Golden hour destinations are drawing attention from photographers and travellers looking for the best conditions to capture sunsets, and a new ranking by travel company Kuoni has placed Jordan’s Wadi Rum at the top of its list of the world’s best locations for the warm, soft light that appears around sunrise and sunset.
The ranking, developed by Kuoni in collaboration with meteorologist Jim Dale of British Weather Services, assessed 165 destinations using factors including cloud cover, light pollution, rainfall, artificial brightness, wind speed and average sunset duration. Twenty locations made the final list, which highlights places where weather conditions and natural surroundings can create particularly good opportunities for photography.
Wadi Rum took first place, benefiting from its desert landscape, limited cloud cover and very low rainfall. The destination is followed by Sossusvlei in Namibia, where vast dunes and minimal light pollution provide a striking setting for sunset photography. Kuoni’s analysis puts the average sunset duration at Sossusvlei at 27.9 minutes.
Namibia performed strongly overall, with three destinations appearing among the top six. Damaraland ranked third, while Etosha National Park placed sixth. The results underline the appeal of the country’s varied landscapes, from dramatic desert scenery to wildlife-rich protected areas.
Chile’s Atacama Desert came fourth. In addition to its distinctive arid landscape, the region offers opportunities to see flamingos, alpacas and Andean foxes. Oman’s Wahiba Sands completed the top five, adding another desert destination to a ranking dominated by locations with open skies and expansive natural views.
Botswana also featured prominently, with the Okavango Delta in seventh place and the Chobe River ranking 13th. Both destinations offer a different setting from the desert locations near the top of the list, with waterways and wildlife forming part of the landscape.
The United States and Australia each secured two places in the top 20. California’s San Joaquin Valley and Arizona’s Sedona shared eighth place, while Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory also ranked eighth. The Flinders Ranges in South Australia placed 14th.
Europe’s strongest showing came from Greece, which secured four places in the top 20, more than any other European country. Lindos Acropolis on the island of Rhodes ranked 10th. According to Kuoni, its position approximately 116 metres above sea level provides wide views across the surrounding coastline, making it a notable location for watching the evening light.
Rhodes Town followed in 17th place, while Cape Sounion near Athens ranked 19th. Navagio Shipwreck Beach on the island of Zante completed the list in 20th place. Cyprus also featured, with Paphos city centre ranking 16th.
Beyond Europe, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe came 11th, Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates placed 12th, and Livingstone in Zambia ranked 18th. Their inclusion shows the geographical range of the list, which covers deserts, coastlines, river landscapes, national parks and well-known natural landmarks.
Marco Rocha, Kuoni’s product, commercial and operations director, said the quality of golden hour light can make a destination especially memorable, whether visitors are watching the sunset over the Acropolis in Lindos or across the dunes of the Namib Desert. He also noted that the best locations are not always the most obvious choices, with clear skies and low light pollution often playing a more important role than a destination’s reputation.
Golden hour refers to the period when the sun sits low on the horizon, producing softer light and warmer tones that many photographers seek out. Its duration varies with location and season, while cloud cover, rain and wind can affect the conditions on any given day. Light pollution can also influence how clearly a sunset and its surrounding landscape appear.
Kuoni’s ranking offers travellers a starting point for choosing destinations where these conditions may be favourable, although the list does not guarantee a perfect sunset on every visit. Weather can change quickly, and the experience will depend on the time of year and local conditions.
For travellers planning a photography-focused trip, the results suggest that some of the strongest opportunities lie beyond Europe’s familiar holiday hotspots. From Jordan’s sandstone valleys to Namibia’s dunes and Greece’s elevated coastal ruins, the destinations on the list offer different ways to experience the changing light at the end of the day.
