Each year I say that I could not be more blessed with the opportunities that I have had to travel the world. Not to mention, the ability to photograph the spectacular places I visit. And each year I am reminded that I have just started to scratch the surface of all the incredible things that are waiting to be explored in the world. I am beyond grateful for having the opportunity to travel to these amazing places. Beyond that, I am even more excited to be able to share my top travel photos of 2023 with you.

If you follow my blog closely, you know how passionate I am about travel and travel photography. It is more than just an interest of mine, it is a passion that drives me to continue exploring. This year, I was able to visit the continent of Asia for the first time, and to say it blew my mind would be a huge understatement.

Southeast Asia is one of the most incredibly beautiful places in the world. From its spectacular coastline to its wealth of stunning temples to its incredible culture, Southeast Asia is an amazing place to visit and explore. In this post on my top travel photos of 2023, I will share some of my favorite photographs that I took in Southeast Asia this year. Hopefully, these photos inspire your next big adventure!

My Top Travel Photos from Years Past

Before you review my top travel photos of 2023, take a moment to review my top photos from recent years. There are some incredible photographs that I am extremely proud of and want to share with you.

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Angkor Wat at Sunrise

Not only is it one of the wonders of the world and the largest religious structure in the world, but it is also breathtakingly beautiful. When I visited Siem Reap in Cambodia this year, I was sure to make a visit to the incredible Angkor Wat temple complex. Not only that, but we got up very early and made it to the temple at 4am to get some sunrise photographs. This sunrise shot of Angkor Wat is definitely one of my top travel photos of 2023.

Incredible Beauty of Angkor Wat

One of the things I loved the most about visiting Angkor Wat was seeing all the incredible detail in the stonework. Until you get up close and see the details in person, it is hard to appreciate just how intricate and incredible they are. I think this is one of my top travel photos of 2023 because it shows a little bit of the incredible detail I am talking about.

Staggering Size of Angkor Wat

Another thing that will absolutely blow your mind when you see Angkor Wat in person is the sheer size of the temple complex. Seriously, it seems to go on forever. One of the reasons why I love this photo so much is that it gives you a little glimpse into the size of this amazing place. Still hard to appreciate without seeing it in person, but this photo does give you an idea.

The Hindu God of Shiva in Angkor Wat

Southeast Asia is one of the most culturally rich regions of the world, and touring the region’s amazing temples is a great way to appreciate the culture. Seeing both the Buddhist and Hindu influences at Angkor Wat, and learning about how both religions are represented in the temple complex, was enlightening. This photo of the beautiful statue of the Hindu god Shiva in Angkor Wat is one of my top travel photos of 2023 because it reminds me of that.

Bayon Temple

While Angkor Wat may get most of the tourist attention, there are plenty of other incredible temples in the Siem Reap area to visit. One of my favorite temples that we saw during our visit was the amazing Bayon Temple. The reason I loved this temple so much, and the reason why this is one of my top travel photos of 2023, is the amazing faces carved into the temple structures.

Ta Prohm Temple

As one of the prime filming locations for the movie “Tomb Raider”, the Ta Prohm Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia is a legendary location. After visiting and seeing all of the incredible trees growing on top of the temple structures, it isn’t hard to see why. This photo of the temple is one of my top travel photos of 2023 because it is a great example of just how unique and beautiful this place is.

Phnom Kulen National Park

In addition to the country’s many incredible temples, the country of Cambodia is also home to one of the more beautiful national parklands I have visited. The stunning Phnom Kulen National Park was one of my favorite stops on my trip to Southeast Asia this year. On top of the park’s incredible waterfall, one of my favorite spots in the park was this breathtaking overlook. This view is why I think this picture is one of my top travel photos of 2023.

Siem Reap Floating Village

The final image from Cambodia that I want to share is near and dear to my heart. One of the things I love the most about travel is getting to learn about other cultures. On my trip to Southeast Asia, no cultural experience I had was as special as getting to visit a floating village near Siem Reap.

I love this photograph because it reminds me of that experience. Watching kids paddle their boats to school, seeing vendors go house-to-house in their wooden boats to sell goods, and getting to visit a floating grocery store with live crocodiles for sale. Such a neat experience!

Somdej Toh Memorial

If I haven’t mentioned enough that Southeast Asia is a very spiritual place, let me say it again. Southeast Asia is one of the most spiritual places that I have visited during my many years of travel. One of my favorite shots, and undoubtedly one of my top travel photos of 2023, is this picture I took in Bangkok, Thailand.

Somdej Toh is one of the most decorated and respected Buddhist monks from Thailand, and seeing these two modern-day monks take pictures of each other in front of the memorial to Somdej Toh was special to behold.

The Reclining Buddha

Another one of my top travel photos of 2023 that I took in Bangkok was this beautiful photo of the giant reclining Buddha. Located in the Wat Pho temple complex, the reclining Buddha statue is a giant gold Buddha that is lying at rest. These reclining Buddha statues were my favorites while touring Southeast Asia and this one in Bangkok was the most memorable for me.

