The Year in Travel Photos

Perhaps these travel photos will inspire you to visit new countries and seek new sites!

The Year in Travel Photos

Oftentimes, it is a single photograph we see in a magazine or on social media that grabs our attention, beckoning us to visit new places and experience different cultures. The following images captured in 2019 showcase newsworthy moments as well as spectacular shots that became some of our favorites here at Far + Wide.

Perhaps these travel photos will inspire you to visit new countries and seek new sites as well!

Antarctica Blue

A ship can be seen through a hole in an iceberg amidst the waters of the Errera Channel, near the Antarctic Peninsula.

Cruises to Antarctica are becoming more popular as people seek less-traveled destinations with both expedition-style as well as more-relaxed, traditional cruises.

Sinulog Festival

The Sinulog Festival of the Philippines is considered the "Mother of all Festivals" and is celebrated for a full month at the start of the year.

"Sinulog" means "graceful dance," and you'll find many costumed dancers performing numerous dances across Cebu City.

Blood Moon

In January 2019, a Total Lunar Eclipse, or Blood Moon, took place.

Although Athens, Greece, only saw a portion — it was visible to North and South America — it did get a massive red moon. Here, the moon dwarves the Parthenon.

Chinese Spring Festival

Yellow lanterns make a Chinese dragon in the street of Japan's Yokohama Chinatown to celebrate Spring Festival.

This celebration of Chinese New Year lasts a full week and typically falls in January. Last year, was the Year of the Pig, and 2020 is the Year of the Rat.

Canary Carnival

The Carnival celebration in the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

It twins with Rio de Janeiro's famous Carnival in Brazil.

Vessel Vision

Vessel (aka, Hudson Yards Staircase) is a public structure and landmark built as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in New York. The concept for Vessel was revealed in 2016, but it finally opened to the public on March 15, 2019.

The elaborate honeycomb-like structure rises 16 stories and consists of 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps and 80 landings that visitors are able to climb. Designed by the British designer Thomas Heatherwick, Vessel cost an estimated $200 million.

Venetian Carnival

People in characteristic Venetian 18th-century costumes gather at the famous Venetian Cafe Florian during the Venetian Carnival.

In 2019, the theme of the March event honored 50 years of the moon landing with the “tutta colpa della Luna,” or “blame the moon,” theme.

A Superbloom

Thousands flocked to see the year's rain-fed flaming orange patches of poppies lighting up the hillsides near Lake Elsinore, California, when a "Superbloom" took place in March 2019.

The crowds became so bad that local officials closed access to poppy-blanketed Walker Canyon.

Paris Burning

In this photo provided by the Paris Fire Brigade, firefighters spray water inside the Notre Dame cathedral on April 15, 2019.

An inferno that raged through the historic site for more than 12 hours destroyed its spire and its roof but spared its twin medieval bell towers, and a frantic rescue effort saved the monument's "most precious treasures," including the Crown of Thorns purportedly worn by Jesus.

Indoor Waterfall

The HSBC Rain Vortex debuted as the world's tallest indoor waterfall in April 2019.

Found at Singapore's Jewel Changi Airport, it comes complete with surrounding green forest.

Japan Snow Route

The snow is so heavy in the Japanese Alps that roads have to be carved. This active Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is one way, with a pedestrian area for tourists visiting the snow corridor in Tateyama, Japan.

The route is closed during the winter but reopens in April, unveiling a wall of snow.

The Beach

Boats rest in Maya Bay on the Phi Phi Islands during a hot, summer afternoon, which is peak tourist season. This is where the movie, "The Beach," with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed.

Up to 5,000 tourists visited per day following the film, and in 2019, Thai officials closed it until 2021 to help the environment heal.

Galway Bay

Dunguaire Castle on the shores of Galway Bay, Ireland, has the best view of a beautiful sunset.

There are more than 30,000 castles and ruins that can be seen across Ireland, including the medieval Dunguaire Castle, open for tours.

Union Station

This panoramic image shows the tracks of Denver's Union Station, partially covered by the canopy architecture.

The original structure opened in the city in 1881 but was rebuilt in 1914 after a fire.

Helix and Hotel

This night shot captures the pedestrian Helix Bridge and Marina Bay Sands landmark and luxury hotel at Marina Bay in Singapore.

The steel pedestrian bridge was designed to resemble DNA and opened in 2010.

Land of Lanterns

In Nara, Japan, a photo of a deer is snapped near moss-covered stone lanterns.

This shows only a few of the thousands of lanterns in the park, which have been donated to illuminate the way to the Kasuga Grand Shrine that has honored the Fujiwara family since it was constructed in 768 CE.

Dark Skies

Pitcairn Islands, located deep in the South Pacific, received International Dark Sky Sanctuary status in 2019 — one of only nine such places in the world.

This designation means the islands provide some of the most unpolluted skies and allows for visitors to see the stars, unobstructed from light.

Albert Memorial

The Albert Memorial, situated in London's Kensington Gardens, was commissioned by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, who died in 1861.

Pagoda Sunset

Tourists wander down the narrow Sannen Zaka Street of the Higashiyama District neighborhood in Kyoto, Japan. One of the best-preserved historic areas in Japan, the area is filled with temples and pagodas.

The Yasaka Pagoda (shown) is the last remaining structure of the Hokanji Temple and is open for visitors on rare occasions.

