A stunning Macubal tribewoman, adorned in traditional attire of beautiful African cloth, gently rests her hands on her pregnant belly as she stands in the stark landscape of Southern Angola.

The infrared image bathes the scene in an ethereal glow, with the deep contrast between the bright, glowing skin of the woman and the dark sky.

Young Travel Photographer

The first overall winner from China — 14-year-old Raymond Zhang — won the Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024 award for his portfolio of an old steam train and its drivers, photographed in the heart of the action.

“Raymond has created an impressive collection of images that vividly showcase the hard work and camaraderie involved in running a steam train,” commented the judges. “Each image tells a unique story and convey a sense of timeless dedication and the bond shared by those who work tirelessly behind the scenes.”

Raymond Zhang explains: “From the black smoke in the background, we can see that the environment in the coal mine was really harsh. However, those workers persisted in working in this place every day, which must have taken a toll on their health. I was moved by their persistence and their silent contribution.”

Faces, People, Cultures: Portfolio Photos

A regal portrait of a Turkana girl, elegantly draped in vivid beads that encircle her neck and form a radiant crown. The intricate craftsmanship of her decorations showcases the deep cultural traditions of her community.

Kneeling inside his modest thatched hut, an elder of the Wauga tribe plays his bamboo flute, a sacred instrument tied to his ancestral traditions. His weathered hands delicately hold the flute, producing melodies that echo the songs of a bird, learned during his manhood initiation.

The scene captures not only the essence of the elder’s deep connection to his heritage but also the simplicity and resilience of a way of life despite the passage of time. This image is a tribute to the enduring beauty of tradition and the profound spirituality of the Wauga people.

A Kuchi nomad from the border region of Afghanistan with Iran.

The Kuchis comprise an important part of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. For centuries, they have migrated across the country in search of seasonal pastures and milder weather. They were the main traders in Afghanistan, connecting South Asia with the Middle East.

A portrait of two monks playing the trumpet in the Bhutan’s Paro monastery captures the extraordinary length of their instruments.

Mundari people rest their cattle at camp in South Sudan.

An Indonesian Tenggerese horseman struggles to control his aggressive, energetic horse. The man, gripping tightly, is thrown to the ground, volcanic dust clinging to his face lined with years of toil.

Life here is unyielding, demanding strength and resilience from man and beast alike. For the Tenggerese, this is more than survival; it’s a way of life, etched in their culture. The horseman, undeterred, reflects a people whose enduring spirit thrives even amidst the challenges of this untamed terrain.

The Sahel is a vast transition zone between the African savannah and the Sahara desert. As it passes through northern Chad, it becomes a territory of desert landscapes frequently hit by the harmattan winds that carry sand haze. One of the most inhospitable regions of Africa, it is nevertheless inhabited by a multitude of ethnic groups and nomadic tribes that have adapted to these extreme conditions, preserving their culture almost intact.

In the photo, a woman and her son stand next to their hut, enveloped in a ghostly atmosphere produced by the sand haze.

Festivals And Celebrations

This vibrant moment from the Holi festival in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, reflects the essence of this celebration. Among a sea of red, a striking burst of yellow powder fills the air, symbolizing unrestrained joy and energy.

Holi is more than colors. It’s about unity, love, and releasing inhibitions. As people throw colours, laughter mixes with happy aggression, amplifying the excitement.

Wildlife, Nature, Underwater

Said Jenny Stock of this close-up macro shot of a crocodile’s eye. “Being up close to such a powerful animal will make your heart race. They move incredibly fast and you can’t take your eyes off them, because, for sure, they are watching you.”

A migratory flight of Canadian geese passes over Manhattan in a symbolic image of a flight of wild birds, free to move and evolve in the hostile urban environment of one of the largest megacities in the world. The paradox is that over the decades, New York City has become a place of permanent residence for some of these migratory birds.

In their characteristic chatter, these two flew over the Hudson River towards Liberty Park, one of the places where they gather peacefully to feed on the surrounding lawns.

