Are you looking to escape this world for a moment and go on a traveling spree around the world from the comfort of your couch, or are you looking for inspiration for your next travel film?
Either way, there is no denying that timelapse and hyperlapse techniques are a perfect medium for travel videos. As you know, I am a big fan of travel videos and timelapse and hyperlapse videos, if done creatively, are one of my favorite types of travel videos that I enjoy.
For this article, I have decided to compile a list of the 10 best timelapse and hyperlapse travel videos to inspire and instill your inner wanderlust. But first, let's define what a timelapse and a hyperlapse video are, and what makes them great.
- What is a Timelapse & Hyperlapse Video?
- What Makes A Great Timelapse & Hyperlapse Travel Video?
- 1. Multiverse By Hiroshi Kondo
- 2. Paris Day & Night By Teeter-Totter-Tam
- 3. Sudan Surprise By Joerg Daiber
- 4. Wanderlust:Plose By FilmSpektakel
- 5. Dubai Flow Motion By Rob Whitworth
- 6. Hypereurotrip By Timelapse Media
- 7. PERU & BOLIVIA | a stop-motion journey by Timelapse Media
- 8. One Week In Japan By Mike Matas
- 9. RUSSIA By Pete Rojwongsuriya
- 10. Apollo Mission By harrisonicus
- Further Reading for Filmmaking
What is a Timelapse & Hyperlapse Video?
By definition, a timelapse is a technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured is much more spread out than the frequency used to view the sequence. When played at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing.
For example, a series of sunset photos taken once every 30 seconds, when viewed in a 30-frames-per-second video, it is like watching a video of that sunset with a 30 times speed increase. So, the entire sunset, which might take an hour to watch in real life, will only take a few seconds to watch in a timelapse video.
Hyperlapse is basically timelapse but with motion. For example, a hyperlapse of walking on a street is like a timelapse of that street, but the camera moves through the street as time passes, creating a smooth motion of movement that adds another dimension to travel videos.
Hyperlapse is one of my favorite techniques that I often employ to create motion in otherwise static travel architecture footage. It looks great in photos but can be pretty boring in films.
Now that we have gotten all the technicality out of the way, let us explore what makes these timelapse and hyperlapse videos stand out from the rest:
What Makes A Great Timelapse & Hyperlapse Travel Video?
As you may know, timelapse videos can be quite boring and repetitive if not done properly, and for the criteria of picking the best timelapse & hyperlapse videos, all I am looking for is a video that can keep me engaged throughout its entire length.
The filmmakers can employ several creative techniques, unique perspectives, and ear-catching music to keep us engaged, and the more creative the techniques, the higher chance it would be on this list. To see what I mean by creative techniques, all you have to do is watch the first video on this list, and you will understand why.
1. Multiverse By Hiroshi Kondo
"Multiverse" by Hiroshi Kondo is a mind-bending timelapse video of Taiwan that is best watched without prior knowledge of it, so I'll keep the description spoiler-free.
The timelapse video employed one of the most creative techniques I have ever seen, and I have yet to see it replicated by other filmmakers, which shows how unique and difficult it must have been for Hiroshi to come up with.
Simply watch the video long enough, and you will start to see a pattern as your eyes become used to the fast motion. You will start to wonder how he was able to create such a mind-bending video. Watch it and let me know what you think in the comments below!
2. Paris Day & Night By Teeter-Totter-Tam
"Paris Day & Night" by Teeter-Totter-Tam is a 5-minute timelapse journey through one of the prettiest cities in the world, Paris, from day to night. The timelapse/hyperlapse consists of several motion shots of well-known architectures all around the city.
The things I love most about this timelapse video are probably the music that just fits perfectly with the cityscape of Paris, especially when the sky turns dark, and the city lights up at around the 03:22 mark. The music goes quiet before transitioning from uplifting to mysterious. I don't know why, but the nighttime music fits perfectly well with Paris. I love it!
Their advanced techniques, such as the hand-held cityscape hyperlapse and others, are well-explained on their website. So, if you are interested in learning how they made the film, check out: About the creation of the "Paris Day & Night" Video Clip.
3. Sudan Surprise By Joerg Daiber
Another interesting technique filmmakers like to use in a timelapse film is tilt-shift timelapse, which is a technique where they manipulate focus and depth-of-field to yield videos that are focused in one area, often mimicking a miniature model, making large, real-life objects look small.
Joerg Daiber took this technique to the next level in his film, "Sudan Surprise", where he takes us through Sudan, the undiscovered African gem, in less than 5 minutes.
Combining the fast-paced classical music, vibrant color correction, and his perfect tilt-shift technique, he has created a unique type of timelapse travel film that is unmatched by anyone. There is no mistaking his film for another, that is for sure.
4. Wanderlust:Plose By FilmSpektakel
Wanderlust: Plose is a timelapse film of a group of German filmmakers who went on a one-week trip in Plose, a mountain in Tyrol in the Italian Alps, hiking, and camping.
This video consisted of some of the most stunning timelapse videos of the mountains in Tyrol, all stitched together in a unique way that allowed us to flow through the scenery seamlessly with the transitions.
It is this smooth flow of transition that made this video stand out for me. Usually, some filmmakers like to go overboard with their transitions (trust me, I went through that phase as well 😂) but for this video, it is just perfect without overwhelming the audience too much. And you can't deny, the timelapse of Plose is just mesmerizing to watch.
