Under-the-Radar Travel Influencers on Instagram

Have you ever been on Instagram and seen a travel photo that stopped you in your tracks? It might have been a beautiful mountain view, a busy city street, or a quiet moment in a faraway place. Most likely, a travel influencer shared that photo.

Travel influencers use Instagram to show their trips, share advice, and suggest places to visit. They often have lots of followers and can shape where people choose to go. You probably know the big names with millions of followers. But there are also many travel influencers who aren’t as famous yet still share amazing stuff. These under-the-radar travel influencers have smaller audiences but bring something special to the table.

In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to some great under-the-radar travel influencers on Instagram. We’ll point out what makes them stand out, show you some of their best posts, and give you tips on finding more like them. If you want travel ideas, keep reading!

Table of Contents

Why Follow Travel Influencers?

First, let’s talk about why travel influencers matter. They give you tons of info and ideas for your own trips. They share where to go, what to do, and how to make your journey better. They can also show you new spots you might not have thought about.

Following travel influencers keeps you excited about traveling. Their awesome photos and fun stories remind you how much there is to see out there. Even if you can’t travel right now, their posts let you enjoy the world through their eyes.

Now, let’s meet some travel influencers who aren’t super famous but are worth your time.

Top Travel Influencers to Follow

1. @theblondeabroad – Kiersten Rich

Who She Is and How She Travels: Kiersten Rich runs @theblondeabroad. She’s a travel blogger with over 500k followers. Her focus is on solo female travel, and she shares tips, guides, and great photos.
What Makes Her Special: Kiersten stands out because she talks about traveling alone as a woman. Not many influencers do that. She gives advice that helps women feel safe and confident on their own. Her posts are perfect for anyone who wants to travel solo but isn’t sure where to start.
A Great Post: One of her best posts is a photo from Bali. She’s standing on a cliff, looking out at the ocean. She wrote, “Bali, you have my heart. This island is pure magic.” The picture is gorgeous, and her words show how much she loves traveling.
Follow Her: Check her out on Instagram at @theblondeabroad.

2. @muradosmann – Murad Osmann

Who He Is and How He Travels: Murad Osmann, or @muradosmann, is a photographer with over 4 million followers. He’s famous for his “Follow Me To” series. In these photos, his wife leads him by the hand in cool places around the world.
What Makes Him Special: Murad’s photos are different because of his creative style. Each “Follow Me To” shot tells a story about the place he’s in. His work makes you want to visit those spots yourself.
A Great Post: One amazing post shows his wife pulling him through Paris with the Eiffel Tower behind them. The caption says, “Follow me to Paris.” It’s a beautiful photo that makes Paris look romantic and exciting.
Follow Him: Find him on Instagram at @muradosmann.

3. @thebucketlistfamily – The Gee Family

Who They Are and How They Travel: The Gee family runs @thebucketlistfamily. They sold all their stuff and started traveling the world together. With over 2 million followers, they share family travel adventures and tips.
What Makes Them Special: The Gees focus on traveling with kids, which isn’t common among influencers. They show how families can see the world together. Their posts are great for parents who want to travel but don’t know how to do it with little ones.
A Great Post: One of their coolest posts is a photo of them swimming with whale sharks in Mexico. They wrote, “Swimming with whale sharks in Mexico was a dream come true.” The picture is stunning, and it shows how fun family travel can be.
Follow Them: Follow their journey on Instagram at @thebucketlistfamily.

4. @expertvagabond – Matthew Karsten

Who He Is and How He Travels: Matthew Karsten, or @expertvagabond, is a travel blogger and photographer with over 100k followers. He loves budget travel and adventure, sharing tips and stories from his trips.
What Makes Him Special: Matthew’s all about saving money and having big adventures. He gives advice on traveling cheap and doing things like hiking or camping. His posts are super helpful if you want to see the world without spending a lot.
A Great Post: One of his best posts is a photo of him hiking in Patagonia’s mountains. He wrote, “Hiking in Patagonia is like stepping into another world.” The photo is awesome, and it makes you feel the thrill of adventure.
Follow Him: See more on Instagram at @expertvagabond.

5. @theplanetd – Dave and Deb

Who They Are and How They Travel: Dave and Deb run @theplanetd. They’re a Canadian couple who’ve been traveling since 2008. With over 200k followers, they share adventures, tips, and photos.
What Makes Them Special: They love adventure and learning about other cultures. Their trips include things like hiking and biking, plus stories about the people they meet. Their posts are great if you want a deeper travel experience.
A Great Post: One standout post is a photo of them in front of the Taj Mahal in India. They wrote, “The Taj Mahal is even more beautiful in person.” The picture is breathtaking, and it shows their love for travel.
Follow Them: Follow them on Instagram at @theplanetd.

