Viator Viator Travel Blog

Each year at Viator.com we post the Top 10 Traveler Photos of the Year. The photos are submitted by actual Viator travelers (e.g., by people just like you), and from these thousands of photos we select 10 that make us laugh, make us smile — and most inspire us to take that next trip.

Last year we had an amazing set of photo winners (skip to the bottom if you’re curious about 2007’s winners). This year, if the truth be told, it was nearly impossible to select only 10 top travel photos.

The problem?

The problem is you all take such excellent photos. Sure sure, that sounds like we’re sucking up to you, but it’s the honest-to-goodness truth. We had a very difficult time selecting just 10 photos. So we made a compromise. We did select our 10 favorites, but this year we’re also including a handful of runner-up photos. We’ll let you decide if we selected (or not) the 10 best. Now without further ado, here are the top 10 photos submitted by travelers on Viator.com in 2008.

Top 10 Traveler Photos from 2008

#10. Jungfraujoch Top-of-Europe Day Trip from Lucerne, Switzerland

Ivy made it to the top

Ivy took a tour to the top of Jungfraujoch at 11,333 feet (3454 meters) in Switzerland. The scenery is stunning, and the smiles are infectious. Thanks Ivy! (See more photos of this tour here.)

#9. 4-Day Canyons and National Parks Tour, from Las Vegas

Philippe's amazing photo of horse and rider in Monument Valley

If we didn’t know better, we’d think this was a still photo from a John Wayne film. But it’s not. Philippe took this photo on a 4-day tour to Monument Valley from Las Vegas. Doesn’t this photo make you want to go there??

#8. Gladiator Training School in Rome

Rob in his mask at the Rome Gladiator school

You’ve seen the movie, right? Maybe you didn’t know you can also learn to be a gladiator yourself at this school in Rome, Italy. Rob took this photo, and said the helmets are heavy but very cool! (You can check out more photos of the Rome Gladiator School.)

#7. Elephant Trek, Rafting and Hilltribe Tour from Chiang Mai, Thailand

Carolyn on the Mae Pring River

Carolyn’s smile is what won our hearts. Has anybody every looked happier rafting down a lazy river in Thailand on their way to trek with elephants and meet the local hill tribes? Nope, and that’s why we selected it. Thanks Carolyn!

#6. Naples and Pompeii Day Trip, from Rome

Angela is on top of the world

Angela’s caption for her photo was simply, “On top of the world.” She looks supremely regal and thoroughly happy exploring the ruins of Pompeii on a day trip from Rome.

#5. 4×4 Desert Safari, Dubai

Steve's kids riding a camel for the first time in Dubai

Steve took this photo of his kids riding a camel for the first time, in the desert dunes of Dubai on a 4×4 Desert Safari tour. Do you think those two happy-looking kids will remember this experience for a very, very long time? Yes, we do. Nice one, Steve. (Click here to see more photos of the Dubai Desert Safari tour.)

#4. Arch de Triomphe & Eiffel Tower, Paris

Saibal, with a postcard-perfect view of Paris

This photo is from Saibal - or more likely, from a fellow traveler who took this photo of the couple at the top of the Arc de Triomphe, looking out over the Eiffel Tower (which they visited as part of the Paris Pass). Saibal’s caption notes that “it was a captivating view of Paris, after climbing 287 steps.” And that’s what we love about this photo - the mix of fatigue, and the pride of accomplishment, on their faces after tackling those 287 steps and being rewarded with a stunning view of Paris.

#3. Harbor Lights Night Cruise in New York City

As David says, his photo of the Statue of Liberty speaks for itself

David took this photo on a Harbor Lights Night Cruise in New York. He’s caption pretty much sums up our feelings: “Lady Liberty in the Twilight - Speaks for itself.” Yes David, we agree, your photo pretty much speaks for itself.

#2. Sydney Opera House, Sydney

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia

Jordan caught the Sydney Opera House at sunset, just as the sun was dropping behind Sydney’s iconic harbor-front landmark. Great timing, Jordan, and a great photo.

#1. Black River Safari, Negril, Jamaica

Here is why we travel - to do something unforgettable with the people you love

You may not have heard of Negril, Jamaica (it’s one of the top vacation spots in Jamaica, in case you were wondering). But this photo of Brenda and her family (Mikey, Marissa & Wyatt) on the Negril Black River Safari captures the spirit of ‘why we travel’. It’s not where you sleep and it’s not how you get there - it is what you do. And perhaps even more important - it is who you do it with. Here at Viator we received photos of more exotic locations, more extreme adventures, more unique things to do… yet in the end we awarded the #1 spot to Brenda and her family because her photo captured the spirit of going somewhere and doing something fun with the people you care about most.

And really, isn’t that why we travel?

Runners-Up: 2008 Traveler Photos

This year there were simply too many great photos to pick only 10. So here’s a short list of the runners-up from 2008. Thanks again to the thousands of travelers who submitted their trip and tour photos to Viator.com this year.

