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BEST MOST BEAUTIFUL TRAVEL PHOTOS

“Playtime.” Polar bears at Wapusk National Park. Manitoba, Canada. Photo by Daisy Gilardini. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.
by Daisy Gilardini. “Playtime.” Wapusk National Park. Manitoba, Canada. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

As we journey through our last week of 2017, we are reminiscing about some of the Best images and stories that we covered during the year. We begin with our coverage of the National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

The winning images are light years ahead of the typical travel snapshots most people take. And, they far surpass most pro travel photos in that they truly make you gasp and say, “Wow! That’s really beautiful.” They are awe inspiring.

From alien-looking Icelandic landscapes, to dramatic captures of indigenous people making their way in the wild, to star-studded desert skies, to seas aglow with bioluminescent plankton, to polar bears like we’ve never seen them, we are treated to trips we might never have taken.

We seek out the most enchanting places when we travel. The National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest entries capture some of the most enchanting of of them all. Check out the most recent winners, finalists, honorable mentions and favorites below.

Two people stand on beautiful mossy green hills. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year

Image: by Dylan Shaw. “A Mossy Eruption.” Iceland. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

 Horseman driving a team of horses through the mist. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year

Image: by Anthony Lau. “Winter Horseman.”  Inner Mongolia. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Fascinating salt lakes in the Atacama Desert, Chile with a beautiful view of the stars in the night sky. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year
Image: by Victor Lima. “Lagunas Baltinache. (Atacama Desert).” San Pedro de Atacama. Antofagasta, Chile. National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Mom and her baby polar bear rest on a snowy covered iceberg. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by John Rollins. “Bears on a Berg.” Qikiqtarjuaq. Nunavut, Canada. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Dangerously beautiful sunrise eruption at Mt. Bromo in Indonesia. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by Ronald Nelson. “Mt. Bromo Sunrise Eruption.” Indonesia. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Absolutely gorgeous rainbow under a waterfall at twilight. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by Takahiro Takenouchi. “Moonbow.” Iceland. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Night time in the water as blue bioluminescent plankton shine through. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by Will Strathmann. “There’s Something in the Water.” Ban Tha Len. Krabi, Thailand. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Pride of lions rest in a tree on the beautiful green plains of Tanzania under a perfect blue sky. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year

Image: by Zhayynn James. “Traffic Jam.” Ngorongoro. Arusha, Tanzania. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Colorful view of One World Trade Center through red and purple windows. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by Dave Paek. “Mondrian Skyline.” Dumbo, New York. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Dramatic mist rises to the top of beautiful flower covered mountain top. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by Federica Violin. “Edge of the World.” Ortisei. Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Tourist take photographs while standing in the beautiful limestone pools of Turkey. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year

Image: by Andrea Loriga. “Pamukkale - Turkey.” Pamukkale. Denizli, Turkey. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

Read more about Beautiful Bests all this week on BeautifulNow.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Gorgeous moonrise and sunset over Death Valley, California. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by Karin Eibenberger. “Moonrise over Death Valley.” California. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.

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Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Contest. We run new creative competitions every week!

Beautiful dramatic split view of Central Park in the fall and the beautiful architecture of New York. Photo Winner National Geographic Travel Photographer of the YearImage: by Kathleen Dolmatch. “Divide.” Manhattan, New York. Courtesy of National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.