5. Dubai Flow Motion By Rob Whitworth
Now, you can't make a list of timelapse videos without mentioning Rob Whitworth, the most accomplished hyperlapse creator of all time. And you can see quite clearly why he is the best in the "Dubai Flow Motion" video.
The video takes us through Dubai in a series of interconnected hyperlapse footages, transitioning from one frame to another so seamlessly, from day to night, that you start to wonder what magic he used to create such a masterful work like Dubai Flow Motion.
Every now and then, I like to ponder how much effort, manpower, and time it took for him to create such beautiful art. How many photos did he take just for this one video? Probably in the thousands. If you are looking to watch one epic travel video today, this is it.
6. Hypereurotrip By Timelapse Media
Now, after "flowing" through Dubai, let's go back to Europe and follow Ewa Soda (the model in the video) as she explores some of the most stunning cities in Europe, from Krakow, Poland to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, with another cool hyperlapse technique.
Instead of flying through a country from one transition to another, this time, we follow one subject as she seamlessly teleports from one place to another with interesting hand tricks and movement. This probably required extreme planning and well-timed shots to create such a fresh take on transitioning.
Timelapse Media is an agency that seems to master this technique very well, as shown in this video, as well as in another of their timelapse videos shown below.
7. PERU & BOLIVIA | a stop-motion journey by Timelapse Media
This is one of the first hyperlapse videos I saw almost 7 years ago that inspired me to visit Peru and Bolivia 4 years later. It utilized the same technique as the previous video (Hypereurotrip), with well-timed shots of the model clapping, walking, snapping fingers, and jumping through the 2 countries.
Uploaded 7 years ago by Timelapse Media, and it is still impressive to watch even today. I went to many of the places shown in the video when I was backpacking through Peru and Bolivia just because I remember seeing how beautiful it is from this video. That is the kind of effect I look for in travel videos; hence, why this video deserves a spot on this list.
8. One Week In Japan By Mike Matas
Here is another take on timelapse travel videos, but in One Week in Japan by Mike Matas, it is less of a traditional timelapse video but more of a collection of non-linear photos, stitched in a way that makes it seem like a timelapse video.
"One Week In Japan" timelapse video consisted of 4,000 photos, all shot handheld in different spots around Japan. Combining it with fast-paced piano music, the result is this tranquil trip through the wonderful country that flows surprisingly well.
Even though it seems like the photos are randomly placed, somehow our eyes can still make out what is happening in the video, creating a unique flow that is not present in any other timelapse videos I listed here. It is definitely a unique take on timelapse travel videos, that's for sure.
9. RUSSIA By Pete Rojwongsuriya
A little shameless plug right here, but one of my proudest travel videos that earned me my first Staff Pick badge from Vimeo and Best of the Month award is the "RUSSIA" video. In this video, I combined a series of timelapse, hyperlapse, and slow-motion shots of my journey through Russia with heart-pounding industrial sound music by the great Philip Glass.
I was so bummed out by the cloudy weather the entire time I was in Russia, so I decided to use the cloudy sky to my advantage and focus my effort on taking timelapse videos instead of my usual run-and-gun shots.
The result is this video that, somehow, many people enjoy. Don't ask me why this is a good timelapse video, as I can spend days praising myself 😂😂 (haha, just kidding!), but simply watch it and enjoy the ride!
10. Apollo Mission By harrisonicus
Here is a little extra timelapse (ish) video that takes you to space with the Apollo 11 crew. I mean, traveling to space is still considered travel, right? 😂😂
Anyhow, when NASA released all their photos from the moon landing mission of Apollo 11 to the public domain, the user harrisonicus came up with a great idea to combine all these photos into a timelapse journey of Apollo 11 and its moon landing, using the same technique as seen on the video "One Week In Japan" by Mike Matas listed above. The result is fantastic, as you can watch above.
Want to take your filmmaking game to the next level? Here are some resources to help you upgrade your work and filmmaking gear:
Further Reading for Filmmaking
Looking for more articles about travel videos and filmmaking? Here is a collection of articles about filmmaking that you might find useful:
- Let’s lose ourselves in a short adventure documentary with this 10 Most Inspiring Short Adventure Documentaries to Watch.
- Looking for the best travel videos of all time? Check out 20 Most Creative Travel Videos Of All Time.
- Looking for drone travel videos for inspiration? Check out my list of 8 best drone travel videos of all time.
- To be a great traveler, you need to learn about the world and see its uniqueness in every culture. To do that, you will have to first expand your worldview. Here are 7 BEST Short Documentaries About The World To Watch.
- Want to learn more about travel filmmaking? Here is A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Make a Travel Video.
- Want to improve your travel filmmaking game? Here are 10 Practical Tips for Making a Great Travel Video.
- Want to Know Which Camera I Used for Filmmaking? Here is Why the Sony A6500 Is the Best Travel Camera to Get.
- Looking for a fool-proof way to store your travel photos and videos? Here is How I Store My Photos And Videos.
- Looking to buy new filmmaking equipment for your next film? Here is The Ultimate Advanced Travel Filmmaking Gear Guide.
- Not so fond of carrying heavy camera equipment while traveling? Here is The Extremely Lightweight Travel Photography Gear Guide.
- Want to watch my travel videos? Check out our Travel Videos page.
- For all articles about Filmmaking, visit the Filmmaking Article page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.