The Travel Photography Award 2025 is organized by The Independent Photographer – an international platform for fine art and travel photography, which organizes their prestigious annual awards in the field of travel photography. This year's jury is Michael Yamashita, a renowned photographer of National Geographic. The highlight of the season is the diversity in storytelling: creative perspectives, exquisite techniques and a sensitivity to the spirit of travel – where experience and beauty go hand in hand.
From camels crossing a frozen lake in Mongolia, colorful saris on the banks of an Indian river, to children's laughter in Havana or buffaloes crossing a stone bridge in Guangxi... the works not only depict the colorful beauty of the world, but also remind us that: travel is a journey to reach simple yet majestic moments.
Join Travellive to admire impressive moments through the lens of world photographers:
"Journey of the Ice Nomads" - A caravan of Kazakh camels crosses a blue icy lake in Mongolia during their winter migration, demonstrating the power of survival and connection with harsh nature. Photo: Alessandro Bergamini.
"Water Bearers of Agra" - Three women dressed in colorful saris carry clay pots of water from the river at dawn, with the majestic Taj Mahal reflected in the distance. Photo: Erhan Coral.
"Nizwa Market" - A slow-shutter exposure of Oman's bustling local market of Nizwa, with its distinct sections: livestock, crafts, seafood, fruit, textiles and dates, depicting the vibrant life of Arabia. Photo: Andy Yee.
"Colors of Heritage" - In the green alleys of Jodhpur, a woman in a red sari sits quietly with two men with elaborate mustaches and traditional costumes, creating a picture of Rajasthan's unique culture. Photo: Daniel Garzon.
For the Buddhist community, Boudhanath stupa in the Kathmandu Valley is considered one of the most sacred places in the world. Located in the heart of the Tibetan quarter, this place constantly radiates a stream of energy from the footsteps of pilgrims circling the iconic white stupa in a clockwise direction. Under the compassionate gaze of the gilded Buddha's eyes, each person performs "kora" every day - at least three times - as a way to wash away impurities and accumulate good karma for the present and future lives. Boudhanath is both a majestic spiritual place and blends into the daily life of the bustling surrounding neighborhood. Photo: Florence Lepavec.
"Connecting Faiths", Prayagraj, India - The grandeur of the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj is unparalleled. This year, 30 pontoon bridges were erected, up from 22 in 2019, a testament to the meticulous preparations and extraordinary efforts to accommodate millions of devotees. The floating bridges span the sacred confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers, facilitating the smooth flow of pilgrims. Each bridge is a lifeline where faith meets engineering, paving a safe path for the spiritual journey across the sacred Sangam. Photo: Shreenivas Yenni.
“Hand Play” – On the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, a group of women are engrossed in an intimate gesture, grooming each other’s faces. The elegance of their posture and the strange dance of their intertwined hands and arms make it difficult to distinguish who they are. Photo: Garcia.
"Kambala Bull Racing" - A man stands on a wooden plank, pulled by a pair of bulls, racing through the mud, depicting the atmosphere of the traditional bull racing festival in Karnataka, India. Photo: Jens Benninghofen.
"Reef Keeper" - A Bajau Laut man sits on a small boat anchored on a coral reef off Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. Photo: Gilles Auroux.
"The Road" - A wooden cart pulled by a pair of oxen carries two boys through a dusty road, flanked by rows of giant baobab trees – the symbol of Madagascar. Photo: Antonio Alexandru.
"Untitled" - Children frolic on the streets of Havana, where walls are stained with time, car exhaust and harsh sunlight are still present. Despite poverty, clear laughter echoes like the rhythm of life, lighting up hope in a Cuban city full of contradictions. Photo: Martina Atanassova.
"Fragile Moment" - The last snow of summer melts away amidst the colorful landscape of Landmannalaugar, Iceland, surreal and moving nature. Photo: Jack Johnson.
"Fanjingshan Mountain", Guizhou, China - A natural heritage and also a Buddhist holy land, appears both majestic and sacred, amidst the vast sky and clouds. This is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in China, as if coming out of a fantasy movie but existing in real life. This place is famous for its diverse ecosystem, being the home of the rare snub-nosed monkey and more than 2,000 species of plants, many of which are endemic. Photo: Fabio Nodari
“Ice World” – The International Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China is an annual winter event and also the world’s largest ice and snow festival. Photo: Mikael Wardhana.
"The Man and the Buffalo" - A farmer herds his buffalo across the Huixian stone bridge, amidst the majestic karst valley of this rural landscape of southern China. Photo: Daniele Bellucci.
