Lens-Artists,  Themed galleries,  Travel in general

Gallery: everyone should see this

September 28, 2025 / 95 Comments

The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark

John Muir

Most of us who love to travel have a bucket list, and some places I believe are on nearly everyone’s list. I’m one of the lucky ones; I’ve been able to ‘tick off’ many places from my own list although of course like you, I suspect, I’m continually adding more as I go along!

I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list

Susan Sontag

Yes, I know I’m very fortunate to be able to do this and to share some of these places here. There’s a risk in doing so that I make others less fortunate than I am a little jealous. That’s not my intent. No, instead I want to inspire others who able to, to visit these places too. And to offer those unable to, at least a virtual visit to them.

So for Joanne’s Lens Artists challenge, in which she asks us to share sights ‘that you think everyone should see’, here are photos taken in just some of my visited-to-date bucket list places. Some shots you will have seen before, but where possible I’ve tried to find different images of these places and sights.

And while I’ve been so fortunate to be able to visit all these places, believe me when I say that there are plenty more still on my bucket list!

I thought it would be interesting (for me at least!) to present these in chronological order of my visits. The earlier shots (pre 2005) are scans from old 35 mm slides so please forgive the poor quality!

1993

Storm over the Grand Canyon, Arizona

1996

The Treasury, Petra, Jordan

2001

Iguaçu Falls, Brazil

2003

Antarctica: Gentoo penguin

2005

Machu Picchu, Peru

2007

The Registan, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

2008

Skyline of New York City [but first seen in 1982]

2010

Tikal, Guatemala: the Sloping Panel Temple, part of the Mundo Perdido (Lost World)

2012

Galápagos Islands: Blue-footed booby and chick on North Seymour

2013

The Northern Lights near Tromsø, Norway [with apologies for the poor photo!]

2013

The temples of Kyoto: Japan: Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) at Rokuon-ji

2015

The Taj Mahal, Agra, India

2016

The Salar de Atacama, Chile

2016

Torres del Paine and Laguna Azul, Chile

2016

The Moai of Rapa Nui: Tongariki Ahu

2018

Victoria Falls from the air [my feature photo is also of Victoria Falls]

2019

The Forbidden City, Beijing [first seen in 1994]

2020

Angkor Wat just after sunrise, Cambodia

2022

The Himalayas: sunrise from Sarangkot near Pokhara, Nepal

2024

Blue whale in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico

2024

Yosemite National Park, California

2025

Polar bear on the sea ice, north of Svalbard

2025

The beautifully restored Notre Dame de Paris

95 Comments

  • Leya

    October 7, 2025 at 08:35 Reply

    Great images of wonderful places in the world. I have been to eight of them, and my husband to some more. The hottest ( temperature) places I avoid… I am grateful to be able to see the other places through your lens!

    • Sarah Wilkie

      October 7, 2025 at 09:12 Reply

      Thanks so much Ann-Christine 😊 I should probably avoid the hotter places too as I do suffer in the heat, but I can’t resist travelling to see all the wonderful sights there!

  • Annie Berger

    October 4, 2025 at 03:17 Reply

    You are absolutely right that my travel wish list is also getting longer, not shorter, as I’d have thought having seen so many magnificent places, Sarah! I appreciated how your photos were arranged chronologically – your wide ranging travels each year are amazing.

    • Sarah Wilkie

      October 4, 2025 at 10:48 Reply

      I suspect most of us who travel a lot find the same thing Annie 😀 And reading other people’s interesting blog posts only adds to the pile! I’m glad you liked the chronological arrangement here.

  • equinoxio21

    September 30, 2025 at 18:32 Reply

    Wonderful shots of wonderful places. I’ve been to a few. The others? Maybe one day. My bucket list is shortening…
    I thought the first photo might have been Murchison Falls in Uganda.
    As my fellow Frogs say: “Keep hopping.”

  • Sofia Alves

    September 30, 2025 at 10:21 Reply

    You’ve visited some wonderful places, Sarah but you also captured them with artistry and care. Your photos are stunning and exactly what this challenge was about. How did you find the Notre-Dame after restoration, does it feel the same?

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 30, 2025 at 10:41 Reply

      Thanks so much for that lovely comment Sofia ☺️ Notre Dame did still feel special but I hadn’t been inside for so many years that it’s hard to compare. The outside was glorious, especially in the evening sunlight, and the stained glass beautifully restored.

