Written by David Roberts
Reviewed by Lucas Walter
Updated
The top travel influencers in 2026 are Genta, Simon Wilson, Peter Santenello, Kara and Nate, and Julia Gal. This list ranks 33 travel influencers by median views across their recent videos, not by follower count. Each one was found by searching across hundreds of thousands of top performing posts in the travel niche.
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All 33, in rank order. Select a row to jump to the write-up.
| Rank | Creator | Followers | Median views | Engagement | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genta @sourmimosa | 944K | 2.1M | 0.6% | Luxury hotel tours |
| 2 | Simon Wilson @SimonWilson12 | 2.2M | 1.7M | 2.3% | Cheap trains, flights, and hotels |
| 3 | Peter Santenello @PeterSantenello | 4.3M | 1.4M | 2% | Documentaries on American towns |
| 4 | Kara and Nate @KaraandNate | 4.5M | 1.3M | 2% | Travel series as a couple |
| 5 | Julia Gal @juliagal_ | 3.8M | 966K | 3.9% | Luxury suites and islands |
| 6 | Aurélie Bouti @aureliestory | 3.3M | 829K | 6.1% | Places to send a friend |
| 7 | Garrett Sears @yourdestinationinspiration | 979K | 798K | 4.6% | Weekend trips with costs |
| 8 | Lounge Guru @loungeguru | 385K | 780K | 3.4% | Airport lounges and business class |
| 9 | Walk With Me Tim @WalkWithMeTim | 1.1M | 525K | 2.9% | Hotel and cruise walkthroughs |
| 10 | Jeb Brooks @GreenerGrass | 1M | 475K | 2.5% | Flight, train, and cruise reviews |
| 11 | Lexie Alford @lexielimitless | 1.9M | 387K | 2.7% | Switzerland guides and tips |
| 12 | Francesca & Tommaso @takemyhearteverywhere | 1.5M | 345K | 4.3% | City guides and itineraries |
| 13 | howsweethesound @howsweethesound | 466K | 339K | 12.4% | Solo trips and seasonal work |
| 14 | Drew Binsky @drewbinsky | 7.5M | 331K | 2% | Hidden communities worldwide |
| 15 | Mark Burstein @mark_burstein | 97.5K | 290K | 9% | Cinematic landscape Reels |
| 16 | Tals @travelingwithtals | 381K | 278K | 3.5% | Off-grid solo travel |
| 17 | Noel Philips @noelphilips | 753K | 249K | 3% | Rare routes and small planes |
| 18 | Britt & Mitch @brittandmitchworldwide | 177K | 241K | 3% | Save-this guides, lately China |
| 19 | Nonstop Dan @NonstopDan | 1.1M | 202K | 2.1% | Self-funded flight reviews |
| 20 | Chelsea Yamase @chelseakauai | 1.1M | 198K | 4.3% | Slow travel |
| 21 | Ryan Twomey @Ryantwomeyy | 600K | 197K | 3.5% | Solo van life across the US |
| 22 | Ryan Walker @ryanwalkerT5 | 173K | 193K | 1.9% | Scored luxury hotel reviews |
| 23 | Lost With Warren @lostwithwarren | 622K | 190K | 2.7% | Street food prices abroad |
| 24 | Josh Cahill @JoshCahill | 897K | 176K | 4% | Airline reviews, self-funded |
| 25 | Traveltomtom @traveltomtom | 994K | 171K | 5.1% | Counting countries |
| 26 | Trey & Tay Poulter @tayandtrey | 454K | 146K | 5.4% | Road trips and national parks |
| 27 | NativeTyPOV @nativepov | 472K | 134K | 1.9% | Cheap hotels and prices |
| 28 | Shelby Reicks @shelbyreickstravels | 377K | 122K | 2.5% | Flight and resort deals |
| 29 | Kawaii Coco @kawaiiicoco | 363K | 118K | 14.7% | Japan travel guides |
| 30 | Nicole Sunderland @nicolemsunderland | 1.1M | 106K | – | Luxury resorts and deals |
| 31 | Renee Hahnel @reneeroaming | 917K | 105K | 4.7% | National parks and adventure |
| 32 | Lost LeBlanc @lostleblanc | 2.3M | 84K | 3% | Overland across Africa |
| 33 | Kristian @lifebykristian | 101K | 81.9K | 5.1% | Budget backpacking |
The best travel influencers aren’t simply the accounts with the most followers. TikTok, Instagram and YouTube all show videos to people based on how the video performs individually, not just based on who follows the creator. As a result, a small or mid-sized account can reach more people than one several times its size.
