Inside the Wanderlust World Guide Awards 2019 winners ceremony

You've met the winning guides, and heard their incredible stories. Now, see how we celebrated the unsung heroes of travel at our annual winners ceremony, at the Royal Geographical Society in London...

6 mins

The Wanderlust World Guide Awards winners ceremony is always a magical evening of joy, laughter and even a few happy tears.

If we're not laughing, we're definitely smiling - or in the middle of a hug, trying to not to bubble up - as we celebrate what makes the world's greatest travel guides so very special, and award thoroughly-deserved bursaries to the winning guides.

This year's ceremony took place at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington, London on Wednesday 2 October. Journalist Simon Calder and photographer Paul Goldstein joined our own Lyn Hughes as presenters, along with hundreds of industry pros and loyal Wanderlust readers in the audience.

Watch what we got up to...

A little look at the evening...

Wanderlust's editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes poses with the winning guides pre-ceremony (Victoria Middleton)

Wanderlust's editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes poses with the winning guides pre-ceremony (Victoria Middleton)

Speaker Paul Goldstein meets the commended guides backstage (Victoria Middleton)

Speaker Paul Goldstein meets the commended guides backstage (Victoria Middleton)

Wanderlust's managing director Tilly McAuliffe kicks off the World Guide Awards ceremony  (Victoria Middleton)

Wanderlust's managing director Tilly McAuliffe kicks off the World Guide Awards ceremony (Victoria Middleton)

Presenters Lyn and esteemed travel broadcaster Simon Calder take to the stage (Victoria Middleton)

Presenters Lyn and esteemed travel broadcaster Simon Calder take to the stage (Victoria Middleton)

And so it begins! Time to hand out those awards - and bursaries (Victoria Middleton)

And so it begins! Time to hand out those awards - and bursaries (Victoria Middleton)

Wildlife photographer Paul presented at the ceremony, too (Victoria Middleton)

Wildlife photographer Paul presented at the ceremony, too (Victoria Middleton)

And it really was a full house of supporters, Wanderlust readers and travel fans on the night... (Victoria Middleton)

And it really was a full house of supporters, Wanderlust readers and travel fans on the night... (Victoria Middleton)

Gold winner, Chantha Meas for G Adventures, accepts his award (Victoria Middleton)

Gold winner, Chantha Meas for G Adventures, accepts his award (Victoria Middleton)

Chantha ticks all of the boxes, with the qualities and natural attributes of an exceptional guide.

He’s the one that I want to go on tour with the most - WGA judge Alex Graeme
All of the winning and highly commended guides join Lyn on stage (Victoria Middleton)

All of the winning and highly commended guides join Lyn on stage (Victoria Middleton)

It was, as always, a joyful and emotional evening.

If you couldn't make it to the RGS, you can meet the winners here, on Wanderlust's website and in the magazine - Lyn Hughes
Top UK Tour Guide Paul Donnelly of DC Tours accepts his award (Victoria Middleton)

Top UK Tour Guide Paul Donnelly of DC Tours accepts his award (Victoria Middleton)

Now, time for the after party... (Victoria Middleton)

Now, time for the after party... (Victoria Middleton)

Gold winner Chantha Meas poses after celebrating his win (Victoria Middleton)

Gold winner Chantha Meas poses after celebrating his win (Victoria Middleton)

Nitin Dhami, who took home the silver award, post-win (Victoria Middleton)

Nitin Dhami, who took home the silver award, post-win (Victoria Middleton)

Lyn with James Nampaso (right), winner of the Top Safari Guide award (Victoria Middleton)

Lyn with James Nampaso (right), winner of the Top Safari Guide award (Victoria Middleton)

Lyn joins Alex Graeme of Unique Devon Tours, one of our remarkable World Guide Awards judges and a 2016 winner himself! (Victoria Middleton)

Lyn joins Alex Graeme of Unique Devon Tours, one of our remarkable World Guide Awards judges and a 2016 winner himself! (Victoria Middleton)

Ismail Ingrioui took home the joint bronze award, alongside Indika Prasad Kumara. Cheers to that! (Victoria Middleton)

Ismail Ingrioui took home the joint bronze award, alongside Indika Prasad Kumara. Cheers to that! (Victoria Middleton)

Some of the winning guides strike a pose: Indika, Ismail, Chantha, James and Brett (Victoria Middleton)

Some of the winning guides strike a pose: Indika, Ismail, Chantha, James and Brett (Victoria Middleton)

Big thanks to all of our sponsors, too...

Related Articles