I absolutely LOVE Instagram. I was seriously late to the Instagram party, I must admit, only joining in June of last year. I always thought it was for sad people who only uploaded photos of their breakfast or cat selfies. I could not have been more wrong.
In the short few months since I joined, I have become totally addicted and really love the levels of engagements I have with my followers. I have even met up with total strangers I met through Instagram on my travels and if you love photography, I highly recommend you seek out the best Instagrammers in the area you are travelling to and organise to meet up for a photo tour. Your Instagram followers will thank you!
As I am finally started to make a name for myself (slowly but surely) on Instagram, I thought I would share with you a few of my favourite Instagram accounts in the area of adventure and the great outdoors. People who will make you want to run from your office and climb the nearest mountain or dive into the nearest sea. People who seem to be one with nature, have a love for animals and have a passion for sharing their adventures with the world.
I have been very fussy when curating this list, only picking accounts which I myself follow and which I believe you will feel compelled to follow the minute you land not their profile page.
Here are my top 25 adventure travel photographers on Instagram, who will take you on the most exciting journey of your life. if you too want top get paid to travel the world, read my travel blogging guide here.
25. Janet Newenham
I could hardly write a post about top adventure travel photographers and not include myself…especially now that travel photography has become my biggest passion of late. While my photography really depends on my destination, from the emerald green water of Koh Phi Phi Islands in Thailand to the tea plantations of Munnar in India, I am all about bringing as much colour as possible into the shot. 
24. Angela Kaja Ferro
Angela is a landscape photographer who has just spent the last few months travelling around New Zealand, photographing the country’s stunning mountains and dramatic landscapes. Her next stop is Switzerland so you can expect to see some stunning green mountains and high peaks one the next few weeks. I absolutely love how she captures the atmosphere of the moment and can take incredible photos regardless of the weather!
23. Xpat Matt
Matt Gibson, known online as Xpat Matt, is an award winning adventure travel photographer and travel writer currently based in Asia. Some of the photos featured below were taken on a recent trip he took to Bhutan and you can see more of his stunning photos on his
22. Hearts My Backpack
I fell in love with Sylvia’s Instagram the first time I came across it. Her photos from her life in Norway are beautiful and would make even the biggest sun worship want to move to colder climates! I love she explored over 70 countries around the world but in the end her heart led her to the snow capped mountains of Norway. Be sure to check out hertravel blogtoo.
21. The Broke Backpacker
Will Hatton, The Broke Backpacker, is living an extraordinary life of adventure and if you follow his Instagram, you too can be part of the fun. He is currently hitchhiking his way from Europe all the way across Asia, stopping off in lesser visited destinations such as Pakistan, which he seems to have fallen in love with. This account is a must follow for any keen adventurers.
20. My Life’s A Movie
Be it solo camping adventures, hiking to Machu Picchu, or exploring emerald caves on a stand up paddle board, Alyssa Ramos know how to live an adventurous life regardless of the destination. She is a huge inspiration for other girls trying to find the courage to travel solo and her GoPro shots are nothing short of spectacular. Be sure to check out her shots from Norway and Finland when she wen in search of the Northern Lights.
19. A Broken Backpack
While fairly new to the blogging world, Mel is kicking ass on Instagram. It helps that she spent the last year living in one of the most beautiful and picturesque countries in thew world (New Zealand) and that she also hails from yet another country known for it’s great outdoors; Canada. Mel was one of the fearless females I included in my list ofTop Female Travel Blogger On The Rise
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18. One Step 4Ward
If you don’t know this man you must be hiding under a rock. While his Instagram might not have as many mountain and landscape photos as the others on this list, he is the most well-travelled person I know (and one of the most well-travelled people in the world) and for this alone I am totally hooked to his account. He will take you on adventures to countries you did not know exist and I love when he includes photo of his travels with his Mum, such as on a recent trip to Afghanistan!
17. Getting Stamped
I have heard so much about these guys over the last year but I am ashamed to say I have only recently started following their travels a little closer. Their travel photography is to die for and, like me, they love to inject colour into their Instagram profile whenever they can. To see the behind the scenes action, you can follow their journey on Snapchat (username: gettingstamped), where they are also making strides!
16. Travelling Weasels
I had the pleasure of meeting Laura and Tanbay on a recent stay
travel blogger meet up in Krabi and was blown away by the story of how they met (true soulmates!) and the manner in which they are living their lives. These two wanderlust’s travel the world with ease by finding housesitting gigs in the most beautiful places. They are currently exploring the Philippines and will be wandering around South East Asia for the next few months before heading to their next house sit in Europe.
15. Polkadot Passport
Nicola Easterly is the talented lady behind Polkadot Passport (no doubt a hint at how many stamps she has in that passport of hers!!) and her photos are simply incredible. This is the type of account you could get totally lost in and there is no way you can click off the page without following. I especially love her creativity and the way she always tried to put herself into the shot.
