We’ve spent nearly 40 years travelling to develop our knowledge of destinations and refining our tour itineraries. Using our experience, we’ve put together an insider’s guide to capturing outstanding photographs across the continents that you’ll be proud to hang on your wall, plus a few handy photography tips.

Before setting off on your next adventure, bear in mind these handy tips to help you get the most out of our travel photography.

1. Use a tripod: It helps you maintain stability, especially in low-light conditions or when using slower shutter speeds. You can pick up light weight tripods and small phone specific tripods which are great for travelling with. During a trek you can use a trekking pole or fellow group member’s shoulder to help steady your camera.

2. Create a sense of depth: To add depth and dimension to your landscape photographs, incorporate elements that lead the viewer's eye into the scene. This can include using leading lines such as roads, rivers, or paths, or including foreground elements like rocks, flowers, or trees. By including these elements, you create a visual journey for the viewer, guiding their gaze through the image and giving a sense of scale to the landscape.

3. Experiment with different perspectives and compositions: Don't be afraid to explore different angles and compositions to make your images more visually engaging. Try shooting from low angles to emphasize foreground elements or climb to higher vantage points for a broader view. Experiment with various focal lengths, such as wide-angle lenses for expansive landscapes or telephoto lenses to isolate specific details. Be creative and think outside the box to capture unique and captivating shots.

Read on for inspiration about where you could capture outstanding photographs around the globe.

1. Fitz Roy, Patagonia

Spires and Ice, Trekking Patagonia

Situated on the Chilean and Argentinian border, Monte Fitz Roy (3,375m) or Cerro Fitz Roy is a stunningly beautiful peak and remains one of the most technically challenging mountains in the world of mountaineering. It was also the inspiration of Patagonia clothing founder Yvon Chouinard for his company logo. Join our Spires and Ice, Trekking Patagonia 13 day adventure, where on day 10 you’ll trek up to Fitz Roy’s classic viewpoint at Laguna de Los Tres, a high alpine tarn where you can photograph its eastern face.

2. The Sun Gate across from Machu Picchu

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Inti Punku, or Sun Gate, is where travellers who have completed the Inca Trail have their first, and most impressive view, across to Machu Picchu, the famous lost city of the Incas. This small fortress sits around 300m higher than Machu Picchu and offers fantastic views of the city. Many travellers enjoy taking a sunrise picture from this spot, however it can be misty in the Vilcabamba mountains, so leaving your photo until after 10am could make for a clearer shot.

3. The Treasury at Petra, Jordan

Jordan Dana to Petra Trek

The Himalayas, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China and Angkor Wat could all have made it into this list, but instead, we’ve chosen the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Our Dana to Petra trip was nominated for an AFAR magazine Travel’s Choice Award in May 2018 and we know exactly why this adventure is so popular. After 5 days trekking through sculpted sandstone following the most famous section of the Jordan Trail, you enter Little Petra through ‘the back door’ which will give an insight into what lies ahead at the main Petra site. The following day you re-enter the ancient city through the famous narrow Siq so you can take that awesome Indiana Jones – The Last Crusade shot of the Treasury.

4. Monasteries suspended in the air, Meteora, Greece

Sacred Summits of olympus and meteora

Meaning “suspended in the air”, the monasteries of Meteora in Greece perch atop narrow sandstone pillars which were formed 60 million years ago. During the 11th century, monks lived amongst the pillars and over centuries built 24 monasteries in and on top of the sandstone pillars. In the past these sacred buildings were closed to the public, however, in 1921 Queen Marie of Romania visited Meteora and was the first woman allowed to enter. Since then many of these monasteries have been made open to the public. Spend a day photographing these structures and learning from monks who live in the monasteries on our 8 day hiking holiday in Greece.

5. Dunes of the Sahara, Morocco

Morocco Edge of the Sahara Trek

The magnificent Sahara Desert with its Lawrence of Arabia landscape offers an unforgettable Moroccan adventure full of snaking wadis, dramatic plateaus, tamarisk bushes, acacia trees, hidden villages and beautiful sweeping dunes. Take an 8 day walking tour into the dunes on KE’s Edge of the Sahara trek, stay at a Berber camp and sleep amongst the dunes under starry skies. Over 5 days of trekking, you’ll have many chances to take enchanting pictures of flaming orange dunes against bright blue skies.

6. The largest dark sky reserve, New Zealand

New Zealand North to South

Recently, 4,300 square kilometres of New Zealand’s South Island was recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest reserve of this type worldwide. On our 19 day New Zealand North to South adventure, we’ve included a night at the remote Rex Simpson hut, on the edge of a terrace above Lake Tekapo, so you can enjoy some of the best stargazing you'll ever experience. Slow down your shutter speed, open the aperture and capture out-of-this-world starscapes.

7. Colossal landscapes and Antarctic wildlife

Antarctic Basecamp Adventure - Polar Cruise

Boarding in Ushuaia, the southernmost city on Earth, journey through the Drake Passage to the so-called Antarctic Convergence, where colliding cold and warm waters force nutrients to the surface, attracting seabirds and whales and giving us our first glimpses of Antarctic wildlife. Further south, you’ll reach the South Shetland Islands and cross the Bransfield Strait to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Here we enter a world of immense scale and visual splendour, one of the last true wilderness on earth. With the opportunity to spend the night camped out on the continent; you’ll be able to photograph inquisitive penguins up close and calmly floating icebergs in the distance.

8. One of the most intense biological places on earth, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Costa Rica Walks and Wildlife

Situated on the south-west tip of Costa Rica on the Osa Peninsular, the Corcovado National Park has been described by National Geographic as "one of the most intense biological places on earth". During our 15 day Walks and Wildlife adventure in Costa Rica, in addition to numerous opportunities to photograph Costa Rica's geological diversity; mud pools, hot springs, waterfalls and mangroves, you'll be able to photograph the wildlife too. Ensure you pack your macro lens (and dry bag for your camera) to capture the abundance of wildlife both large and small. The best opportunity to do this is during the 3 days you'll spend exploring the Corcovado National Park, taking boat trips, walking along hiking trails and snorkelling to discover the life below the waters too.

9. Iconic moments on the way to Everest Basecamp, Nepal

EVEREST BASECAMP TREK

Miles of snowy peaks on the horizon, yaks winding their way up mountain trails, prayer flags softly fluttering in a fresh breeze - Nepal is rife with landscapes and scenes you'll have been wanting to feast your eyes on in real life for some time. Do remember you're a guest in this country and be mindful of who's in the photo you're taking. Be upfront if you want to take a portrait and ask your chosen subject, as whilst most Hindu Swamis in Kathmandu will happily pose for a photo, the same can't be said of everyone you'll encounter. You'll find the best shots come as you trek; we love this photo of the iconic Everest Basecamp sign, taken by one of our very own clients, Colin from Dunbar, on his way to Everest Basecamp earlier this year. It might be a scene that's often photographed, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't capture a version with your very own stamp on it to take home and treasure. 

10. Makalu (8481m) from the Singalila Ridge

Sikkim - Beneath Kangchenjunga Trek

During the trek to Kangchenjunga you will crest the The Singalila Ridge, a natural border between Nepal and India and is the setting for one of the most scenically rewarding trekking holidays in the entire Himalayas, with views of Kangchenjunga (the third highest mountain in the world) and more distant views of Makalu (photographed above) and Everest. This shot was taken by KE traveller Andrew, and you can see his full collection of incredible photos from the trek in his blog.