by Travis Gill
Every October, Chantil and I look forward to revisiting the best photographs from the past year of travel and selecting the best of the best for our annual calendar. These images were chosen from our journeys between October 2024 and September 2025, and each one has the magical ability to pull us right back into the moment it was captured.
This is one of the reasons we look forward to publishing a calendar—we get to relive the experiences and memories from the previous year of travel. But the primary reason we create these annual calendars is to inspire you to get out there, explore, and experience the world for yourself.
Without further ado, here are the 13 photographs that were choses for 2026 Overland Travel Calendar:
Cover Photograph – Arctic Ocean at Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, Canada
Reaching the Arctic Ocean has been a dream of ours ever since we discovered overland travel. For years we pictured doing it on motorcycles, but when the Jeep came into our lives, we knew it was the perfect vehicle to carry us to the farthest edges of North America. It’s a good reminder to follow your dreams—because even if the path shifts along the way, determination will always get you there.
January – River Crossing in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, Alaska
There’s something truly magical about being deep in the wide-open wilderness of Alaska. Driving our Jeep camper across rivers took us far beyond where most RVs or large camper vans dare to venture. Each crossing opened the door to quiet campsites, untouched landscapes, and hiking trails where we never saw another soul. Some might find that kind of isolation unsettling, but for us, it’s the very definition of freedom.
February – Point Bridget State Park, Alaska
Our Alaska adventure began at the end of May with a fascinating three-day ferry ride on the Alaska Marine Highway, which delivered us to the capital city of Juneau. Since this part of Alaska is landlocked, we made it a point to drive every mile of road we could during our weeklong layover.
One of our favorite discoveries was Point Bridget State Park—about a 45-minute drive north of Juneau—where we hiked along the rocky coast, watched bald eagles roosting in the evergreens, and soaked up the peaceful isolation of a place rarely visited by cruise-ship tourists. Beautiful!
March – Sunset Riding South-East Arizona
I was riding in front of Chantil when I glanced into my side-view mirror to check on her—especially since I was kicking up a pretty massive plume of dust behind me. Almost immediately after seeing this scene in the mirror, I said, “Stop, stop! This is a great photo.”
I rode ahead, waited for the dust to settle, and had her ride toward me so I could capture the beautiful colors of the golden hour. As an overland photographer, most of the time you have to go searching for the pictures… but every now and then, they come to you!
April – Seaside Town of Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico
The U.S. State Department lists the Mexican state of Sinaloa as Level 4—Do Not Travel—due to increased risks of violence from cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. So why were we here? Because the ferries from Baja Sur only have two destination ports, and both are in Sinaloa. We chose the northern seaside town of Topolobampo, booking a small waterfront hostel since our ferry arrived well after dark.
The next morning, we woke to these incredible views of one of the most colorful towns we’ve ever seen! Topolobampo is filled with beautiful homes and shops painted in the vibrant hues that define Mexico. The warm sunshine and bold colors reminded us that although there can be violence in this world, most of it is still kind, welcoming, and wonderfully colorful.
May – Camping North of the Arctic Circle, Deadhorse, Alaska
Welcome to the land of the Midnight Sun! This photo was taken at 11:36 PM on June 26th, just north of the 70th parallel—and as you can see, it’s as bright as daytime. In fact, the sun won’t set here for more than another month.
Reaching this milestone destination was a dream come true for us, even if it meant relying on blackout curtains just to get a little sleep at “night.”
June – The Summer Flowers of the Yukon Territory, Canada
First off, Canada is a huge country—actually the second largest in the world after Russia. Yes, it’s even larger than China or the United States. During our summer travels, we only explored a small portion of it: the northwest corner of the Northwest Territories, the western edge of British Columbia, and a large stretch of the Yukon Territory.
Although each region had its own charm, we have especially fond memories of the Yukon. We enjoyed cool summer temperatures, incredible hiking, rich First Nation history, and the expansive, untouched beauty that makes this one of the most magical places on Earth.
July – Riding to Laguna San Ignacio to See the Gray Whales
We’ve dreamed of seeing the gray whale calves of Baja Sur for a long time, so riding the long, dusty 66 km road from San Ignacio to Camp Kuyima was pure excitement. As the waters of San Ignacio Lagoon came into view on the horizon, that excitement only grew.
The experience was absolutely worth the trip to Baja Sur on its own—though thankfully, it came with so many more memories from this incredible region of Mexico.
August – Totem Poles and Glacier Mountains of Seward, Alaska
All throughout our Alaska and western Canada travels, we came across towering totem poles adorned with bright colors and symbolic figures of animals and spirits. These monumental carvings are a traditional form of Indigenous Northwest Coast art—poles, posts, or pillars usually crafted from massive western red cedar trees by First Nations and Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast.
They’re absolutely beautiful to witness in person, especially with the backdrop of towering, snow-capped mountains.
September – Mexico Federal Highway 1, Baja, Mexico
Beautiful Baja! There’s something genuinely magical about riding along Mexico’s Federal Highway 1, the narrow spine stretching down the Baja California Peninsula. The towering saguaro cacti, the small, dusty Mexican towns, the inexpensive tacos served from roadside stands, and the warm smiles of the locals all blend together to make this corner of Mexico one of our absolute favorites.
October – Camping at Bruneau Canyon, Idaho
Southern Idaho often gets a bad rap for camping since most people head straight for the mountains, but the high-desert regions have their own quiet magic—wide-open campsites, peaceful horizons, and incredible stargazing. Bruneau Dunes State Park, in particular, is home to one of Idaho’s largest and most capable telescopes. Its state-of-the-art observatory, complete with a rotating dome, houses a powerful telescope that offers an unobstructed window into the night sky. It’s one of those places where the desert feels endless and the stars feel close enough to touch.
November – Riding through the Northern Flatlands of Chihuahua, Mexico
We’re not entirely sure what inspired us to take the remote roads across the elevated plains of northern Chihuahua. Maybe it was the laid-back charm of the small towns, or the endless sweep of arid landscapes that felt both quiet and alive. Whatever the reason, we’re glad we chose the slow road through the state where the tiny Mexican dog earned its name. It turned out to be one of those unexpected routes that stays with you long after the dust settles.
December – Mount Blackburn Reflection from the McCarthy Road, Alaska
We really didn’t know what to expect from the 61 miles of dirt road stretching from Chitina to the old town of McCarthy—aside from a history lesson on one of the most profitable copper mines of the early 20th century. But the McCarthy Road turned out to be far more than a trip into the past; it was a glimpse into some of the most beautiful, untouched landscapes of the Alaska frontier. From rugged river valleys to mirror-still reflections of Mount Blackburn, the entire drive felt like stepping into a wilder, quieter version of the world.
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