2025 Guest Photo Contest Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Guest Photo Contest! Thank you to all who entered and voted. Be sure to submit your photos for the 2026 photo contest by December 31, 2026.
First Place
Lisa Ross
Finland & Sweden Northern Lights Snow Adventure Tour
Arctic Arrival
Our first night at the Ice Hotel 365 in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden began beneath this glowing Arctic moon. I quickly snapped this photo as we walked into the hotel and found our ice art suite. We slept on a bed carved of ice, insulated by reindeer pelts and an expedition style sleeping bag. It wasn’t the sleep I remember most, but the silence, breathing incredibly clean air and the absolute darkness. It was a night where winter felt both cold & comfortable. I’m thrilled to share this image with all my fellow Backroads travelers. Hope it brings you as close to the magic of the Arctic as it did for me!
Second Place
Stephanie Bird
After an afternoon of biking through steady rain in Grebbestad, Sweden, I stepped out of my cottage at TanumStrand Spa and Resort and found the evening and the marina completely still. The red cottages across the water were mirrored perfectly, as if the world had been folded in half. The symmetry and the glass-like water was so striking, it took me a moment to think to take out my phone and snap this photo. This quickly became my favorite shot of the trip!
Third Place
Hetty Nerod
Dolomites Hut-to-Hut Hiking Tour
When Day 4 dawned with bright sunshine, we were excited to see the mountains of the Alta Badia valley after a very wet Day 3. In the morning we were in the valley with cows, an amazing waterfall and lifting fog before ascending to lunch with these mountains beckoning us from the deck, but not in full view. A short walk uphill, around a corner and then this view opened. As our group descended, spreading out and chatting, I hung back to soak in the expansive space with the ribbon of road leading to the wonderful Rifugio Las Vegas and took this photo.
Fourth Place
Andrew Standaert
Olympic Peninsula to British Columbia Hiking & Walking Tour
I snapped this of my husband, Kiel, right after we made it to the top of Hurricane Ridge. Ironically it was our first *major* hike of the trip—and most strenuous— but we had just made fast van friends with Sonja and Charlotte, and set out together as the lone 4 on the long option. Fortunately their competitive spirit and ability to talk as fast as they walked made the inclines, heat, and false summits fly by! By the time we got to the top we were dripping with sweat and covered in dirt, but weren't going to pass up a few group selfies or an epic photo moment! We all watched as Kiel ventured out to the ridge for this shot, before trekking downhill, a new set of ride or die friends in tow.
Fifth Place
Lisa Kaine Dunn
Argentina's Patagonia Hiking & Walking Tour
This photo was taken at sunset, 10:45 pm!, after dinner at the unique and beautiful Estancia Christina in Patagonia. A late group of us walked outside after our delicious meal, towards our lodging and we were struck by the amazing light and cloud display. Then I noticed the wild horses grazing and I ran and retrieved my camera from my room. It was almost surreal. It was completely still and silent with the exception of a slight wind. I feel very blessed to have been able to witness so much natural, unscathed beauty on this Patagonia Backroads experience. This was only one moment out of many our group had.
