Wendy asked me, as a former picture editor at The New York Times and the Associated Press, to single out ten of my favorite photos that our travelers shot and sent in this year to go with their trip reviews. It wasn’t easy!

Out of hundreds of images of amazing sights the world over, my favorite is the above picture of Mount Fuji submitted by Ariadna Biete. Ariadna captured this during “an amazing hike with breathtaking views” that you can read about in her Japan trip review.

Why do I Iove this shot? I’ve seen a million photos of Mount Fuji, but never an angle like this. At first I thought it might be an A.I.-created fake. The mountain seems to be floating in mid-air! But it’s a view you can get when your local travel fixer knows the lay of the land and the ryokans situated near the most scenic trails.

Below are nine more of the best photos our travelers sent us in 2025. If they evoke an I-want-to-be-there feeling in you, we can help via the button below.

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AUSTRALIAN SEA LION ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF     Photo by Andrea Phillips

Who’s checking out whom? We’ve all seen underwater close-ups, but as soon as I saw this one, I was so jealous of the photographer. I wanted to be there, taking part in this rare face-to-face meeting. Who wouldn’t want a travel experience like this?

Read about Andrea’s Australia trip here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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SPRING BREAK IN MOROCCO     Photo by Veronique Padalecki

Joy! The light in this photo is glorious, but it’s the shutter speed of the camera that makes this picture so special: There’s enough of a blur to convey movement—and the whipped-up sand adds to it—yet the figures are still sharp. I hope the photographer makes the biggest print technically possible and hangs it in a place of honor.

Read about Veronique’s trip to Morocco here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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A FORMER MAIKO PLAYING A SHAMISEN IN KYOTO    Photo by Glen Graves

It’s rare when a photo can so quickly make the viewer feel something. This picture conveys calm and grace and is so soothing in its subject and simplicity that just looking at it makes me feel more relaxed. I can hear her music.

Read about Glen’s trip to Japan here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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EVENING RIDE ON LAKE COMO    Photo by Michael Ruma

It’s so nice to see a picture taken when many photographers would have put their cameras down because the light or conditions were sub-optimal. (Pro tip: Newer cell-phone cameras do an amazing job in low light and can take a couple of splashes too.) I can feel the wind—and the speed of the boat. Despite the weather, this shot makes me wish I was there. And that’s a great compliment for travel photography: Just as food photos should make you want to taste the food, travel photos should make you wish you were there.

Read about Michael’s Italy trip here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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CAVA AGING IN CLAY POTS NEAR BARCELONA    Photo by Dan Bullock

The combination of light, shape, color, and vanishing point in this shot got my attention right away. It looks like an image that belongs in a decorator showroom or Architectural Digest.

Read about Dan’s trip to Spain here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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LEOPARD SPOTTED ON SAFARI    Photo by Joe Rothman

We’ve seen shots of leopards before, but what compels me about this one is the intense stare. Doesn’t it look like the leopard is sizing you up for a snack? Luck plays a role in photography, but it helps to be prepared for the luck: This photographer was in the right spot at the right time with the right equipment—and the leopard cooperated.

Read about Joe’s trip to Botswana and Tanzania here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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WAHIBA SANDS IN OMAN    Photo by Jenifer Bunis

I love the light play, textures, and patterns of this shot. This was a case where the photographer really used her eye to isolate one complex stretch of a huge landscape.

Read about Jenifer’s trip to Oman here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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FISHING NETS IN HOI AN, VIETNAM    Photo by Milinda Martin

As a sports photographer, I always strive to get action at its absolute peak. This perfectly timed shot does just that by stopping the net at its apex. Having the action—in this case, the net itself—come right at the camera adds to its impact. Like it’s coming to catch the viewer.

Read about Milinda’s trip to Southeast Asia here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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GIRLS IN BARILOCHE, ARGENTINA    Photo by Aimee Kleiman

I love how the focus here is on the girls, not the scene, since the mountains are obvious. It’s an example of how not every picture should have its subjects smiling at the camera: Even though you see only the girls’ backs, the photo effectively conveys a moment they’ll cherish for years.

Read about Aimee’s trip to Argentina here. To get your own WOW trip, start with our trip questionnaire, reached via the black button below. 

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