Towering Cruise Ships

A huge MSC Cruises ship is seen entering Venice, Italy, on the Giudecca Canal, as seen from via Garibaldi.

Allowing large ships in the delicate Venetian lagoon has elicited controversy and protest. In August, a ban was placed preventing ships weighing more than 1,000 tons from entering.

Colorful Cape Town

In Cape Town, South Africa, the Bo-Kaap neighborhood has residential homes painted in a variety of bright colors.

Formerly called the Malay Quarter, these vibrant homes were originally slave houses in the mid-1700s and named for "Malays," people brought from Malaysia to work.

Cave Sunlight

Sunlight shines through a hole in the Phraya Nakhon Cave onto the Khuha Kharuehat pavilion in southern Thailand's Sam Roi Yot National Park.

The cave's blue and gold pavilion is the symbol of the province, Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Ancient Aqueduct

One of the best-preserved Roman aqueducts dates back to 1st century A.D.

The Aqueduct of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is found in Spain.

Sparkling Geneva

Lake Geneva, which cradles both Switzerland and France, is 224 square miles and one of the largest lakes in Europe.

In Switzerland, the city is a hub for diplomats from around the world to meet on neutral ground.

Redwood Forest

A car parked car along a winding dirt road in northern California's Redwood National Park shows perspective on just how tall these trees can be.

The Redwood national and state parks are a complex of several state and national parks located along the coast of northern California. The four parks, together, protect 45 percent of all remaining coastal redwood old-growth forests, totaling nearly 120,000 acres. These trees are the tallest, among the oldest, and one of the most massive tree species on Earth.

The Lonely Castle

People visit Qasr Al-Farid, the largest tomb of Mada'in Saleh. The name means "The Lonely Castle," as it is extremely isolated.

It dates from the time of the Nabatean kingdom and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Al Ula, Saudi Arabia.

Battleship Cannons

This row of cannons are replicas of those found on Russia's battleship Goto Pristancia.

Found in the city of Voronezh's Admiralteyskaya Square, the cannons "protect" the Assumption Admiralty temple, the oldest preserved church in the city, awash in yellow.

When the Wall Came Down

A Greek tourist looks through the hole in the remains of the Berlin Wall after commemorations celebrating the 30th anniversary of the wall's fall at the wall memorial site at Bernauer Strasse in Berlin in November 2019.

Submerged Church Stands

When the hydroelectric dam along the Paraná River in Brazil and Paraguay was constructed decades ago, nearly 10,000 were displaced as villages were submerged in water.

One of the only things left in the ancient city of Itá are the bell towers of the Old São Pedro Mother Church. The Itaipu Dam is considered one of the modern wonders of the world.

Camel Break

A camel trader is seen smoking a chilam pipe during the Pushkar Camel Fair. Known as Kartik Mela or Pushkar ka Mela, the annual camel, horse and cattle fair takes place in the desert of Rajasthan.

About 200,000 traders and travelers visit for 14 days leading up to the full month of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which typically starts in late October or early November. In 2020, the fair will take place from Nov. 22 to 30, but camels and other livestock will start arriving on Nov. 17.

Fogged In

The oft-photographed Eiffel Tower is mostly hidden by a cloud of mist in this view from Pont De L'Alma at night on the River Seine — yet it's still romantic!

Lunar Light

The Festival of Lights known as Loi Krathong in Thailand is celebrated around the country.

Here, visitors enjoy the old city of Chiang Mai during the annual festival, which takes place on the night of the full moon in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, which typically falls in November.

Dissolving Fields

A woman enters an exhibition hall featuring an interactive installation artwork, titled "Kinesis #3 -- Dissolving Field," by Hiroaki Umeda at Tokyo's NTT InterCommunication Center in December.

The interactive piece moved with the movement of people inside the space.

Rebirth

Wildfires ravished southeastern Australia in late 2019 into 2020. While more than 25.5 million acres were razed, green sprouted quickly in the blackened forests.

Sydney, Melbourne and other destinations are safe for travelers, now that the fires have been contained.

Northern Lights

The Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, dance in the night sky over the town of Svolvaer in the Lofoten in Norway.

Behind the town is one of the country's many fjords that have become popular tourist destinations.

Christmas Carousel

Moscow's Red Square is home to one of the nation's largest Christmas Markets, all set with St. Basil's Cathedral as a backdrop.

Palm Fronds

One of the most beautiful and famous beaches of Pernambuco state coast of Brazil, Carneiros Beach is filled with white sand and coconut trees.

Located near the city of Tamandare, these are the most deserted beaches along the southern coast of the country.

Ice Melt

Large icebergs float away as the sun rises near Kulusuk, Greenland.

Rising temperatures and diminished snow and ice cover in the Arctic are imperiling ecosystems, fisheries and local cultures, according to a report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in December 2019.

Lighted Lyon

The Place de l'Hotel de Ville displays a wall of images retracing the history of the city and historic buildings. The artistic work was produced by "Spectaculaires, les Allumeurs d'Images" for display during Lyon, France's Fête des Lumières (Festival of Lights) in December 2019.

Dedicated to Mary, every house in Lyon places candles outside of windows to illuminate the entire city as much as its City Hall.

A Great Fountain

The Alexander the Great Fountain in Skopje, Macedonia, honors the legendary ruler who was born in the country and served as its king.

In the statue, erected in 2011, Alexander rides his horse, Bucephalus, overlooking the capital city's largest square.