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The 2024 Travel Photographer of the Year awards puts on display the most amazing travel pics taken over the last year.
This year's winners pointed their lenses at everything from striking, memorable faces to sweeping landscapes, showing the beauty and changes on our planet.
For the second year, a woman has won the top prize. American photographer Piper Mackay, the 2024 winner, used infrared photography to create stunning and detailed portraits of African women and atmospheric images of giraffes in Kenya.
Check out some of the best photographs...
Piper Mackay, USA
A Rendile girl, adorned in elaborate traditional attire, is covered in beads and ornaments, symbolising her readiness for marriage and attracting a husband.
Her dress, rich in cultural significance, features layers of intricately woven beads, cowhide, and other handcrafted elements.
She holds a calabash, a symbol of nourishment and abundance, with graceful poise.
Captured in infrared, the surreal tones of the desolate environment amplify her presence as she stands alone amidst the emptiness as a symbol of resilience and grace.
Photograph: Piper Mackay/tpoty.com
Location: Loiyangalani, Northern Kenya.
A Maasai giraffe, a symbol of Africa's wild beauty, strides gracefully across the golden Mara Plains of Kenya.
Its jagged, patterned coat contrasts with the vast skies.
This was photographed in infrared from a low angle to add more drama to a simple image.
Photograph: Piper Mackay/tpoty.com
Location: Maasai Mara, Kenya.
Winner, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
Raymond Zhang, 14, China
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.
Photograph: Raymond Zhang/tpoty.com
Location: Sandaoling coal mine, Hami city, Xinjiang province, China
I took this picture during the workers' short break.
I could only take a snapshot with my phone since they really didn't have much break time during their work.
In the background, you can see the red traditional artwork which symbolises the Chinese New Year.
Although the workers had to be at this harsh site and not with their family, they remained positive toward life.
Photograph: Raymond Zhang/tpoty.com
Location: Sandaoling coal mine, Hami city, Xinjiang province, China
Winner, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, 14 years and under
Leonardo Murray, 12, Australia
Leonardo is a student from Kiama Public School in Australia.
He shot his winning images on a trip around Namibia with his father, who is a professional photographer.
Photograph: Leonardo Murray/tpoty.com
Location: Namibia sand dunes.
Runner-Up, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, 14 years and under
Jamie Smart, 9, UK
Gannets enjoy a quiet moment together'.
Photograph: Jamie Smart/tpoty.com
Location: Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, England
This photo was taken at 4:30 am!
We made the effort to get up really early to catch the sunrise at the cliffs.
The colours were changing rapidly and I was trying to be patient waiting for a gannet to fly across the rising sun in the right position for this shot!
Photograph: Jamie Smart/tpoty.com
Location: Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, England
Highly Commended, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, 14 years and under
Sachin Prakash, 14, UK
A beautiful pink-hued image accurately depicting the 'city that never sleeps', with a diverse crowd of tourists, residents returning from jobs, and those there for the thrill of it; all by 42nd Avenue in Times Square, one of New York City's busiest streets.
Photograph: Sachin Prakash/tpoty.com
Location: New York City, New York, USA
With many steam chimneys across New York City, especially across the streets, I was able to capture the beauty that food brings people, bright flashy marketing in Times Square, and a puff of steam, which powerfully came together to form this image.
Photograph: Sachin Prakash/tpoty.com
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Winner, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, Ages 15-18
Maksymilian Paczkowski, 17, Poland
June brings sunny, cool sunrises that make early rising, even at 4:30 am, worthwhile.
One of the later-singing birds is the ortolan bunting, once common near residential areas but now rarely seen.
Returning from a photo-session by the water, I heard a few singing in a field - finally an opportunity to photograph them on eye level.
The next day, before dawn, I was already waiting for them, camouflaged.
Sunny June sunrises created beautiful light, but during my closest encounter, a rare small cloud softened the light, highlighting his stunning colours.
Photograph: Maksymilian Paczkowski/tpoty.com
Location: Kórnik, Poland
I was photographing shorebirds and rails at a puddle in the middle of reeds.