That’s why we rank travel influencers by median views of their videos (average number of people a typical video reaches). As of October 2026, the five most-watched are Genta, Simon Wilson, Peter Santenello, Kara and Nate, and Julia Gal.
Grouped by what the creators cover, from long documentaries and flight reviews to destination videos, guides, and solo trips. The number beside each name is the creator’s overall rank.
YouTube channels that give a whole episode to one place and its people. Fewer uploads, longer watching.
Long documentaries filmed across the United States, from Appalachian towns to Amish country, built on conversations with the people who live there. One host, a GoPro, and simple editing.
No sponsored posts found in the last 90 days.
A married couple’s travel series, released episode by episode; the current one drives the Mongol Rally route through Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Earlier seasons covered 100 countries and two years in a van.
1 sponsored post in the last 90 days, in online therapy.
Fast-cut documentaries about unusual places and the people in them: feared neighborhoods, remote islands, people living in isolation. Recent videos are set in Mexico, the Philippines, and the US.
4 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in banking apps and laptops.
A documentary series crossing Africa overland, border by border, with wildlife and remote roads; earlier videos follow a villa build in Bali. Also sells a course for creators.
No sponsored posts found in the last 90 days.
Seat-by-seat reviews with the airline or the railway named up front, good or bad.
Rides and sleeps through the cheapest and oddest options a country has, from sleeper trains to one-star hotels, with the price in the title. Mostly Shorts, with a longer video now and then.
3 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in eSIMs, a shopping app and a YouTube event.
First-person walkthroughs of airport lounges, business and first class cabins, and high-speed trains. Recent reviews cover Emirates, Etihad, Vietnam Airlines, and China’s rail network.
No sponsored posts found in the last 90 days.
Airline, train, and cruise reviews that compare classes and carriers, filmed with Suzanne Brooks. First class and Amtrak sleepers sit beside budget airlines.
5 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in privacy software, a card rewards app and rail holidays.
Flight reviews and experiments, from the best and worst seats an airline sells to rare routes on small propeller planes. One long video goes out each week, on Sundays.
No sponsored posts found in the last 90 days.
Reviews of business and first class that the channel pays for itself, plus airline deep-dives and tier lists. Also sells a points-and-miles program.
8 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in a membership card, drink mixes, an aircraft maker, eSIMs, a VPN and software.
Airline reviews and exposés: cabins, service failures, and honest verdicts on carriers around the world. The channel is self-funded, and the bio says no freebies.
1 sponsored post in the last 90 days, in smart glasses.
From one-star rooms to five-star suites: where to sleep, what it looks like, and what it costs.
Short tours of luxury hotels and their suites, with the property named in the first line. Recent posts move between Bangkok, Jakarta, Hanoi, and London.
1 sponsored post in the last 90 days, in hotels.
Point-of-view clips of luxury hotel suites, pools, and island sunsets, from Santorini and Ios to the Maldives and Dubai. Captions are usually one line and a place tag.
4 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in hotels, a ride-hailing app, a prediction market and an events company.
Walkthroughs of unusual and luxury hotels, cruises, and first-class cabins, mostly in the UK and Europe, filmed from the creator’s point of view. A recurring format pits the cheapest stay in a place against the most expensive.
13 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in luggage, eSIMs, a family-history service, meal replacements, a VPN, business software, wallets and hotels.
Long, critical reviews of luxury hotels and resorts, each scored out of 50 for the room, ambiance, dining, service, and an “it-factor”. Recent stays include Capella Bangkok and the Waldorf Astoria.
6 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in clothing and fitness trackers.
Point-of-view reviews of what things cost: one-star hotels, taxis, street prices, and massages, in the US, Colombia, and Mexico.
No sponsored posts found in the last 90 days.
Short videos where the place is the subject: coastlines, national parks, Alpine villages, Tokyo streets.
Short Reels of places to go, from Dubai and Saudi Arabia to Japan, Lapland, and New York, made to be sent to a friend. Posts a few times a month.
1 sponsored post in the last 90 days, in travel.
Step-by-step Reels on how to do a place, lately Swiss trains, Lauterbrunnen, and mountain hikes, plus lists of travel things worth the money. The bio leads with a record: the youngest person to travel to every country.
3 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in credit cards and an AI app.
Cinematic destination Reels built on aerial and landscape shots, most often in Switzerland, with Hawaii, Greece, and China between. Posts in bursts: one Reel in the last month.
2 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in destination tourism and camera gear.
Slow-travel Reels with a wellness bent, lately a series on the coast of Sardinia after time in Hawaii. Mostly scenery, with the creator in the frame.
3 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in hotels and an AI app.