More Under-the-Radar Travel Influencers

Here are a few more travel influencers who aren’t huge names but still share awesome content.

6. @saltinourhair – Hannah and Nick

Who They Are and How They Travel: Hannah and Nick run @saltinourhair. They’re a couple with over 400k followers who travel and take amazing photos. They focus on beautiful places and helpful guides.
What Makes Them Special: Their photos are bright and colorful, and they share practical travel tips. They’re great if you want pretty pictures and useful info in one place.
A Great Post: One post shows them on a cliff in Portugal with the sea below. They wrote, “Portugal’s coast is calling!” The photo is eye-catching, and it makes you want to visit.
Follow Them: Check them out at @saltinourhair.

7. @gypsea_lust – Lauren Bullen

Who She Is and How She Travels: Lauren Bullen, or @gypsea_lust, has over 2 million followers. She travels to dreamy places and takes stunning photos.
What Makes Her Special: Lauren’s posts feel like a fairy tale. Her photos are soft and pretty, showing off beaches, jungles, and more. She’s perfect if you love a dreamy travel vibe.
A Great Post: One post shows her in a turquoise lagoon in Fiji. She wrote, “Lost in paradise.” The photo is peaceful and makes you want to jump in.
Follow Her: Follow her at @gypsea_lust.

8. @lostleblanc – Christian LeBlanc

Who He Is and How He Travels: Christian LeBlanc runs @lostleblanc. He’s a traveler and videomaker with over 700k followers. He shares photos and videos from his trips.
What Makes Him Special: Christian mixes photos with short videos that show off places in a fun way. His energy makes you excited to travel.
A Great Post: One post is a photo of him on a boat in Thailand with cliffs around. He wrote, “Thailand, you’re unreal!” The photo is bold, and it captures the excitement of travel.
Follow Him: Find him at @lostleblanc.

How to Find More Travel Influencers

Want to discover more under-the-radar travel influencers? Here are some easy tips:

Use Hashtags: Search hashtags like #solotravel, #familytravel, #budgettravel, or #adventuretravel. These lead you to influencers who focus on specific kinds of trips.
Check Smaller Accounts: Look for people with fewer followers who still post great stuff. They might not be famous, but their fans are often more active.
Talk to Them: Leave comments, share their posts, or ask questions. This helps you connect and learn more about what they share.
Follow Bloggers and Photographers: Lots of travel bloggers and photographers use Instagram. Following them can point you to other cool accounts.

These steps will help you find travel influencers who match your interests.

Why Under-the-Radar Travel Influencers Matter

Big-name influencers are great, but under-the-radar ones bring something different. They often feel more real and reachable. Their smaller audiences mean they can chat with followers more. Plus, they tend to focus on specific things—like solo travel or budget tips—that might fit your needs better.

These influencers also show you places and ideas you won’t find everywhere else. They’re not just posting the same popular spots. Instead, they share hidden gems and personal stories that make travel feel fresh.

Tips for Engaging with Travel Influencers

Once you find travel influencers you like, here’s how to get the most out of following them:

Comment on Posts: Ask a question or say what you like. They might reply and give you more info.
Save Their Tips: Use Instagram’s save feature to keep their advice handy for your trips.
Share Their Stuff: Post their photos or stories to your account (with credit). It helps them grow and shows your friends cool travel ideas.
Try Their Ideas: Use their suggestions on your next trip. Then, let them know how it went!

Doing these things makes following them more fun and useful.

How Travel Influencers Inspire Us

Travel influencers do more than show pretty pictures. They push us to think about our own adventures. Maybe Kiersten’s solo tips make you brave enough to travel alone. Or Matthew’s budget hacks help you plan a cheap trip. Each one offers something that can change how you see travel.

Their posts also remind us why we love to travel. It’s about seeing new places, meeting people, and making memories. Even if you’re stuck at home, their photos keep that spark alive.

Wrapping Up

Under-the-radar travel influencers on Instagram are worth your time. They bring unique ideas, awesome photos, and helpful advice. Whether you want solo travel tips, family trip ideas, or budget hacks, there’s an influencer for you.

Start following these travel influencers today. Let their posts spark your next big trip!

Before you go, tell us: Who are your favorite under-the-radar travel influencers? Drop their names in the comments or tag them on Instagram so we can see them too. And don’t forget to follow the influencers we’ve shared for some serious travel inspo!