Top 20 Travel Influencers to Watch This Year

Introduction
How Top Travel Influencers Shape Modern Exploration
20 Travel Influencers to Watch This Year
Why Following Travel Influencers Matters
Common Challenges and Misconceptions
When Travel Influencer Content Is Most Useful
Best Practices for Learning from Travel Creators
Practical Use Cases and Real-World Examples
Emerging Trends in Travel Influencer Culture
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Disclaimer

Introduction

Travel content has evolved from glossy brochures to immersive, real-time storytelling driven by creators. By the end of this guide, you will understand who leading travel influencers are, how they shape our choices, and how to use their content more thoughtfully.

How Top Travel Influencers Shape Modern Exploration

The primary keyword for this article is top travel influencers. These creators blend storytelling, photography, and video to make destinations feel accessible. They influence where people go, which brands they trust, and how they budget, plan, and experience travel worldwide.

Key Roles Travel Influencers Play in the Tourism Ecosystem

Travel creators do far more than post beautiful photos. They inform decisions, highlight overlooked places, and often partner with tourism boards and brands. Understanding their different roles helps you evaluate content quality, authenticity, and relevance to your own travel goals.

Inspiration drivers who spark early wanderlust and destination awareness.
Practical guides sharing itineraries, packing lists, and budgeting tips.
Advocates for sustainable, ethical, and inclusive travel experiences.
Brand partners amplifying hotels, airlines, and local tour operators.
Community builders fostering conversation and advice among followers.

20 Travel Influencers to Watch This Year

This curated collection highlights widely recognized creators across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and blogs. Follower counts and trends change frequently, so consider this a directional overview rather than a ranking by size or performance.

Murad Osmann

Known for the iconic “Follow Me To” series, Murad blends fashion, architecture, and travel into cinematic visuals. Primarily active on Instagram, his work showcases luxurious destinations, creative framing, and strong storytelling through consistent photographic style.

Jack Morris (DoYouTravel)

Jack Morris built his audience with dreamy, warm-toned imagery of beaches, islands, and remote escapes. He shares on Instagram and occasionally YouTube, often focusing on aspirational yet attainable experiences, boutique stays, and photogenic locations around the globe.

Lauren Bullen (Gypsea_Lust)

Lauren is recognized for soft, pastel-toned images and couple travel narratives. Her content blends lifestyle, fashion, and destination discovery, with a strong presence on Instagram and blogging, appealing to travelers who love aesthetics and curated itineraries.

Drew Binsky

Drew focuses on visiting every country while sharing people-centered stories. Most active on YouTube and Facebook, he highlights culture, food, and local experiences. His videos often break stereotypes, prioritize human connection, and offer practical tips for budget-conscious travelers.

Eva Zu Beck

Eva stands out for slow travel narratives and offbeat destinations. Her YouTube channel dives deep into culture, overland adventures, and personal reflections on solo travel. She emphasizes immersive experiences, challenging routes, and thoughtful, introspective storytelling.

Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily)

Nuseir gained fame through one-minute daily videos focusing on global stories. While broader than pure travel, his content spans destinations, cultures, and social topics. He posts mainly on Facebook and YouTube, spotlighting inspiring people and unusual places worldwide.

The Bucket List Family

This family of five shares family-oriented travel across YouTube and Instagram. Their content emphasizes kid-friendly adventures, long-term travel with children, and meaningful experiences. They are especially relevant for parents considering worldschooling or extended trips with young kids.

Nadine Sykora (Hey Nadine)

Nadine is one of YouTube’s early travel creators, known for practical advice, packing tips, and destination guides. Her tone is approachable and humorous, making solo travel, tours, and budget planning feel manageable for newer travelers and students.

Matthew Karsten (Expert Vagabond)

Matthew focuses on adventure travel, road trips, and photography-rich storytelling. His blog and Instagram showcase hiking, diving, and off-the-beaten-path explorations. He also offers in-depth guides, gear recommendations, and long-form articles for serious adventure seekers.