  • Wandering Dawgs

    September 29, 2025 at 19:43 Reply

    Sarah, what a beautiful collection of places we should all see! Your images are fabulous. I’ve only seen a couple of these places. If I was younger I would book a trip to see some of these special places!

  • Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter

    September 29, 2025 at 17:40 Reply

    I think I’ve been to 4 and a half of those places! The half being Notre Dame because I haven’t seen it post-restoration. There are many other places in your wonderful gallery that at one time I would have said I was jumping to see, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t know if I’ve given up travel or travel has given up me. I think our last long venture was the Canadian Rockies in 2017, then mum became too frail cope on her for more than a week, then Covid – and here we are! Not got my mojo back yet beyond tootling around the UK. Never say never though! Your recent Arctic posts were certainly inspiring.

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 18:41 Reply

      I think Covid had a similar effect on many people, whereas for us (and for others) it was almost the opposite, making us realise that if we wanted to see these places we should do so sooner rather than later! Unlike some we’re not so keen on the idea of being away for months on end so at the moment I think we have the balance right, with two longer trips a year and some European and UK adventures in between. I do hope you get your travel mojo back however. Maybe dip your toes in the water with a short break somewhere?

  • wetanddustyroads

    September 29, 2025 at 14:17 Reply

    Oh my, the list of places you have visited is amazing! There are many here that I would still love to see, but if it never happens, I can at least say that I have seen them on your blog 😉. Torres del Paine has been on our wish list for many years. Your photos are proof of how many incredible places there are in our world – thanks for sharing these!

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 15:44 Reply

      Thanks so much Corna 😊 I know you two would love the Torres del Paine – lots of great hikes that were well beyond my capabilities even back then but which you should have no problem with!

  • photobyjohnbo

    September 29, 2025 at 13:23 Reply

    Sarah, your photos are masterpieces of composition. I knew when I learned the topic for this week that I’d be seeing photos from around the world. Your gallery is amazing, filled with places I’d love to see. I’m happy you shared them.

  • Leanne Cole

    September 29, 2025 at 09:35 Reply

    That’s a lot of places Sarah, I think I’ve seen two of them. Sadly I’m not a traveller, one because I don’t really like it, but I also don’t like the impact of travelling on the environment, so I have made the decision to only travel close to home. I do enjoy seeing the photos though. Great post Sarah.

  • margaret21

    September 29, 2025 at 08:52 Reply

    Goodness. We’re spoilt for choice here. In fact I won’t choose. But I’m glad to have had the chance to virtually share your adventures for the last few years.

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 10:42 Reply

      Thank you Maggie 🙂 I know you’ve been to many wonderful places too so I’m not surprised that we have a lot in common! Try to fit it Rapa Nui sooner rather than later if you can, as I understand it’s now on some cruise itineraries and getting rather busy sometimes.

  • Yvonne Dumsday

    September 28, 2025 at 23:34 Reply

    I am not at all jealous Sarah ; maybe somewhat envious. I know now that there are many places I would have loved to visit and now never shall so I really welcome and appreciate your sharing the photographs you have taken on your many and varied travels. Please keep them coming.?

  • Rose

    September 28, 2025 at 22:51 Reply

    I love those quotes, Sarah, and your collection of images are utterly amazing. Thank you for sharing them and inspiring us with the beauty you find around the world. 😍

  • Teresa

    September 28, 2025 at 22:44 Reply

    Nice to see all of these places in your post. A bit jealous but so happy for you. I know I won’t be able to go to many of this in my lifetime but seeing it here is one step closer.

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 09:43 Reply

      Thank you Teresa 🙂 I do hope you get to see some of these places for yourself, and meanwhile you’ve been to some that I would love to see, like your recent New Zealand trip!

  • Rebecca

    September 28, 2025 at 21:15 Reply

    You’re far from making me jealous of your travels– honestly, I greatly admire your passion for exploring, and I’m very much inspired by you to continue traveling the world. Gorgeous photos, as always, and I’m glad you shared a wide array of different destinations over the decades! Thanks for sharing, Sarah 🙂

  • Anonymous

    September 28, 2025 at 19:29 Reply

    Not surprisingly, a beautiful post Sarah! Like you, I’ve been fortunate to have traveled extensively – much more so than I’d ever imagined. We are fortunate to live at a time where travel is possible to places that once were impossible. We’re also fortunate that photography has come such a long way. Unlike you I’ve not gone back to my film images to convert them but one of these days I’ll get around to that….maybe 😊. Lucky you for having seen the newly-restored Notre Dame! You DO get around!!

