30 Remarkable Winning Photos from the 2025 Travel Photographer of the Year Awards

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Welcome to the winners’ gallery of the 2025 Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) Awards, where the world shows up loud, raw, and ridiculously beautiful. These 30 winning images don’t just document places—they feel like being there. Dust in the air, neon at dusk, silence in the mountains, chaos in the streets. This is travel photography at full throttle.

What makes TPOTY hit different? The judging is 100% anonymous. No names, no clout, no shortcuts. Judges only see the image—nothing else. Generative AI? Not allowed. Finalists must submit RAW files (or adjacent JPEGs) to prove the work is legit. If the files don’t check out, the image doesn’t win. Simple as that. The result is a collection that’s honest, hard-earned, and technically tight.

The 2025 entries raised the bar yet again. From epic landscapes to quiet human moments, the variety is wild—and the quality is straight fire. The judging panel poured serious time and care into selecting the winners, and it shows. Every photo earns its spot.

Run by photographers, for photographers, TPOTY is truly global. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what gear you shoot—amateur or pro, beginner or veteran, young or old—this stage is open to anyone with vision and grit. And while the prizes are sweet (thanks to generous sponsors), the real win is exposure. TPOTY puts photographers on the map through international media, books, exhibitions, and profiles.

Over the years, TPOTY winners have seen careers explode—new doors open, confidence skyrocket, and images travel the world. For some, it’s a dream realized. For others, it’s the spark that starts everything. Judge for yourself—these photos don’t miss.

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#1. Overall Winner – Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 by Athanasios Maloukos, Greece

Overall Winner - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 by Athanasios Maloukos, Greece - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#2. Overall Young winner – Young Travel Photographer of the Year by Jamie Smart, UK (age 10)

Overall Young winner – Young Travel Photographer of the Year by Jamie Smart, UK (age 10) - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#3. Young TPOTY – 14 & under Winner – Naomi Cech, Czech Republic/Czechia (age 11)

Young TPOTY – 14 & under Winner - Naomi Cech, Czech Republic/Czechia (age 11) - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#4. Young TPOTY – 14 & under runner up – Zoe Wacker, USA (age 12)

Young TPOTY – 14 & under runner up - Zoe Wacker, USA (age 12) - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#5. Young TPOTY – 15 to 18 Winner – Matei Maracineanu, Romania (age 15)

Young TPOTY – 15 to 18 Winner - Matei Maracineanu, Romania (age 15) - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#6. Young TPOTY – 15 to 18 Runner Up – Kabiur Rahman Riyad, Bangladesh (age 18)

Young TPOTY – 15 to 18 Runner Up - Kabiur Rahman Riyad, Bangladesh (age 18) - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#7. Travel Image of the Year – Dana Allen

Travel Image of the Year - Dana Allen - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#8. Portfolio – Adventures & Experiences Winner – Sara Bardotti, Italy

Portfolio – Adventures & Experiences Winner - Sara Bardotti, Italy	 - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#9. Portfolio – Adventures & Experiences Runner Up – Teo Chin Leong, Singapore

Portfolio – Adventures & Experiences Runner Up - Teo Chin Leong, Singapore - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#10. Portfolios – Culture, Heritage & Beliefs Winner – Mitchell Kanashkevich, Australia

Portfolios – Culture, Heritage & Beliefs Winner - Mitchell Kanashkevich, Australia - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

"Mauritanian children learning the quaran in an Islamic school called a mahadara. Adrar, Mauritania"

#11. Portfolios – Culture, Heritage & Beliefs Runner Up – Dashwater Gopalkrishna Bade, India

Portfolios – Culture, Heritage & Beliefs Runner Up - Dashwater Gopalkrishna Bade, India - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#12. Portfolios – Landscape, Weather & Climate Winner – Paul Sansome, UK

Portfolios – Landscape, Weather & Climate Winner - Paul Sansome, UK - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#13. Portfolios – Landscape, Weather & Climate Runner Up – Suliman Alatiqi, Kuwait

Portfolios – Landscape, Weather & Climate Runner Up - Suliman Alatiqi, Kuwait - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#14. Portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Winner – Mohammad Murad, Kuwait

Portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Winner - Mohammad Murad, Kuwait - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#15. Portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Joint Runner Up – Emma Parker, Australia

Portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Joint Runner Up - Emma Parker, Australia - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#16. Portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Joint Runner Up – Panagiotis Dalagiogos, Greece

Portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Joint Runner Up - Panagiotis Dalagiogos, Greece - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#17. Best single images in portfolios – Adventures & Experiences Winner – Frederico Figueiredo Cerdeira, Brazil

Best single images in portfolios – Adventures & Experiences Winner - Frederico Figueiredo Cerdeira, Brazil - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#18. Best single images in portfolios – Culture, Heritage & Beliefs Special Mention – Tittu Shaji Thomas, India

Best single images in portfolios – Culture, Heritage & Beliefs Special Mention - Tittu Shaji Thomas, India - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#19. Best single images in portfolios – Landscape, Weather & Climate Winner – Laetitia Guichard, France

Best single images in portfolios – Landscape, Weather & Climate Winner - Laetitia Guichard, France - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#20. Best single images in portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Winner – Kevin Yu Shi, USA

Best single images in portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Winner - Kevin Yu Shi, USA - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#21. Best single images in portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Special Mention – Emma Parker, Australia

Best single images in portfolios – Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife Special Mention - Emma Parker, Australia - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#22. One Shot – Green Planet Winner – John Edward, USA

One Shot – Green Planet Winner - John Edward, USA - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#23. One shot – Slow Travel Winner – Teo Chin Leong, Singapore

One shot – Slow Travel Winner - Teo Chin Leong, Singapore - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#24. One Shot – Travel in Monochrome Runner Up – Prashant Chacko, India

One Shot – Travel in Monochrome Runner Up - Prashant Chacko, India - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#25. One Shot – Travel Portraits Winner – Rahsan Firtina, Turkey

One Shot – Travel Portraits Winner - Rahsan Firtina, Turkey - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#26. Rising Talent Winner – Marusa Uranjek, Slovenia

Rising Talent Winner - Marusa Uranjek, Slovenia - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#27. Rising Talent Winner – Silke Hullmann, Germany

Rising Talent Winner - Silke Hullmann, Germany - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#28. Rising Talent Winner – Christopher Harrison, UK

Rising Talent Winner - Christopher Harrison, UK - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#29. Rising Talent Winner – Sue O’Connell, UK

Rising Talent Winner - Sue O’Connell, UK - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

#30. Rising Talent Winner – Liesel Geertsema, New Zealand

Rising Talent Winner - Liesel Geertsema, New Zealand - Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 Winners

In Summary

What is the Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) Awards?

  • A global photography competition run by photographers, celebrating the best travel images worldwide.

How are TPOTY photos judged?

  • Judging is anonymous. Judges don’t know the photographer’s identity until after results are finalized.

Is AI allowed in TPOTY?

  • No. Generative AI is strictly prohibited, and RAW files are required for final judging.

Who can enter TPOTY?

  • Anyone—amateur or professional, from anywhere in the world.

What do winners gain besides prizes?

  • Global exposure through exhibitions, media features, books, and international recognition.

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