Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary power of visual storytelling! The winners of the prestigious Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) competition have been unveiled, showcasing breathtaking images that capture the essence of our diverse world.
From sacred rituals that unfold under the cover of night in Turkey to a split-second struggle for survival on the Patagonian steppe, these photographs transport us to places both familiar and exotic. And let's not forget the Nenet fishermen braving the extreme cold of the Siberian tundra - their daily labor is documented with stark beauty.
"The standard this year was truly outstanding," exclaimed judge Krystal Chryssomallis. "These photographs carry a depth of emotion and intention, reminding us of the extraordinary beauty and power that exists in our world when truly seen."
With over 20,000 submissions from amateur and professional photographers across 160 countries, the competition was fierce. Now in its 23rd year, TPOTY ensures authenticity by requiring finalists to submit original raw files, proving that AI had no part in their creation.
Let's dive into some of the winning images and discover the stories behind them, along with reflections from the talented photographers and esteemed judges.
Overall Winner: Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 - Athanasios Maloukos, Greece
Athanasios Maloukos takes the top prize with two captivating bodies of work exploring ritual, belief, and movement. His series captures the solemn Holy Week processions in Zamora, Spain, and the mesmerizing Sema ceremony of whirling dervishes in Konya, Turkey.
"These images are a testament to immense skill," said TPOTY founder Chris Coe. "Shooting on the edge, Maloukos masterfully uses shutter speed to freeze and blur movements, capturing a sense of rhythm and reverence that is incredibly difficult to achieve."
Judge Jeremy Hoare praised Maloukos's work as "one of the best in the 23-year history of these awards."
Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2025 - Jamie Smart, UK
Jamie Smart, just 10 years old, won the Young Travel Photographer award for her sensitive and carefully observed portfolio of flying foxes (fruit bats). Smart's photographs were taken both at a zoo hospital in Beerwah, Queensland, and in the wild, capturing the bats in flight.
"I was impressed by Jamie's visual storytelling and awareness," said judge Krystal Chryssomallis. "Her understanding of light, timing, and framing, particularly evident in the image of a bat in flight, is remarkable. Jamie demonstrates not only technical skill but also a rare sensitivity for using images to communicate meaning and tell compelling stories."
Smart shared her love for photography: "It helps me slow down, pay attention, and appreciate things many people might overlook. I hope my images inspire others, especially young people, to look closer at the natural world and feel inspired to care for it."
Portfolio Winner: Adventures & Experiences - Sara Bardotti, Italy
Sara Bardotti's black-and-white portfolio documents the daily lives of Nenet fishermen working in the extreme cold of the Siberian tundra. The images are direct and stark, focusing on hands, bodies, and movement, with the landscape serving as a hostile backdrop.
"The moment the fishes touch the ground, they succumb to the cold," Bardotti explained. "Out here, survival is swift, and reverence is quiet. The exhausted fishermen do not celebrate; they simply nod, acknowledging an ancient pact between man and lake."
Single Image Winner: Adventures & Experiences - Frederico Figueiredo Cerdeira, Brazil
Frederico Figueiredo Cerdeira's winning image offers an underwater perspective of a surfer gliding under a breaking wave at Cloudbreak Reef on Fiji's Tavarua Island. The turbulence and light are captured in a single, suspended moment.
"Every time a surfer dodges a wave, a unique world is created," Cerdeira said.
Portfolio Winner: Culture, Heritage & Beliefs - Mitchell Kanashkevich, Australia
Mitchell Kanashkevich's portfolio takes us inside a mahadara, a traditional Islamic school in Mauritania. Students memorize Qur'anic verses using lawh, wooden tablets inscribed with inked script. When a lesson is complete, the boards are washed clean, and the water, believed to contain baraka (blessing), is sometimes kept.
Single Image Winner: Culture, Heritage & Beliefs - Dashawatar Gopalkrishna Bade, India
Dashawatar Gopalkrishna Bade's winning image captures a moment of collective joy during the Pandharpur Wari pilgrimage in rural Maharashtra. Shot from a low angle, the photograph focuses on two Warkaris performing a traditional dance with bamboo sticks, their movements amplified against an open sky, while the community looks on.
"In the foreground, two men joyfully perform a traditional dance or mock stick-play," Bade explained. "Their clothes are smeared with mud, symbolizing the earthy, devotional spirit of the journey. In the background, a large group of Warkaris, dressed in traditional attire, sit in a semicircle, clapping and cheering. The entire scene radiates community, devotion, energy, and cultural richness, capturing the spirit of the Pandharpur Wari."
Single Image Winner: Landscape, Weather & Climate - Laetitia Guichard, France
Laetitia Guichard's photograph, taken near Ferté Alais, south of Paris, freezes a rare alignment of weather and aviation. A funnel cloud forms as a plane cuts through the turbulent sky.
"I travel to find the most beautiful pictures of the world," Guichard said.
Portfolio Winner: Wildlife, Sealife, Birdlife - Mohammad Murad, Kuwait
Mohammad Murad's colorful images follow Arabian desert foxes living unexpectedly close to residential neighborhoods in Kuwait City. The foxes navigate streets and gardens under the glow of streetlights.
"Habitat loss and human pressure had pushed these families to raise their young near the city," Murad explained. "This image was taken by the seaside, with colorful car and streetlights reflecting off the sea, while small flashlights created the rim light. I gained the trust of the mother and kits, and their curiosity made the experience unforgettable."
Single Image Winner: Wildlife, Sealife & Birdlife - Kevin Yu Shi, US
Kevin Yu Shi's photograph captures a puma mid-attack, attempting to bring down a guanaco on the windswept plains of Chile's Torres del Paine National Park.
"This image is a visceral moment in time," said judge Keith Berr. "Raw emotion and a life-and-death situation for survival, captured with a powerful, unique camera angle, subject, composition, and timing."
Shi added, "It's rare to see a puma hunting right in front of you. She had two cubs depending on her for food, and she was close to suffocating the guanaco. But the guanaco managed to escape - a tough cookie indeed!"
One Shot Winner: Green Planet - John Edwards, US
"I captured this image shortly after sunrise in Thailand's Sukhothai, whose name translates to 'Dawn of Happiness,'" Edwards said. "I noticed the perfect reflection of the Buddha's figure in the still water. To convey the spirit of the moment, I inverted the photograph, turning the reflection into an illusion of floating flowers and drifting plants above the Buddha."
One Shot Winner: Slow Travel - Teo Chin Leong, Singapore
"A lone corporate worker hurries across a large junction in Tokyo," said Teo Chin Leong. "This series depicts the overwhelming loneliness and hectic pace of living in a large city."
One Shot Winner: Travel Portraits - Rahsan Firtina, Turkey
Rahsan Firtina's portrait captures an elderly man in contemplation as a table tennis match plays out in the background. Shot in Hanoi, Vietnam, the image places its subject in the foreground, allowing the background to blur, reminding us that travel portraits often reveal as much through context as expression.
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