Words: Jonathan Wells
Wanderlust can be a terrible thing. Be it from on your sofa or behind your desk, you need only lift up your phone and be transported through Instagram to the farthest corners of the world; at once inspired to travel yourself some day, but also reminded that you, currently, are not there.
But don’t delete the app just yet. Even if you’re cutting down on the number of sunsets and incredible adventures you see on your feed every day, we’ve found just shy of ten explorers whose accounts will move you for all the right reasons. From studies of far-flung cultures to shots of panoramas to take your breath away, these are the best explorers on Instagram — and why you should be following them.
If you’re looking for mountains, follow Jimmy Chin
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Chasing light… Waddington Range, BC. 📸 @mikeylikesrocks @canonusa #EOSR
A post shared by Jimmy Chin (@jimmychin) on Oct 21, 2018 at 8:09am PDT
Known for: Incredible mountain views
Based in: Jackson Hole and New York City, , Followers: 1.9 million, , Follow him because: If you’re into snow-capped peaks and some frosty photography, then Chin’s your man. From Greenland to Gangotri (that’s in the Himalayas), if there’s an icy landscape to explore, he’s there.
If you’re searching for the surf, follow Chris Burkard
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A post shared by ChrisBurkard (@chrisburkard) on Oct 13, 2018 at 9:43am PDT
Known for: Coastal shots
Based in: California
Followers: 3.2 million
Follow him because: Burkard may do it all — from mountains to deserts — but his best shots are captured when he takes his trusty surfboard to the coast. Want huge waves, golden sunsets and some tomb-stoning? He’s got it all.
If you’re looking for hiking inspiration, follow Johan Lolos
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One of the best mornings of 2018 so far, somewhere in the heart of the Pyrenees 💙 @lolosjohan
A post shared by 🇧🇪 Photographer | Johan Lolos (@lebackpacker) on Aug 15, 2018 at 9:29am PDT
Known for: Rolling green hills
Based in: Liège, Belgium
Followers: 465,000
Follow him because: Known by his Insta alter-ego, lebackpacker, Lolos is the hiker we all want to be. With expeditions from New Zealand to the Pyrenees, his shots of winding roads and meandering rivers are not to be missed.
If you’re looking to get back to nature, follow Pete McBride
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A post shared by Pete McBride (@pedromcbride) on Aug 30, 2018 at 3:53pm PDT
Known for: Nature photography
Based in: Basalt, Colorado
Followers: 707,000
Follow him because: This National Geographic photographer is not only invested in environmental issues around the world, but he’s also captured some of the finest wildlife photographs we’ve ever seen on Instagram.
If you want an adrenaline-fuelled daredevil, follow Tim Kemple
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A post shared by Tim Kemple (@timkemple) on Oct 23, 2017 at 8:36am PDT
Known for: Climbing his way around the world
Based in: Salt Lake City, Utah
Followers: 244,000
Follow him because: This is an explorer who will take his camera to the most extreme places, and do whatever it takes to get a shot. The landscapes may be impressive, but his commitment to clicking the shutter perhaps more so.
If you want to dive into the depths of the sea, follow Paul Nicklen
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A post shared by Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) on Aug 7, 2018 at 2:22pm PDT
Known for: Exploring the seas
Based in: Vancouver Island, Canada
Followers: 4.6 million
Follow him because: He’s a former Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and manages to capture his expeditions into the sea with an equal focus on the icy atmosphere and incredible creatures he encounters.
If you want to see your city differently, follow Sam Horine
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A post shared by S A M H O R I N E 🏖 (@samhorine) on Sep 14, 2018 at 9:24am PDT
Known for: Capturing cityscapes
Based in: New York City
Followers: 521,000
Follow him because: From London to his native New York, Horine is an expert at exploring urban environments. He’s a salient reminder that adventures don’t have to hinge on wilderness, and that there’s much still to explore on our own doorsteps.
If you want to see travel through the eyes of natives, follow Andrew Evans
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A post shared by Andrew Evans (@wheresandrew) on Oct 6, 2018 at 5:30am PDT
Known for: Personal portraits
Based in: Washington, DC
Followers: 639,000
Follow him because: A travel writer as well as an intrepid adventurer and photographer, Evans captures the spirit and culture of wherever he ends up through the eyes of locals, telling stories and taking portraits in lieu of sweeping vistas.
If you want to see the best of the sky, follow Cole Rise
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A post shared by Stay Home (@colerise) on Jul 16, 2015 at 9:39pm PDT
Known for: Making you look up
Based in: San Francisco and Los Angeles
Followers: 875,000
Follow him because: It’s not often you associate the sky with exploration. But pilot Cole Rise has dedicated much of his Instagram feed to images of the sky. Think clouds, think stars, think aircraft. It’s a fresh frontier for exploration, and one expertly captured here.
Looking to jet off? These are the best destinations to visit before the end of 2018…
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