SMART TRAVELLER // READER AWARDS

W I N N E R

NEW NATIONAL TREASURE

(UK ATTRACTION)

THE NATIONAL
MUSEUM OF
SCOTLAND
Fresh from a 47m redevelopment, the museum
houses more than 20,000 fascinating artefacts.
Its one of the worlds top 20 visited galleries
and museums, and youve chosen it as the very
pinnacle of cultural places to visit in the UK.

FINALISTS IRON BRIDGE,

SHROPSHIRE // HINTZE HALL,
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

W I N N E R

THE DESTINATION HOTEL

(OVERSEAS HOTEL)

RAFFLES
SINGAPORE
Some hotels are destinations in their own right
and this Singapore landmark is a historic case in
point. Even if youre not staying here, this 19th-
century national monument is worth visiting
because, wrote voters, its an oasis of calm,
and encapsulates the spirit of Singapore.

FINALISTS MARINA BAY SANDS,

SINGAPORE // BELLAGIO, LAS
VEGAS

W I N N E R

LANDMARK LEGEND
(FAMOUS ATTRACTION)

TAJ MAHAL
The Taj Mahal never fails to awe, no matter
how many times you see it, wrote one voter.
And this says it all about Indias most iconic
building and winner in this category. This isnt
just a place to see and tick off but somewhere
that delivers above and beyond, every time.
Its the most beautiful building Ive ever seen,
noted another voter, a sentiment echoed by
many. Its the only landmark that exceeded
expectations. In the case of the Taj Mahal, you
really have to see it to believe it.

FINALISTS MACHU PICCHU //

GRAND CANYON

18 natgeotraveller.co.uk
 READER AWARDS // SMART TRAVELLER

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GREEN LIGHT (ECO TRAVEL)

THE OCEAN CLEANUP

This category applauds forward-thinking eco warriors. The project
that made you believe the world could be a better place was The Ocean
Cleanup, founded by Dutch teenager Boyan Slat in 2003. Its being
dubbed as the largest cleanup in history and is set to remove 50% of
the debris in the North Pacific gyre in five years.

FINALISTS CRIEFF HYDRO, SCOTLAND //

AMBOSELI SERENA SAFARI LODGE, KENYA

W I N N E R

FAR & AWAY (OVERSEAS

ATTRACTION)

LOST CITY OF
KUELAP, PERU
New experiences and attractions are popping
up all over the world. Which is the best, we
asked? You were clear. Move over Machu
Picchu, theres a new lost city on the tourist
map: the crumbling sixth-century northern
Peruvian settlement of Kuelap, which is now
accessible via Perus very first cable-car.

FINALISTS LA CIT DU VIN,

IMAGES: GETTY

BORDEAUX, FRANCE //
SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM
OF MODERN ART, USA

Jan/Feb 2018 19
SMART TRAVELLER // READER AWARDS
W I N N E R
RIGHT TRACK (RAIL)
EUROSTAR
E320 FLEET
This category celebrated rail experiences, from
luxury transcontinental journeys to impeccably
serviced short hops. Eurostars new E320 fleet
was rolled out on the London to Paris route
in 2015 and the operator is now introducing
these trains on the London-Brussels route. Our
readers love the plush modern interiors.
FINALISTS RAILWAY TOURING
COMPANYS THE HADRIAN TOUR
ON THE FLYING SCOTSMAN, UK //
TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA, JAPAN
20 natgeotraveller.co.uk
W I N N E R
SCREEN & SOUND (TV & RADIO)
JOANNA LUMLEYS
POSTCARDS (ITV)
Has a presenter or podcast host made you want to dig out your
passport? Elegant and irreverent in equal measure, this presenter
stands in a class of her own. Joanna Lumley says she was practically
born in a suitcase and used her numerous travel journals as
inspiration for this TV series that took in, among other memorable
journeys, a trip along the Nile from Egypt to Sudan. This series also
travelled to Greece, China, Russia, Mongolia and Uganda.
FINALISTS GREAT AMERICAN RAILROAD
JOURNEYS WITH MICHAEL PORTILLO (BBC2) //
TRAVEL MAN: 48 HOURS IN (CHANNEL 4)
W I N N E R
BOOK WORM (BOOK)
THE BEST AMERICAN
TRAVEL WRITING
EDITED BY BILL BRYSON (MARINA BOOKS)
Which travel book expanded your mind and inspired your
adventures? The 2016 edition in this annual series was edited by
travel writing royalty, Bill Bryson, who collated the best itinerant
stories from such stellar Stateside writers as Michael Chabon, Paul
Theroux and Dave Eggers, each aiming to answer the question
why do I travel?
FINALISTS RAIN: FOUR WALKS IN ENGLISH
IMAGES: GETTY
WEATHER, BY MELISSA HARRISON (FABER &
FABER) // DEEP SOUTH: FOUR SEASONS ON
BACK ROADS, BY PAUL THEROUX (PENGUIN)