Oneika Raymond (Oneika the Traveller)

Oneika is a travel journalist and television host whose content emphasizes diversity, culture, and women traveling solo. Active across TV, Instagram, and blogging, she highlights urban getaways, cultural experiences, and issues around race and representation in travel.

Christian LeBlanc (Lost LeBlanc)

Christian’s YouTube and Instagram content is known for cinematic editing and tropical destinations. He offers travel filmmaking advice, budget breakdowns, and destination guides, often focused on Southeast Asia, island escapes, and lifestyle entrepreneurship around travel.

Kara and Nate

Kara and Nate chronicle country counting, van life, and unique accommodations. Their YouTube channel mixes challenges, points travel, luxury stays, and quirky experiences. They appeal to viewers who enjoy upbeat storytelling and creative travel goals.

Jessica Nabongo

Jessica became the first documented Black woman to visit every country. Her Instagram and writing emphasize representation, local communities, and responsible tourism. She highlights underappreciated destinations and encourages travelers to move beyond typical tourist routes.

Kiersten Rich (The Blonde Abroad)

Kiersten creates women-focused travel content with detailed blog guides. Her work covers solo adventures, group tours, photography, and style. She is especially known for resources geared toward first-time solo female travelers and study abroad audiences.

Matt Kepnes (Nomadic Matt)

Matt helped define the budget travel blogging space. His website offers deeply researched destination guides, booking advice, and cost-saving strategies. He emphasizes long-term travel, backpacking, and making trips more affordable without sacrificing meaningful experiences.

Louis Cole (FunForLouis)

Louis built a community on daily vlogs featuring travel, adventure, and positivity. While his posting cadence has shifted, he remains influential for cinematic drone footage, road trips, and social projects. His audience appreciates optimistic messaging and collaborative projects.

Stephen and Jess (Flying The Nest)

This Australian couple shares cinematic travel vlogs and family adventures. Their YouTube channel mixes destination guides, behind-the-scenes life updates, and now parenting while traveling. They focus on accessible experiences, wildlife encounters, and photogenic stays.

Selena Taylor (Find Us Lost)

Selena’s content is strongly aesthetic, with curated itineraries across Europe, North America, and beyond. Her blog and Instagram feature road trip routes, photo spots, and boutique hotels, catered to travelers seeking photogenic journeys and romantic getaways.

Chris Burkard

Chris is a photographer renowned for cold-water surf, remote landscapes, and adventure expeditions. His Instagram and books highlight Iceland, the Arctic, and dramatic wilderness. He inspires travelers who prioritize nature, endurance, and environmental awareness over typical resort escapes.

Janni Deler

Janni blends fashion, lifestyle, and travel across social platforms. Her content spotlights European cities, ski trips, and beach destinations. She appeals to audiences seeking a mix of family life, style inspiration, and aspirational but recognizable travel experiences.

Why Following Travel Influencers Matters

Following influential creators can significantly improve how you dream, plan, and execute trips. Their work can save time, reduce risk, and introduce you to ideas, routes, and perspectives you might never encounter through traditional guidebooks or brochures.

Discover emerging destinations and neighborhoods before they trend widely.
Learn practical tips about visas, safety, packing, and budgeting.
Find authentic food spots, local guides, and small businesses.
See realistic visuals of weather, crowds, and seasonal conditions.
Gain confidence through watching others navigate similar challenges.

Common Challenges and Misconceptions

Although travel creators provide immense value, their content can also mislead if not interpreted carefully. Understanding limitations, bias, and the economics of influencing helps you use their work as reference material instead of absolute truth.

Highly edited photos may obscure crowds, weather, or real conditions.
Sponsored posts can skew opinions toward specific hotels or products.
Personal travel styles differ; luxury or extreme budget may not fit you.
Constant travel online can create unrealistic expectations of frequency.
Risky behavior may be normalized without context or adequate safety guidance.

When Travel Influencer Content Is Most Useful

Influencer content is particularly helpful at specific stages of your travel decision-making. Recognizing when to use it for inspiration, comparison, or final checks helps you avoid overreliance and make more grounded choices that suit your budget and preferences.

