9 Tips for Crafting a Good Travel Video

A few years ago, my partner and I spent almost three weeks in a small rural monastery in southern Thailand. Though the focus of our trip wasn’t to document our experiences, we took plenty of photos and videos along the way.

Our journey was spontaneous and unpredictable. We landed in Bangkok knowing nothing about the local customs and unable to speak a word of Thai. It was this steep learning curve that made the trip so memorable. Looking back, though, I would have appreciated watching some good travel videos beforehand.

This highlights how valuable travel videos can be — not just for sharing beautiful, lesser-known places but also for offering crucial insights or warnings. We encourage you to create your own travel videos so others can learn from your experiences. If you’re editing one, consider using Clipify, an intuitive tool that’s perfect for beginners, which you can check out at https://clipify.net/.

Best Tips for Crafting a Good Travel Video

A good travel video is nothing less than a cinema and often more than a documentary. Have some story to tell, and let the candid sound of the nature tag along, and most importantly, edit with the intention to craft and not edit.

And, if you are still hesitating, check our tips on how to create a good travel video below. We do hope they might help!

1. Decide for a Storytelling Approach

A travel video produced by someone who doesn’t care about the final result is nothing more than a collection of clips. Watching a series of clips that are only loosely connected with each other is boring, though — even a teenager can produce them, but then, most of these videos end up in the trash. What your audience needs is a story.

So feel free to tell one! Let your story gradually unfold and have some dynamism and unpredictability. Letting your audiences immerse in your travel story is one of the most important tips for crafting a good travel video. Introduce your destination or experience in an enticing way, share the journey as you go along, and conclude with a reflection or a highlight reel.

2. Use Natural Soundscapes

Background music is just fine in most cases — but not for a travel video. All right, local music as a background for a video about the country of its origin is an exception. Don’t hesitate to add a tiny pinch of Charles Aznavour to your clip about your weekend trip to Paris.

That said, do you know many Thai singers with international renown? Those singers may be extremely popular in their culture, but unfortunately, not in the English-speaking world.

What we are driving at is that the power of natural sound can be truly great. Give a thought to including in your video the sound of waves lapping at the shore, the chatter of locals, or even the barking of dogs (that is, if you came across some on your journey).

When editing, layer these natural sounds beneath your music track or use them in place of it entirely. This auditory element helps ground your viewers in the environment you’re showcasing.

3. Play with Time

Showing a process much faster than it normally takes is known as a time-lapse technique. The opposite of it, showing something much more slowly than it actually happens, is called slow motion. Both these effects certainly have some value and should be used in their proper places.

Nobody is going to watch the whole length of your sunset footage, however beautiful this sunset was in reality — and this is exactly where time-lapse might help. On the other hand, some rare moments of your journey clearly deserve to be experienced at a slow pace.

If you want to consider the best tips for crafting a good travel video, try to use time on your behalf. So play with time! But try not to lose while playing with it. This means say: don’t overuse these techniques. They are only effective when applied occasionally.

4. Use Different Types of Lenses

Wide shots through a fish-eye lens have their place. They are especially good at capturing landscapes or architecture. That said, ultra-wide-angle lenses do distort objects. So again, use them sparingly.

Rather than playing with panoramic views, use macro lenses instead – especially to capture anything that is worth a close-up shot. Textures or ornaments of dishes you came across in an Eastern bazaar, the petals of an exotic flower, the keyhole of an old rusty lock — your audience deserves to see all their microscopic details.

Does your camera allow for mounting additional lenses? Then you’d better think of getting some in advance.

5. Edit with Intention

Editing can make or break your travel video. Instead of just trimming clips together, think about the pacing. The flow between shots should keep viewers engaged; a rapid cut during an exciting moment can heighten tension, while longer fades can create reflective pauses. A good video editor can make this process intuitive, letting you play around with transitions and effects without getting overwhelmed. Spend time refining your video — good editing can turn a decent collection of clips into a compelling story.

6. Use Varied Angles

Get creative with your camera angles! Feel free to shoot from low down in order to capture the majestic immensity of the old cathedral. Or climb the bell tower of this cathedral in order to find an unusual perspective. Think of using a stabilizer for better shots, especially from the window of a bus or while going somewhere in a small boat or similar. This variety keeps your scenes dynamic and engages viewers who might otherwise get bored by static framing.

7. Capture the Journey

Don’t forget to document the journey that gets you wherever you are going — those glimpses can become a source of valuable information for anyone who wishes to go to the same destination. “Documenting your journey” means such things as — just to give you some examples — shooting snippets from the plane, bus rides, or even the food stands along the way. These travel moments add context which is so needed; they also contribute to the narrative you’re trying to build; finally, they allow viewers to experience the authenticity of your travel.

8. Include Yourself (and Your Reactions)

People love to see a creator enjoying his craft as much as they love to watch the craft itself. One of the best tips for crafting a good travel video would be to be a character in your own story.

Your audience wants to see you! Including yourself in the video can create a personal connection with viewers. Show your reactions during key moments — a jaw-drop at a stunning vista, laughter with locals, or even a little goofiness at a local experience. It humanizes your video and gives the audience an anchor to relate to.

9. Don’t Overthink It — Sometimes Less is More

Something that all beginners seem to forget is that not every moment needs to be captured. The best videos are often the ones that aim for simplicity. Focus on the moments, locations, and persons that truly moved you. If something doesn’t serve the story, off you go with it! Quality over quantity, my friend!

Wrapping It Up

Your motivation for producing your videos is of utmost importance. Try to ask yourself: what is your reason for creating those travel videos of yours? Do you just wish to be “another YouTube star”? Then you’d better abstain from making videos — at least if you don’t have much to say to your viewers. Do you sincerely wish to share your unique travel experiences with those who might benefit from them? Then don’t hesitate — prepare yourself for your journey and don’t forget to pack your camera in your travel bag! We wish you happy travels and happy filming!