14. Land Lopers
I have to admit my slight obsession with Africa and all things African has probably helped me fall head over heels in love with the Matt Long’s Instagram account. A blogger and travel photographer, Matt’s speciality is experiential luxury and a look at his photos will surely have you emptying your savings to book that dream African safari!
13. The Bosnian Aussie
I have been following Ariana for quite some time know and am totally in love with not only her beautiful photos but the style and grace with which she takes them. This girl is one of the only people I know who can climb a mountain and still look like she stepped out of a fashion magazine.
12. Hippie In Heels
While Rachel from Hippie in Heels is better known for being a luxury travel blogger with killer style, nobody I have come across on Instagram has conveyed the beauty of India like she does and for that alone she deserves a spot on this list. From posing high up in the tea plantations of Munnar to exploring the remote North, this is one girl who knows how to sell a destination! Check out theinterview I did with her here
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11. Anna Everywhere
When a girl has quite literally been everywhere, you can’t help but want to be part of the adventure. From Mexico to Amsterdam, Poland to Brazil, Anna’s Instagram is full of such colourful photos from her world travels that she would make even the laziest arm chair traveller want to get up and get out.
10. The Planet D
Dave and Deb from The Planet D are probably the most famous travel bloggers in the world and for good reasons. Not only are they super talented writers, their travel photography is some of the best I have ever seen in their life. Every picture explodes with colour and definition and you can’t help but want to check in on them every day to see what they are up to. A true inspiration to me and many others.
9. TripHackr
What makes a good photographer great is his ability to take a photo of a place or a moment on time that has been photographed millions of times, yet is able to look at it with a totally fresh perspective. I think Clint Johnston proves himself time and time again, and his recent photos of New York from the air are just another example of his insane skill.
8. Travel Tom Tom
I met Tom on my travels through Thailand a few weeks ago and when I went to check out his Instagram it’s safe to say I was blown away. He was in the same places as me, visiting the same beaches and same hotels, yet he had the ability to capture these moments (and a camera phone no less!!) with a level of skill I may never achieve. This is one Instagrammer that is on the way UP.
7. Travel Telling
I met Matthias from Travel Telling while ona blogger trip to Kerala
, India and have since then loved closely following his travel adventures on Instagram. Matthias is an advocate of slow travel, something that make his Instagram that much more interesting.
6. Expert Vagabond
Matthew Karsten is another famous travel blogger who was also gifted with the ability to take stunning photographs wherever he goes. I love the way he can make what might have been a slightly boring image interesting by adding in a prop, such as a mobile phone or his bicycle. Definitely an account to follow!
5. Globetrotting Ginger Travel
Oh Aubrie, have I ever told you I might actually be in love with your Instagram account? With her long, flowing red hair, this girl knows how to put herself in the shot and turn a good image into a great one. Her photos make me want to put on my hiking boots and wander for months on end through the United States best National Parks. True earth porn!
4. Travel Dave Uk
Here’s a funny fact. My number 4 and number 2 on this list both have something in common which they may not know. They both won pretty big competitionS with an old social network called Bebo, an event which I believe changed both their lives and helped steer the direction of their careers. I have been following Dave since his Bebo adventures and am now totally crushing on his Instagram photos.
3. Patricia Schussel Gomes
I met Patricia on the Kerala Blog Express back in February and from the moment I saw her take her first photo, I knew I was in the company of greatness. Despite being on a trip of 30 bloggers, who were all clicking away furiously, Patricia was somehow able to take a 100% unique (and stunning) image on every day of our trip that far outweighed the rest of our photos put together. A natural born photographer.
2. Allan Dixon
I met Allan almsot 12 years ago when we both attended the same University in Dublin and have loved watching him achieving all his goals. He has made a huge name for himself as an adventure and outdoor photographer and is also dipping his toes in the 360 video sphere. Now known as a modern day ‘Dr Dolittle’, Allan’s animal selfie photos went viral earlier this year and were featured on newspapers around the world as well as by Instagram themselves. He has just moved to Queenstown, New Zealand so you can expect plenty of stunning mountain images from now on.
1. Christian McLeod
I came across Christian’s Instagram account last year and have totally fallen in love with. it is one of the only accounts that I check religiously every day for new images and every time one is uploaded I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming. The images of frozen rivers in Iceland and a man free diving between 2 continents are by far my favourites, but I am sure you will all have your own favourites once you’ve had a look around. The colours, the light, the angles, the composition…this guy is just killing it with the outdoor adventure and ocean photography. A MUST FOLLOW.
Phew, what a list! How many of these guys do YOU follow?
Are you looking to become a top travel blogger and to start making money from your blog and Instagram? If you are feeling a bit lost and don’t know where to start, I recommend signing up to a professional travel blogging course, such as Travel Blog Success.