Early brainstorming when you are open to multiple destinations.
Comparing seasonal experiences, like winter versus summer visits.
Visualizing specific hotels, trains, or local experiences before booking.
Checking recent stories for up-to-date conditions and restrictions.
Finding niche experiences, such as vegan food tours or hiking routes.

Best Practices for Learning from Travel Creators

You can derive far more value from top travel influencers by approaching their content strategically. Instead of passively scrolling, treat their channels as research tools and cross-check what you see with multiple sources and your own constraints.

Follow a mix of budget, mid-range, and luxury-focused creators.
Prioritize influencers who disclose sponsorships and partnerships clearly.
Save posts and videos into destination-specific collections for planning.
Compare creator advice with official tourism, visa, and safety resources.
Observe how recent content is to assess relevance and accuracy.
Engage respectfully with questions in comments or direct messages.
Adapt itineraries to your pace rather than copying day-by-day schedules.
Note recurring recommendations across multiple creators as strong signals.

Practical Use Cases and Real-World Examples

Different travelers use influencer content in distinct ways. Whether you are planning a short city break or long-term digital nomad life, creators can provide templates, warnings, and ideas that meaningfully shape your choices and expectations.

Couples referencing Selena Taylor for scenic road trips and photo locations.
Budget travelers using Nomadic Matt for hostel recommendations and transit tips.
Families modeling extended travel logistics after the Bucket List Family.
Adventure seekers drawing inspiration from Chris Burkard’s expeditions.
Solo women following The Blonde Abroad and Oneika for safety perspectives.

Emerging Trends in Travel Influencer Culture

The travel creator landscape continues to change as platforms evolve and audiences demand greater transparency. Several trends are shaping how influencers produce content and how followers evaluate their authenticity and value.

Shift Toward Slow and Sustainable Travel

More influencers now emphasize longer stays, fewer flights, and deeper cultural immersion. This responds to climate concerns and burnout from constant movement. Expect more storytelling around trains, local homestays, and off-season visits that reduce both environmental and crowd impact.

Rise of Niche and Micro Influencers

A growing number of creators specialize in tight niches like wheelchair-accessible travel, plant-based food journeys, or specific regions. Although their audiences are smaller, engagement can be higher, and advice more detailed and tailored for particular communities.

Greater Transparency Around Sponsorships

Regulations and audience expectations are pushing creators to clarify paid work. Clear labeling of hosted stays, affiliate links, and brand collaborations helps followers interpret recommendations and make better-informed decisions about products and destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find travel influencers that match my style?

Search by destination, budget level, or travel type on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Explore hashtags, check who your favorite creators follow, and prioritize those whose itineraries, accommodations, and pace resemble your preferences.

Can I trust hotel and tour recommendations from influencers?

Treat recommendations as starting points, not final answers. Look for sponsorship disclosures, cross-check reviews on independent platforms, and compare several creators’ opinions before booking expensive hotels or tours.

How do travel influencers afford constant trips?

Many earn income through brand partnerships, affiliate links, digital products, and ad revenue. Some also work remotely in non-travel roles. Early on, many saved aggressively, traveled cheaply, or balanced trips with other jobs.

Is it realistic to copy an influencer’s itinerary exactly?

Rarely. Influencer itineraries may be accelerated, sponsored, or adapted for filming. Use them as flexible templates and adjust for your budget, time, energy levels, and season to avoid rushed, exhausting trips.

How can I support responsible travel influencers?

Engage with their posts, share content that promotes sustainability, and book through their recommendations when aligned with your values. Prioritize creators who respect local cultures, disclose partnerships, and highlight small, independent businesses.

Conclusion

Top travel influencers now function as guides, entertainers, and educators shaping how we see the world. By following a diverse mix of creators, questioning what you see, and adapting ideas thoughtfully, you can transform aspirational content into practical, responsible journeys.

Disclaimer

All information on this page is collected from publicly available sources, third party search engines, AI powered tools and general online research. We do not claim ownership of any external data and accuracy may vary. This content is for informational purposes only.