10 Epic Locations for Travel Photography

Photo of Bled, Slovenia by Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash license

If you love photography and experiencing new places, you probably have a long list of places that you’d like to visit someday. And if you have a bucket list of travel photography destinations, this article may inspire you to add a few more.

Here you’ll find a list of 10 places that are well worth the trip for photographers. While there are plenty of places around the world that could be mentioned as top travel photography destinations, these 10 locations certainly deserve to be near the top.

→ Related reading: 7 Travel Photography Tips to Get Great Photos

1. Iceland

Photo of Goðafoss Waterfall, Iceland by Trevor Cole / Unsplash license

No list of top travel or landscape photography locations would be complete without including Iceland. This island nation has been a popular photography hot spot for years and every travel photographer should have Iceland near the top of their list of places to visit.

Iceland features amazing waterfalls, views of the northern lights, open roads surrounded by amazing scenery, and much more.

Some of the photographic highlights of Iceland include:

• Seljalandsfoss (waterfall)
• Skogafoss (waterfall)
• Sólheimasandur Plane Crash
• Reynisfjara Beach
• Svartifoss (waterfall)
• Vesturhorn Mountain
• Selfoss (waterfall)
• Kirkjufell

If you’re planning a trip, please see our guide to photographing Iceland, with contributions from Betty Sederquist.

2. Hawaii

Photo of Hawaii by Peter Vanosdall / Unsplash license

Hawaii has plenty to offer travelers and photographers. The Hawaiian islands feature active volcanoes, towering volcanic mountains, pristine beaches, rugged cliffs, and more. The most difficult thing about photographing Hawaii will be deciding how you want to spend your time and which islands to visit. To make your planning easier, please see our article on the best places to photograph in Hawaii, which includes details for each island.

Some of the top locations include:

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Haleakalā National Park
• Nā Pali Coast State Park
• The Road to Hana
• Akaka Falls State Park

3. New Zealand

Photo at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand by Peter Hammer / Unsplash license

When it comes to travel and photography, New Zealand is often overshadowed by Australia. But the truth is, New Zealand is an incredibly beautiful nation. New Zealand includes two main islands (the north and south islands), as well as about 600 smaller islands.

One visit to New Zealand and it will instantly become one of your favorite places in the world. Please see our showcase of the work of photographer Bryan Maltais to get a taste of what New Zealand has to offer.

Some of the top locations in New Zealand include:

• Mount Cook
• Mt. Taranaki
• Milford Sound
• Devil’s Punchbowl Falls
• Roy’s Peak
• Bridal Veil Falls

→ Related reading: Essential Gear and Accessories for Travel Photography

4. Canadian Rockies

Photo of Peyto Lake in the Canadian Rockies by Trevor Cole / Unsplash license

The Canadian Rockies is a large region to include on this list, but it would be hard to list one specific location within the region without excluding many other noteworthy destinations for photographers.

Many photos of the Canadian Rockies feature turquoise lakes and snow-covered mountains that are instantly recognizable. The most popular destinations within the Canadian Rockies include:

• Banff National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Yoho National Park
• The Icefields Parkway

5. Thailand

Photo of a monk in Thailand by Aaron Thomas / Unsplash license

Thailand offers travelers and photographers a mixture of beautiful landscapes, urban scenes, and stunning temples. Some of the beaches and bays of Thailand are well known to photographers and tourists, but there is much more to see than simply beaches.

Some of the top destinations include:

• Bangkok
• Chang Mai
• Phuket and the Phang Nga Bay
• Phi Phi Islands
• Khao Lak

6. Borneo

Photo of Borneo by Robert Keane / Unsplash license

Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, includes the nation of Brunei as well as parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Visiting Borneo will allow you to come away with beautiful photos of rugged landscapes and captivating wildlife.

Wildlife on Borneo includes:

• Orangutans
• Pygmy Elephants
• Bornean Slow Loris
• Proboscis Monkeys

Not only does Borneo feature amazing wildlife, but many of the species are native only to Borneo. The best way to see and photograph the wildlife is to take a guided tour, and there are many available.

7. Norway

Photo of Hamnøy, Norway by Yuriy Garnaev / Unsplash license

The picturesque fjords of Noway earn it a place on this list. From a landscape perspective, the towering cliffs and fjords are certainly something to behold. But the small towns and villages along the water can make your photos even more breathtaking. Take Senja Island as an example.

And, of course, don’t forget about the northern lights. Read the article Finding and Photographing the Northern Lights, written by Sheen Watkins following a trip to Norway.

Photographic highlights of Noway include:

• The Lofoten Islands
• Senja Island
• Trolltunga
• Hamnøy
• Reinevågen

8. Cinque Terre

Photo of Cinque Terre by Bjorn Snelders / Unsplash license

Cinque Terre is a coastal area of northwest Italy that includes 5 different villages. It is a popular spot with travelers and tourists and photos of Cinque Terre are usually easily recognizable.

Cinque Terre National Park encompasses these five coastal villages that are set on the rocky Mediterranean coastline.

→ Related reading: How to Keep Your Gear Safe While Traveling

9. Slovenia

Photo of Bled, Slovenia by Neven Krcmarek / Unsplash license

Slovenia may not get as much attention as some of the other places included on this list, but it is a dream location for photographers. This central European country offers beautiful mountains and glacial lakes that are just waiting to be photographed.

Some of the most noteworthy locations in Slovenia are:

• Lake Bled
• Škocjan Caves
• Great Soča Gorge
• Mostnica Gorge
• Triglav National Park
• Cobblers’ Bridge

10. Dubai

Photo of Dubai by David Rodrigo / Unsplash license

Dubai is a stunning city that is ideal for travel photography. You’ll find a spectacular skyline with unique architecture that rivals any city in the world for photographing cityscapes.

But in addition to the impressive skyline, Dubai also features a rugged dessert that you won’t find at any of the other destinations covered in this article. You can even take a hot air balloon to get a different vantage point.

Conclusion

Of course, there are many other places around the world that could have been included in this list. This article isn’t intended to be an all-inclusive list of great destinations, but if you love travel and photography, I’m sure you will be thrilled with the photos you are able to capture while visiting any of these locations.

All photos in this article are being used under the Unsplash photo license.