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 10:44 Reply

      Thank you very much 😊 I’m pleased to hear we share a love of travel but unfortunately have no idea who you are! Please do leave a name when commenting in the future.

  • Easymalc

    September 28, 2025 at 18:47 Reply

    I understand the dilemma about showing people the sights you’ve been fortunate to see Sarah, but I for one have enjoyed seeing them all and look forward to seeing more 😊

  • Brad M

    September 28, 2025 at 17:54 Reply

    You have just displayed many of my life list items and locations. Been to a few, have plans to see a few more. Thanks for the encouragement.

  • Heyjude

    September 28, 2025 at 17:49 Reply

    You are very lucky to have done so much travelling. I really only started again after my kids were grown up and then accompanying the OH to conferences. So many wonderful places in the world. I enjoy my virtual travels as now I dislike both flying and crowds. I have noticed though that you haven’t included any photos from Australia or New Zealand? Are these on your bucket list?

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 09:33 Reply

      Thanks Jude – yes, we know how lucky we are to have done so much 🙂 Not having had kids is probably the main factor, and although I don’t enjoy flying as much as I used to I’m happy to put up with it for the sake of the opportunities it brings. We’ve been to Australia many years ago and it nearly made the cut but not quite. We’ve talked about New Zealand – in the past the very long journey was off-putting but now we’re able to be away for more weeks at a time we’re reconsidering as we could factor in some stopovers to soften the impact! Did you watch the recent Miriam Margolyes series? It reminded us that we should look again at the possibilities.

      • Heyjude

        September 29, 2025 at 12:55 Reply

        I can’t stand Miriam so didn’t watch that series. But yes, do go there, it’s a beautiful country and I have only seen a fraction of it. If you drive then a road trip from the top of the north island to the bottom of the south would be amazing, it’s what I wanted to do and then my son’s illness and covid interfered with any travel plans for several years. Now it’s too late for me to do that long flight, though you can fly direct to Perth and catch the train across to Sydney. That would be fun. And back via the Cook Islands and Vancouver!

        • Sarah Wilkie

          September 29, 2025 at 13:32 Reply

          Sounds like a great itinerary, I’ll bear it in mind for sure 😀 Miriam is a Marmite person – I rather enjoy her sense of mischief and I like her openness to different viewpoints while sticking firmly to her own!

  • leightontravels

    September 28, 2025 at 17:14 Reply

    Mmm, a truly special collection of locations, experiences and photographs, Sarah. I like the idea of compiling such a gallery, though for me it might be something I do twenty years from now when I’ve got some more miles on the clock and a great deal more published on the blog. Something to work towards! Hard to pick a favourite here, but I especially love the intimacy of the blue-footed booby and chick, as well as the warm retro feel of the Grand Canyon shot.

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 09:28 Reply

      Thank you very much Leighton 😊 It’s true I’ve had more years than you in which to compile such an archive, but you’ve done far more travelling than I had done at your age. Maybe you need to consider a part one now and part two in twenty years time?! Glad you picked out those two shots as they are both very special memories but then, so are many of the others!)

  • Joanne

    September 28, 2025 at 17:01 Reply

    Wow, what an awesome collection! Awesome because these are great images of so many truly unique places. And awesome because you’ve been able to visit them all. This is an incredible response to the challenge theme, Sarah.

  • Suzanne@PictureRetirement

    September 28, 2025 at 16:54 Reply

    Sarah, you have accomplished so much travel in your lifetime. Sharing my travels never feels like bragging to me, and I’m sure most people don’t see you that way. It would be a sin to keep all these wonderful memories to yourself. Several of these places are not on my list, but I appreciate the appeal. Thank you for this ‘virtual visit’. My short list is Japan, Australia/New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, and Western Canada. I’ll add more as those are ticked off in the coming years.

    • Sarah Wilkie

      September 29, 2025 at 09:25 Reply

      Thanks so much Suzanne 😊 I’ve had plenty of ‘lifetime’ to have fitted these into, and I hope I have a few more years of travel left in me yet! Greenland is on my list too – I’d love to visit with Quark as we loved our Svalbard cruise so much! Also Borneo, Indonesia (Komodo in particular), Alaska, more of India, Azerbaijan …

  • Sue

    September 28, 2025 at 16:37 Reply

    What a wonderful post, Sarah! I have to admit to being a tad envious of some of your experiences, but I am very pleased that you have shown the images here.

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