Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher born in 544 B.C.E. said, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” 2564 years later, the same can be said about each plate of food we get served, each cute baby we see, each infinity pool we disturb and each landscape we behold. If it is made of matter, it goes on Instagram.
Flashpack, a solo travel company founded by photographer Lee Thompson, has compiled a list of the top eleven most epic Instagram photos from 2019 after sifting through a virtual (no pun intended) compendium of Instagram posts, through the pets, the blue plate specials, the thongs, the babies and the amateur Ansel Adamses to discover true artistry, photos that rise to the pinnacle of the field.
Flash Pack was founded by Radha Vyas and Lee Thompson, who responded to what they saw as the lack of appealing group travel tour companies for travellers in their 30s and 40s. It specialises in small, high-end group adventures and experiences for solo travellers in their 30s and 40s across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.
Flash Pack meticulously researches and curates itineraries, seeking out off-the-beaten-track locations far away from the crowds (whether it’s hiking the colourful heights of Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, whizzing off on a Northern Lights husky safari or glamping beneath the starlit skies of Patagonia).
Lee Thompson, whose “Selfie with Jesus” gained viral attention in 2014, stated, “we wanted to devise a list that celebrates some of the most incredible experiences being shared across the world, and inspire people to think about their next adventure for 2020, however big or small that might be.” What follows is that list, with photo credit and description.
User: @kernow_from_above
Description: Doom Bar is a sandbank at the mouth of the Camel estuary in Cornwall, which has accounted for more than 600 beachings, capsizes and wrecks since records began early in the nineteenth century.
User: @pauljustin2605
Description: The Milky Way as seen from a luxury camp in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert with Flash Pack.
User: @martinbenniephotography
Description: Glas-allt-shiel lodge on the Balmoral Estate reflecting onto the glassy waters of Loch Muick.
User: @jordhammond
Description: The intricate design of the ancient steps to the bottom of an Indian stepwell.
User: @donaldhyip
Description: The iconic hot air balloons of Bagan rise above a sea of ancient pagodas, shrouded in mist.
User: @oussama.hassouni
Description: Known for the striking, blue-washed buildings, Chefchaouen lies in the Rif Mountains of Northwest Morocco.
Oman, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
User: @aljvd
Description: Located in Oman’s capital, Muscat, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is a glorious piece of Islamic architecture.
User: @interalma
Description: The capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea.
User: @rachelsarahm
Description: Cycling through the Andean Highlands of Peru’s Sacred Valley, with Flash Pack.
Croatia, Plitvice Lakes National Park
User: @timotej
Description: Famous for its cascading lakes, Plitvice Lakes National Park consists of nearly 75,000 acres of protected land in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia.
User: @exploroads
Description: At an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level, Rainbow Mountain is nestled outside Cusco and gets its colors from different minerals.