Changing of the Guard, London. Photographer: Arthur C

Sports Lover Tour, Melbourne. Photographer: Joanne B

Loro Park, Tenerife. Photographer: Anonymous

Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour, Photographer: Marcel D

South Sea Island Day Cruise, Fiji. Photographer: Alexandra S

Dolphin Swim, Oahu, Hawaii. Photographer: Sally C

Monzee Lake, near Salzburg, Austria. Photographer: Dani B

Grand Canyon Skywalk, Grand Canyon. Photographer: Christina T

Top 10 Traveler Photos from 2007

Just for the record, here are the photos we honored last year. Viator’s 2007 list of the top 10 photos of the travel year.

#10. 4×4 Dubai Desert Safari in Dubai

4x4 Dubai Desert Safari

Here’s a shot taken by Merridy in Dubai, on a 4×4 Desert Desert Safari. Merridy’s comment: “The kids loved it. We are glowing with praise for your fantastic desert safari and your even more fantastic staff who drove, cooked and looked after my daughter, her 9 year old son, 5 year old daughter and me… the grandmother!”

We chose this for our top 10 list because the kids do, very much indeed, look happy riding that camel at sunset. You can browse more photos of the Dubai 4×4 desert safari over on the Viator website.

#9. Dive & Snorkel Cruise from Cairns, Australia

Samantha on the Dive and Snorkel Cruise to Agincourt Ribbon Reef

Hello Samantha! What a funny shot of you underwater on the Dive and Snorkel Cruise to Agincourt Ribbon Reef from Cairns. Samantha’s caption: “Me, trying to take a picture of my self at Agincourt Reef!” And for attempting that underwater self-portrait, we salute you Samantha. Browse more photos of this dive & snorkel cruise on the Viator website.

#8. Champagne Sunset Cruise in St Lucia, the Caribbean

Angela's sunset shot

Here’s a postcard-perfect shot of sunset on the Caribbean island of St Lucia, taken by Angela after her St Lucia Champagne Sunset Cruise. Check out a few more of Angela’s photos of St Lucia, all of which make us want to book the next flight to St Lucia.

#7.Elephant Trek & River Rafting in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Laurie's Elephant Trek

Laurie took this shot of “elephants heading back home up the river after our jungle trek,” and for us it captures the thrill of taking an elephant jungle trek in Thailand. There’s something very cool and hypnotic about that long line of elephants slowly snaking up the river. See more of Laurie’s photos of her elephant trek in Thailand.

#6. Niagara Falls Day Trip from New York City

Sophie, Katherine and Sean

Say hello to Sophie, Katherine and Sean. Don’t they look happy? Don’t they look wet? Don’t they look like they’re having a blast exploring the Niagara Falls on a day trip from New York City? Yes we thought so, too. Check out more of Sean’s photos of the Niagara Falls day trip from NYC.

#5. Ayers Rock (Uluru) Camel Sunset Tour in Ayers Rock, Australia

Gillian on her camel

Hmm, not sure we intended to have a camel theme to our top photos of the year. But good photos are good photos, and this snap by Gillian of her Ayers Rock Sunset Camel Tour caught our fancy. Kangaroos in Australia? Sure. Koalas and wombats, too. But camels? Mate, you better believe it. Check out more photos of the Ayers Rock camel tour.

#4. Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour, Rome

James' Vatican photo

The Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, Rome… these are some of the most stunning sites in Europe. And we liked James’ photo above because it captures the awe-inspiring beauty of the Vatican’s architecture. Check out more photos of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel walking tour.

#3. Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour, from Las Vegas

Katie's Grand Canyon shot

For some people, Las Vegas is all about gambling. For others it’s all about the glitz and the glamor. For others it’s about easy access to sites such as Death Valley and the one-of-a-kind Grand Canyon. We selected Katie’s photo above, on her All American Grand Canyon helicopter tour, because it captures the Grand Canyon’s majestic natural beauty with the shadows of a few fleeting clouds on an otherwise crystal-clear day. Great photo, Katie. (Click here to see more photos.)

#2. Paris City Tour in a Citroen 2CV, in Paris

Happy 40th, Nancy!

Fancy a private tour of Paris in a Citroen 2cv? Nick and Nancy (above) did, and here’s what Nick had to say: “This was a trip down memory lane - my wife and I both drove 2CVs in the 1980s. I organised the tour for my wife’s 40th birthday, and it was great to hear the familiar rumble of a 2CV as it approached the hotel. This was a brilliant way to see Paris, and we were the centre of attention wherever we went. Great fun.”

#1. Statue of Liberty at Sunset, New York City

Costa's photo of the Statue of Liberty

The Big Apple, it’s our kind of town. New York City is one of the world’s most iconic destinations, and it’s a safe bet that Manhattan’s skyline is the most recognizable in the world (More recognizable than Paris? Yes. More than London? Yes.). We chose Costa’s image of the Statue of Liberty at sunset as our top photo of the year because it is, simply, a beautiful photo of one of New York’s most famous sites. Congratulations Costas.

And we hope your future travels include more of Viator’s tours and things to do, if only because we hope you send us more of your great trip photos!

-The Viator Travel Team