A snowy owl travels from the Arctic to southern Ontario, Canada, gliding over snowy fields as it hunts for food.

A Pallas cat lies flat in the snow at first light, the best method for camouflage. The feline is covered in frost in the freezing -35º Celsius morning temperature in this region of Mongolia in winter and was likely out hunting all night.

Travel Photographer In Cities, Towns, Streets

Against the majestic Buddha Dordennma Statue in Thimphu, Bhutanese teens play street baseball, blending tradition and modernity. A reflection of Bhutan’s decade- long baseball journey, inspired by HRH Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck’s vision to nurture a sports culture.

The Aweer Market Bridge stands as one of Dubai’s most vital lifelines, constantly buzzing with relentless activity. Day and night, it serves as the artery for countless laborers who rely on it to cross the iconic Sheikh Zayed Road, navigating their daily routines. It’s a perfect embodiment of Dubai’s fast-paced lifestyle.

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In this serene paradise, a quaint church perches atop a hill surrounded by trees draped in snow. Wisps of mist weave through the landscape, creating a dreamlike quality to the image.

Women In World Culture

El Día de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead – in Oaxaca, Mexico, is a deeply spiritual and culturally rich celebration of life and death throughout the country. The elderly woman in the photo sits contemplatively among the graves adorned with bright orange marigolds, candles, and personal mementos.

In most parts of Pakistan, it would be unthinkable that girls wear jerseys and play football in public. But for the Wakhi women in the remote Karakoram Mountains, it’s a given.

Soccer brings joy to the girls, gives them self-confidence and has become part of everyday life. In this remote, mountainous area on the border with Afghanistan, women have freedoms that are unthinkable in many parts of the country.

Schoolgirls wearing their traditional costums at school the day before the Chilam Joshi festivals. The children weren’t in the mood for studying as they were excited by the festival which is characterised by vibrant and colorful traditional clothing, music, and dances.

Rising Travel Photographer Talents

The beautiful blue hues of the morning light slowly turn orange and yellow from the rising sun in the east, illuminating the world’s tallest building while thick fog rolling in from the desert covers the ground, creating the illusion of a city in the clouds.

Dmytro Geshengorin explains: “One day, waiting for a train in a city close to Dusseldorf, Germany, I noticed that the opposite platform looked like a theater stage with all the commuters having arranged themselves perfectly for a brief moment. This is the beauty of photography: some luck and awareness of one’s surroundings.”

Inca traditions form an integral part of the culture and daily life of its people. “I was deeply moved by the cultural reverence demonstrated by the family I lived with, towards their customs and ancestral past,” said Thibault Gerbaldi.

A profound sense of community permeates every aspect of life. The use of embroidery is not just decorative; it’s a vibrant expression of the rich heritage and traditions passed down through generations. These intricate designs often carry symbolic significance.

The Manabolo River in Madagascar has several caves on its limestone banks.

The light streams from the majestic windows of the old Battersea Power Station in London. “Making this image was an exercise in patience,” Jo Martindale remembers. “I waited for a moment with no other passersby, and could include only my daughter in the scene.”

This photo was taken in Karsha, a village surrounded by the mountains of the Zanskar Valley in Ladakhm India.

“At that moment, I was attending a festival where all the monks from the village’s two monasteries, both female and male, gather for a long Puja that lasts all afternoon,” Sofia Brogi writes. “The only complication was a sand storm that made it difficult for the younger monks to concentrate. Some sought shelter under tents made from sheets, while others played cricket with sticks and tennis balls. This monk decided walk away from the gathering place.”

People’s Choice Award

The winner in one category was not chosen by the judges: The People’s Choice award was decided by members of the public voting on the TPOTY website. This winning image, chosen from 19,895 public votes, was by Mauro de Bettio from Italy. It captures the wonderfully close relationship between an endangered pangolin and its devoted protector, who rescued it from a wildlife market in Nigeria.

The complete gallery of winning images of Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) 2024 can be see here.

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