Explore Travel Photography Competition 2024: The Winners

Congratulations to Deborah Mathews, the overall winner in our travel photography competition! Among Deborah's entries, this photograph was our winning shot, taken while on our Benin and Togo Voodoo Discovery tour. Deborah receives £500 to spend on another unforgettable Explore tour.

In this mesmerizing image, we're transported to Benin, West Africa, where we witness an Egungun dancer during an Egun mask performance. This local tradition is a powerful ritual which both represents and embodies the spirits of ancestors.

"These photos were taken on the Benin and Togo trip January 2024. They show various aspects of the trip - Voodoo dancing in Ouidah, beautiful villagers of Benin and the Egungun dancers of Benin."

We were captivated by the details: the colorful costumes, the movement that brings the image to life and the composition (can you spot the gleeful spectator in the background?).

Image credit: Deborah Mathews

Nick Holmes was our first runner-up in our travel photography competition and received £250 to spend on another Explore tour. This evocative photograph, taken during our Highlights of Northern India tour, shows a cascade of candles leading to the sacred River Ganges in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Varanasi, revered as the heart of Hinduism, is believed to be the eternal home of Shiva. This ancient city is one of the most sacred sites in India, drawing millions of pilgrims each year who come to cleanse themselves in the holy waters of the Ganges.  

A journey to Varanasi is an experience that will always stay with you - and this photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into the spiritual essence of this ancient city. 

Image credit: Nick Holmes

Karen Sells-Brown was the second runner-up in our travel photography competition and received £100 to spend on another Explore tour. This imaginative photograph was snapped during our Best of Morocco tour, where adventurers experience an overnight stay at a Berber camp, nestled on the edge of the magnificent sand dunes. 

"Just returned from Grand Tour of Morocco which was brilliant. The first image is of our guide, Omar El Hamidy, joining us at the top of a dune at El Chegaga desert camp."

This photograph not only showcases the vast landscapes of the Sahara desert, but it also offers an insight into the exhilarating adventures that await. With brilliant tour leaders like Omar to guide (or fly!) you through the journey, you’re in for an unforgettable experience.

Image credit: Karen Sells-Brown