Hey there! Ready for a quick trip around the world without leaving your seat? We’re diving into the jaw-dropping pics that scooped top honors at the 2025 International Travel Photographer of the Year contest. From elephants tossing dust to folks chilling in faraway spots, these shots capture travel’s wild, moving, and sometimes downright quirky sides.
Bonus: The overall champ hails from Greece for the first time, with some serious “wow” shots from Turkey, Spain, and beyond. Let’s jump in and check out the cool stories behind the clicks!
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Elephant Dust Bath Like You’ve Never Seen: Dana Allen, USA
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Imagine a giant elephant just throwing dust on itself like it’s the hottest spa day ever. That's Dana Allen’s winning shot - pure wild-animal goodness!
Puma Hunt Drama in Chile: Kevin Yu Shi, USA
Torres del Paine, Chile
Here’s the deal: a female puma stalking dinner in Patagonia, but spoiler alert - the dinner (a guanaco) is a tough little survivor who escapes! Nature’s drama, caught right on time.
100-Year-Young Vietnamese Legend: Teo Chin Leong, Singapore
Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Meet this spry 100-year-old gentleman. His humble home tells stories, with a farmer’s straw hat and a trusty walking stick. He’s got moves and looks far younger than a century!
Tribal Mom With Serious Beads: Sue O'connell, UK
Hoque Market, Angola
A proud mom with her little one strapped on, decked out in dazzling beads – a fading but fabulous tribal tradition. The market hustle is backdrop to this colorful moment.
Holy Procession in Spain’s Midnight Magic: Athanasios Maloukas, Greece
Zamora, Spain
A lone dude walks barefoot through a candlelit plaza late at night. The quiet breaks with ghostly chanting as tradition wraps the night in mystery and awe. Moody vibes all around!
Eagle Whisperer in Mongolia: Katy Gomez Catalina, Spain
Altai Mountains, Mongolia
Meet Erbod and her majestic golden eagle. This is more than tradition – it’s a lifelong bond between a nomad and their winged buddy.
Mud-Dancing Men & Orange Flags: Dashawatar Gopalkrishna Bade, India
Bajirav Vihir, India
Two guys covered in mud throw down some epic moves with bamboo sticks and orange flags. It’s mud, dance, devotion, and a burst of good vibes all rolled into one!
Basket-Weaving Smile in Hanoi: Rahsan Firtina, Turkey
Hanoi, Vietnam
This woman’s smile is as bright as her bamboo baskets. Her blackened teeth? A super old-school beauty statement – elegance with a twist!

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