sunrise over Burma
a tuk tuk in sunlight in Jaipur, India
a flamingo at sunrise, Pulicat, Tamil Nadu, India
the Hollywood sign at sunset in Los Angeles, California
sun striking a beach in the Lofoten Islands, Norway
sunset light on streets in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan
a hiker near mountains in Vestrahorn, Iceland
elephants playing at sunset, Masai Mara, Rift Valley, Kenya
an ice cave at sunset, Iceland
Zion National Park in Utah
a snowy mountain at sunrise in Hokkaido, Japan
an aerial view of Cadiz, Spain
a canoe on a lake in Wyoming
a rock climber seen scaling Lion Rock above Hong Kong
sunset on a mountain in northern Norway
two King penguins at sunrise at St. Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island
clouds and fog at sunrise over Tsukigase, Japan
commuters walking in New York City
clouds rolling over Sausalito, California
sun over Wadi Rum, Jordan
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"First time visit to Mandalay and we were very lucky. We went to this mountain in the early morning and had no idea what would happen—sunrise—from blue sky to red and then amazing golden sunlight appeared."
Photograph and caption by Weng Sang Wong, 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year Contest

21 Gorgeous Sunrise and Sunset Photos

Chase the light around the world and see photos of cities and landscapes covered in golden hour hues.

BySarah Polger and Francis Rivera
May 30, 2018
2 min read
Captions were written and submitted by the photographers.

Light changes a place—from a golden sunrise blanketing the towering spires of Myanmar to a warm pink sunset following hikers to a mountain summit in Norway—our travel memories are wrapped in the light and emotions we experience. Photographers are often a dedicated group, patiently chasing golden hour light—that time of day at sunrise or sunset, when warm light blankets the world and warm, glowing images are created. We've combed through thousands of entries to the 2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest and collected some of the best golden hour images. Explore the glittering gallery and see which scene lights your imagination and travel plans.

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