A married couple’s road trips through US national parks and trips abroad, lately Finnish Lapland, the Faroe Islands, and Tanzania. Many Reels open with the same “Hi! We’re Taylor and Trey”.
7 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in camera gear, travel, luggage, fire logs and personal care.
Guides to Japan and Korea, with a running “save this for your Japan trip” series, plus everyday life in Tokyo. A Japan travel guide is for sale through the bio link.
No sponsored posts found in the last 90 days.
Adventure travel and US national parks, from flightseeing in Alaska to hikes and ski days, with photo guides for sale. The bio counts all 63 national parks visited.
3 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in ski passes, skin care and credit cards.
Traveling alone, by van, on foot, or one street-food stall at a time, told in the first person.
Solo travel mixed with seasonal work abroad: point-of-view clips from Jordan and Morocco, then days of marine conservation in Zanzibar.
No sponsored posts found in the last 90 days.
Solo travel far from the usual routes, lately months in Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan: family stays with no power or plumbing, horse treks, and the bad days too. Also runs small group trips under the Go Granola name.
2 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in car rental.
Solo van life across US states and Canada: stealth camping, local food, and roadside oddities, one state or town per video. Released as a running series.
7 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in e-bikes, meal delivery, a doctor-booking app, print on demand and flashlights.
Street food abroad, one snack at a time, with the price as the first line and the first bite on camera. Longer vlogs go up on YouTube every Sunday.
9 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in a travel planning app and eSIMs.
Budget backpacking from a 19-year-old: couchsurfing, hostels, and mountain hikes in Switzerland and Slovenia. Short clips, posted almost every day.
6 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in a travel app and eSIMs.
Save-this posts that tell you where to go, what it costs, and how to book it.
Destination guides with a cost breakdown, built around weekends and short trips: the Swiss Alps, Iceland, Norway, Guatemala, and US national parks. Posts a few times a month.
3 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in home security cameras and cruises.
City guides and itineraries from a couple based in Milan, from New York and Miami to Budapest and the Greek islands. Many posts point to a guide to download.
9 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in outlet shopping, eSIMs and hotels.
An Australian couple’s guides to unusual places, lately a long run through China: cliff stairways, glass walkways, and photo spots. Each post points to a full guide.
12 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in destination tourism, gelato, camera gear, booking apps, a travel money card, cruises and hotels.
A Dutch traveler counting countries, 169 of 197 so far, with recent Reels from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Nigeria, and Dubai: hotels, borders, and markets. Several recent trips were hosted by tourism boards.
6 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in destination tourism.
Budget travel: flight and resort deals, cheap weekends, and short destination guides from Japan to Aruba. Many posts are deal alerts with the discount in the first line.
27 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in credit cards, flight deals, resort deals, cruises, online casinos, eSIMs, hotels, destination tourism and backpacks.
Short Reels of luxury resorts, cruises, and islands, from the Maldives to Qatar. Deals and itineraries are linked from the bio.
6 sponsored posts in the last 90 days, in destination tourism and cruises.
We analyzed the 304 posts these 33 creators published on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube in the last 30 days. Of those, 33 beat their creator’s usual views by 3× or more.
Here are the hooks that are working, read from each post’s caption, title, or on-screen text.
“This still blows my mind”
The caption gives the creator’s reaction and holds back what caused it: “This still blows my mind”, “It started to BURN”, “When he poured out the bag I was SHOCKED!!!!”. The viewer stays to find out. Here it was floating in the Dead Sea.
howsweethesound 12M views · 35.1× their usualIt works when the thing really is surprising to an outsider: salt water that holds you up, or a local game played with bones. A tourism board’s best material for this hook is rarely on the brochure. Ask the creator what surprised them, and let the post open on that.
“Just a Type B traveler who found her perfect Type A partner :)”
The caption reads like a line from the creator’s journal or a text to a friend, and it says nothing about where the video was filmed. Chelsea Yamase’s best Reel this month is set on the coast of Sardinia; its caption is about who plans the trip. Kristian’s are shorter still: “we need to travel”.
Chelsea Yamase 4.2M views · 21.4× their usualThe place does the work on screen while the caption talks about something else. For a destination, that means its name has to reach the viewer another way: a location tag, a word on screen, or the first comment. Agree on which before the trip.
“24 Hours in Mexico’s Most Feared Neighborhood”
Most feared, narrowest, the original, all to ourselves: the title claims a record. Half of these come from one account, Drew Binsky’s YouTube channel. The others are a hotel tour (“The Original Oriental, Still Defining Bangkok Hospitality”) and a Britt & Mitch guide to Zhangjiajie.
