World Guide Awards – History

Paul Morrison 1958-2004

I started Wanderlust in 1993 with my late husband Paul Morrison. We had the idea when bored on a long flight to South America and instantly started sketching out our dream travel magazine on the back of a sick bag.

Later we often argued about which of us was first to say: “We could do this ourselves!”
but it was indisputably Paul who, having ‘suffered’ from wanderlust for years, announced that there was only one name our travel magazine could have. As he was often quoted: “Once you’ve got wanderlust in your blood, you’ve got it for life.”

Since losing his battle with cancer in December 2004, the magazine has remained a testament to Paul’s passion for travel. But Paul cared so much about the important things in life that I wanted to create a legacy that would benefit others. 

Paul was passionate about the importance of good guides and the difference they can make to your travels – “I need someone to bring this to life for me,” was his common declaration. And it seems he wasn’t alone.

Since launching the Wanderlust World Guide Awards in 2006  we’ve had an incredible response from our readers, all eager to tell us about a safari guide, sherpa or expedition leader who has gone beyond the call of duty to help travellers experience the true essence of a country.

The previous finalists have been an exceptional bunch – Paul would have liked and admired them all. I’ve travelled with many of them since, and it has been an honour to do so.

“I always come alive when I travel,” Paul often said. I hope his passion for travel can live on in these awards.



Lyn Hughes
Wanderlust co-founder and Paul Morrison’s wife

How it works

Who is the one person who can make your journey the trip of a lifetime? Whether you are travelling independently or in a group, whether you use their services for a day or a month, your guide makes all the difference.

Paul Morrison was passionate about the importance of guides and felt they were the unsung heroes of the travel industry – hence these unique awards, the only international ones of their type.

This is now the fifth year of the awards and, yet again, some outstanding guides were nominated.

How the winners are chosen

In January we ask readers of  Wanderlust and The Daily Telegraph to each nominate their top guide. We always have an incredible response – more than 300 guides were put forward in 2010. We whittle the list down to just eight outstanding contenders, and then called for more testimonials, which the judging panel study before choosing the three winners.

The top guide wins a £5,000 Paul Morrison bursary to be spent on worthwhile projects of their choosing or further education.

The Judges for 2011 were...

Bill Bryson - legendary travel writer

Mark Carwardine - author, photographer & TV wildlife expert

Kate Humble - TV presenter

Graham Boynton - Travel Editor, The Daily Telegraph

Paul Goodyer - Co-founder, Nomad Travel Stores

fLyn Hughes - Editor-in-Chief, Wanderlust