Doi Inthanon National Park

No visit to Thailand is complete without a stop in the northern part of the country. Chiang Mai, which is known as the “Temple Capital of Thailand”, has a wealth of beauty and culture for visitors to explore. In addition to the many temples that I toured there, one of my favorite spots was the beautiful Doi Inthanon National Park.

The park has several stunning spots, but the twin pagodas were undoubtedly my favorite. That is why I love this picture so much. It is one of my top travel photos of 2023 for sure! For more information on Doi Inthanon National Park and the other attractions in Chiang Mai, please check out my guide linked below.

Wat Rong Khun – The White Temple

Speaking of incredible temples, one of the most beautiful that we saw in Thailand was Wat Rong Khun. Otherwise known as the “White Temple”, Wat Rong Khun is located in the city of Chiang Rai in Northern Thailand.

The temple is covered in white plaster and glass, so almost its entire surface shimmers in the sunlight. In addition, the detailed carvings of characters, hands, skulls, and other features are amazing. I love this picture because it reminds me of the beauty of this temple.

The Golden Triangle

If you are visiting Chiang Mai and have the time, I recommend taking a tour of the “Golden Triangle” region during your visit. This area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar come together is infamous for being one of the top opium-producing regions in the world.

They have stopped producing opium in this region of Thailand, but have an incredible museum on the history of opium production you can visit. In addition, you can take a boat ride on the stunning Mekong River to see where the borders of the three countries meet. I love this golden Buddha statue that is right on the riverfront. It reminds me of how amazing this region was to visit.

The Breathtaking Phang Nga Bay

There are some truly spectacular stretches of coastline in the world and in my opinion, Thailand has one of the most impressive stretches. The incredible Phang Nga Bay National Park, near the city of Phuket, is so beautiful that you won’t believe it’s real.

Giant sea-stacks emerge from the water and tower above the ocean surface. It makes this stretch of coastline look like it came straight out of the movie Jurassic Park. This is one of my top travel photos of 2023 because it perfectly showcases just how gorgeous Phang Nga Bay really is.

The Beautiful Phi Phi Islands

Another place in the Phuket, Thailand area that absolutely blew my mind was the gorgeous Phi Phi Islands. Made famous by the movie “The Beach”, these islands are one of Thailand’s top tourist attractions. One look at the gorgeous forest-covered islands towering out of the ocean and it isn’t hard to see why. I absolutely love this photo because it shows just how blue and how beautiful the water is. The snorkeling near the islands is absolutely incredible. It doesn’t hurt that the water is as warm as bath water.

James Bond Island

The last of my top travel photos of 2023 that were taken in Thailand is this beautiful photo I took of the infamous “James Bond Island“. Located in the Phang Nga Bay National Park, this island was made famous by the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”. Ever since being featured in the movie, the island has attracted visitors from around the world. Even though it wasn’t at high tide when I took this photo, I still love it because of how pretty the island is.

The Incredible Dragon Bridge

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect before we arrived in Vietnam, but I left the country as one of its biggest fans. I cannot stress enough how much I absolutely loved my time in Vietnam. Not only are the people incredibly nice, but it is also one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

A great example is this beautiful photograph I took of the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang. The bridge actually breathes fire and water, as if it weren’t cool enough already. I think this is one of my top travel photos of 2023 because it is such a great framing of the bridge.

Stunning Da Nang, Vietnam

When I said that Vietnam is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, I wasn’t exaggerating. We only had a chance to visit beautiful Da Nang, so I just scratched the surface of what Vietnam has to offer. However, what I saw in Da Nang absolutely blew my mind. For instance, I absolutely love this picture I took of the incredible city. The jungle-clad mountains that rise up above the city are absolutely breathtaking. No doubt in my mind that this is one of my top travel photos of 2023.

More Beautiful Da Nang

While I am on the subject of Da Nang’s coastal mountains, one cannot visit the city without visiting the top of some of them. Named the Marble Mountains because of the beautiful marble they are made out of, all are stunning. However, my favorite is undoubtedly Monkey Mountain.

The mountain gets its name from the abundance of monkeys that can be seen at the top. I loved the mountain because of the incredible coastal views from the top. This incredible photo of the giant Buddha sitting on top of the coastal mountain always brings a smile to my face.

The Hands of God (Golden Bridge)

The last of my top travel photos of 2023 may be my favorite of them all. This photograph is of the breathtaking Golden Bridge in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam. Nicknamed the “Hands of God” bridge, it was the primary reason why I decided to visit Da Nang.

After seeing photographs of this iconic bridge, I couldn’t stop thinking of it. I had to visit Da Nang and photograph it myself. As you can see by the photograph, it certainly didn’t disappoint. It is one of the prettiest bridges I have visited and certainly one of the most beautiful I have photographed.

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