On my third day, a kingfisher sat right in front of me.
He changed positions several times, allowing me to take a photo, as he was taking off, and then sat up on a reed.
Photograph: Maksymilian Paczkowski/tpoty.com
Location: Środa Wielkopolska, Poland.
Runner-Up, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, Ages 15-18
Vlad Paulet, 18, Romania
Last year I had the chance to enjoy this season in a place which was on my bucket list for quite some time.
Cuejdel Lake, located in Neamt County, Romania, is one of the most unique and beautiful places in my country, especially during this time of the year.
The wide colour palette of the trees reflected in the lake creates a beautiful view and, if you are lucky enough, you can also have a little fog on the surface of the water.
Photograph: Vlad Paulet/tpoty.com
Location: Cuejdel Lake, Romania
On the shores of Cuejdel Lake, Neamt County.
Photograph: Vlad Paulet/tpoty.com
Location: Cuejdel Lake, Romania
Highly Commended, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2024, Ages 15-18
Zheng Zhiyu, 16, China
I was en route to my grandmother's house to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Passing by Changzhou Cultural Square, I was immediately attracted by these landmark buildings.
When I walked among the buildings, I noticed a visually striking composition.
However, because I didn't have a tripod, I had to rest my arms on the railing.
In order to perfectly intersect these endpoints of the upper and lower triangles, I spent over an hour overcoming hand tremors and visual deviations.
I stayed in these buildings for a whole afternoon, taking pictures for about four hours, until I received a call from my grandmother urging us to go back and have a reunion dinner.
Photograph: Zheng Zhiyu/tpoty.com
Location: Changzhou, China
Winner, Faces, People, Cultures Portfolio
Maricruz Sainz de Aja, Mexico
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 song of the 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 that persists despite the passage of time.
This image is a tribute to the enduring beauty of tradition and the profound spirituality of the Wauga people.
Photograph: Maricruz Sainz de Aja/tpoty.com
Location: Simbu Province, Central Highlands, Papua New Guinea.
Two Wauga elders stand together, among the very few who remain as guardians of their tribe's traditions.
Their weathered faces, marked by deep wrinkles, reflect a lifetime of wisdom and resilience.
Adorned with intricate feathered headdresses and covered in black mud, they represent a culture at risk of fading.
The elder in the foreground gazes thoughtfully, bearing the responsibility of preserving their legacy.
Behind him, the second elder mirrors the same quiet strength, their shared presence a symbol of the community's enduring bonds.
This powerful image captures the fragility of their cultural rituals, reminding us of the importance of safeguarding traditions before they are lost forever.
Photograph: Maricruz Sainz de Aja/tpoty.com
Location: Simbu Province, Central Highlands, Papua New Guinea
Runner-Up, Faces, People, Cultures Portfolio
Trevor Cole, Ireland
A Kuchi nomad from the border region of Afghanistan with Iran.
The Kuchis constitute an important part of Afghanistan's cultural heritage.
For centuries, they have migrated across the country in a search of seasonal pastures and milder weather.
They were the main traders in Afghanistan, connecting South Asia with the Middle East.
Photograph: Trevor Cole/tpoty.com
Location: Herat, Western Afghanistan
Highly Commended, Faces, People, Cultures Portfolio
Ignacio Palacios, Spain/Australia
Mundari people in their cattle camp'.
Photograph: Ignacio Palacios/tpoty.com
Location: South Sudan
Portrait of two monks playing their hornst.
Photograph: Ignacio Palacios/tpoty.com
Location: Paro Monastery, Bhutan
Best Single Image, Faces, People, Cultures Portfolio
Partha Pratim Roy, India
On the windswept sands of Mount Bromo, an Indonesian 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.
Photograph: Partha Pratim Roy, India/tpoty.com
Location: Mount Bromo, Jawa Timur, East Java, Indonesia
You can see all the winning entries at www.tpoty.com.
Published with kind permission from The Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY)