2013 Travel Highlights: Unforgettable Moments from Lonely Planet Experts
2013 was a whirlwind year for travel, featuring iconic new landmarks like London's Shard and New York's One World Trade Center, alongside aviation headlines such as the Boeing Dreamliner's early challenges and Ryanair's unexpected pivot to customer-friendly service.
Travelers faced disruptions from the US government shutdown, which closed national parks, to Middle East instability—though destinations like Tunisia showed promising recovery.
Some familiar delays persisted: Berlin's new airport remained unfinished, and the direct Paris-to-Barcelona TGV service was still anticipated by year's end.
As always, the Lonely Planet team donned their traveling shoes to explore the world. Discover 2013's standout travel experiences from the experts behind this site.
Explosive Diwali Celebrations in India
Fireworks for Diwali. Image by Anita Isalska / Lonely Planet.
Delhi during the Hindu festival of Diwali was my most memorable 2013 travel experience. The vibrant chaos of fireworks lit up every corner, but staying with family friends revealed the festival's spiritual heart: lighting candles outside their home, participating in a puja ritual on Diwali eve, and savoring endless barfi sweets. My first India trip broadened my horizons—and my palate.
Anita Isalska, Digital Editor. Follow her on Twitter @lunarsynthesis.
Secret Coves of Lanzarote, Spain
Lanzarote enchanted me with hidden coves of golden sand and turquoise waves; arrive early at Papagayo Coast for a private beach under a Saharan dust sky. Inland, Timanfaya National Park's volcanic terrain, still warm from ancient eruptions, offered an otherworldly spectacle. Endless sunshine delighted this sun-starved Brit—not your typical package holiday spot.
Emma Sparks, Social Media Coordinator. Follow her @Emma_Sparks.
Chance Encounter with Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds on a feeder. Image by James Kay / Lonely Planet.
A bucket-list trek to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel, was magical, but the highlight unfolded in Aguas Calientes below. Astonished, I watched a flock of hummingbirds duel at a feeder, delicately sipping nectar amid the forest canopy. Though my camera struggled in the dim light, the glittering jewels remain etched in memory.
James Kay, Digital Editor. Follow him on Twitter @jameskay123.
Wild Weather in the British Isles
Whale-watching from the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry and cycling gale-force Atlantic winds across the Hebridean islands—South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, and Berneray—captured the British Isles at their untamed best.
Tom Hall, Director of Digital Editorial. Follow him on Twitter @tomhalltravel.
Unforgettable Views in Montenegro
Mount Lovćen in Montenegro: an undiscovered Eastern European treasure. The winding road delivers jaw-dropping vistas over the Bay of Kotor.
Seb Neylan, Social Media Manager. Follow him on Twitter @swobba.
Otherworldly Silence in the Negev Desert
A lookout over Makhtesh Ramon. Image by Tom Hewitson / Lonely Planet.
Perched at Makhtesh Ramon in Israel's Negev Desert, the barren silence was profound—broken only by low-flying military jets near the Egyptian border. The surreal six-hour bus to Eilat with 60 teen recruits and a stern commander topped even the wildest chicken buses.
Tom Hewitson, Digital Editor (Destinations). Follow him on Twitter @tomhewitson.
Subzero Adventures in Siberia
Escaping London's February drizzle, I headed to frozen Lake Baikal, the world's deepest freshwater lake. Four-wheel drives glided past ice-trapped boats, while Listvyanka's locals shared home-brewed beer and smoked fish.
Jess Crouch, Online Editorial team. Follow her on Twitter @jcmc.
Off-the-Beaten-Track in Serbia
A field of sunflowers in Serbia. Image by Jane Atkin / Lonely Planet.
‘Beach time’ in landlocked Serbia was a first: Byzantine art in Belgrade, Novi Sad's laneway bars, dawn dancing at Petrovaradin Citadel, then relaxing at Štrand with pivo and ćevapčići. Sunflower fields rivaled Subotica's Art Nouveau. Serbia won't stay hidden long.
Jane Atkin, Online Editorial team. Follow her on Twitter @dulynoted.
Hidden Coves in Colombia
Tayrona National Park. Image by Anna Harris / Lonely Planet.
In Colombia's Tayrona National Park during my South American honeymoon, a three-hour jungle trek led to a pristine, deserted beach. Swimming and sunbathing in paradise until our water ran out—pure bliss.
Anna Harris, Traveller Communications Analyst.