Drew Binsky 4.2M views · 12.7× their usualA hotel or a destination can own a superlative of its own, the oldest, the highest, the only one, and hand it to the creator as the title. Make sure it is true and can be checked: the comments will test it.
Britt & Mitch: “Would you climb 999 steps up to the heavens?” reached 16M views, 67.7× their usual.
Nicole Sunderland: “😮💨” reached 3.1M views, 29.5× their usual.
NativeTyPOV: “1-star hotel in USA 🇺🇸” reached 1.4M views, 10.1× their usual.
What the travel accounts on this list do at each size on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Use it to judge whether a creator’s numbers are strong for their tier.
| Tier | Followers | Median views | Engagement | Posts a week | Sponsored posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | Under 500K | 193K | 3.5% | 2.6 | 20% |
| Macro | 500K to 2M | 202K | 3.2% | 1.6 | 23% |
| Mega | Over 2M | 966K | 2.3% | 0.9 | 12% |
Medians across these 33 accounts, from each account’s recent videos. “Sponsored posts” is the share of posts in the 90 days to Oct 12, 2026 that carry a paid-partnership or paid-promotion label or a stated sponsor, or are part of a brand campaign.
If you market a destination, a hotel, an airline, or a travel brand, the creator’s trip becomes your campaign. Check these before you send an invitation.
Most travel creators are big on one platform and small on the rest. A YouTube channel whose videos reach a million people can get a few tens of thousands on its TikTok. Ask for the views of the last 30 posts on the platform in your brief, not a combined follower count.
Flight and hotel reviewers name the airline or the property and say what they think of it, and their viewers come for the verdict. Some pay their own way on purpose. Inviting one gets you a review, which may not be kind. If you need control of the message, book a creator who already runs sponsored posts and agree the deliverables in writing.
Most of the posts that broke out this month opened on one moment, a reaction or a confession, not on a list of sights. A packed schedule gives the creator a lot to film and nothing to open on. Leave room in the trip for the thing they did not expect.
Many travel creators sell travel too: group trips, a paid guide to one country, a course for other creators, a membership. A creator with a guide to Japan for sale has a stake in Japan; one who runs group trips is, in a small way, a tour operator. Know which before you brief them on a rival’s product.
A hosted stay or a free flight is payment in kind. In the US, the FTC says creators must disclose a relationship when they got anything of value to mention a product. Agree the words (“hosted by”, “ad”) and where they go: in the first line or on screen, not at the end of a long caption.
We identified and ranked these creators by searching hundreds of thousands of top performing travel posts across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube with Klint.
We rank by median views across each creator’s recent posts, so one viral post can’t lift an account up the list. Creators can live anywhere if their videos are in English or wordless, and each one appears once, on the platform where a typical video reaches the most people.
To get this list or a similar one for yourself, describe the creators you’re looking for in the Klint web app, or paste this prompt into any AI agent connected to Klint:
Find the top 33 travel influencers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube posting in English. Rank by median views across their last 30 videos or their last 90 days, whichever is lower, and show followers, engagement, best post this month, and sponsored posts.
Klint is trusted by 1,000+ marketers for AI-native influencer marketing.
As of October 2026 the top five travel influencers by median views are Genta, Simon Wilson, Peter Santenello, Kara and Nate, and Julia Gal.
On this list, the most followed is Drew Binsky, with 7.5M subscribers on YouTube. The most watched is Genta (@sourmimosa), whose Instagram videos reach a median of 2.1M views on 944K followers.
By median Reel views, the top Instagram travel creators on this list are Genta, Julia Gal, Aurélie Bouti, Garrett Sears and Lexie Alford.
TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. A creator who posts on more than one is listed once, under the platform that brings them the biggest audience, which gives 16 Instagram accounts, 12 YouTube channels, and 5 TikTok accounts. Where a creator lives does not matter; what counts is that the videos are in English or need no words.
By hand, search your destination’s hashtags and location tags on Instagram and TikTok, note who posted from there in the last few months, and compare their views with their followers. Klint does the same search on all three platforms at once: ask for “travel creators who posted from Portugal in the last 90 days, under 500K followers” and you get the list with each creator’s numbers.
It depends on the platform, the format, and what the deal covers. A YouTube episode about one destination takes days to film and costs far more than a single Reel, and many travel deals pair a fee with a hosted trip, so the trip is part of the price. Ask for a rate per deliverable, and agree usage rights separately if you want to run the video as an ad.
Yes. Any creator can ask to be taken off Klint’s lists, and the request applies to every page they would otherwise appear on.
On this list and would rather not be? Write to privacy@tryklint.ai and Klint will take you off.
