Paul Morrison Guide Award 2008

About the awards

Who is the one person who can make or break your trip? The person who can inspire you to climb one more hill, who can get you excited about dung beetles, who can ignite your interest in ancient history? Who ensures your safety, who helps a group gel, and who most of all guarantees an unforgettable experience?

The Wanderlust Paul Morrison Guide of the Year Awards celebrates the achievements of the world’s best guides.

Hundreds of guides were nominated for this year's award and you can see the shortlist below. The judging panel - Wanderlust founder/editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes, writer Bill Bryson, journalist/photographer Mark Carwardine, Rough Guide founder Mark Ellingham, Daily Telegraph travel editor Graham Boynton and 2006 Paul Morrison Guide Award silver winner Martin Gray - have now met and chosen this year's winner(s).

The winning guide will be announced at the award ceremony in October - there'll be more details of how you can be there on the night in forthcoming issues of Wanderlust and here on this page.

The shortlist

Maria Sol Aguinaga

Where she guides: Patagonia

Booked through: G.A.P. Adventures

You said: "Maria Sol is aptly named - she is all sunshine and light, and people are drawn to her."

Jai Prakash Sharma

Where he guides: India

Booked through: Wild Frontiers

You said: "A born tour leader, perfectly poised between efficiency and mischief."

Daniel Evans

Where he guides: Italy

Booked through: Art History Abroad

You said: "I hope to inspire others as Dan inspired me."

Diego Torres Garzon

Where he guides: Ecuador

Booked through: Explore

You said: "I felt truly privileged to be travelling with him."

James Power

Where he guides: Somme battlefields

Booked through: www.battlefield-tours.com

You said: "A genuine, articulate and immensely knowledgeable enthusiast."

Gulin Pazaroglu

Where she guides: Turkey, Libya

Booked through: Eldertreks

You said: "The best guide we have encountered in 20 years of international travelling."

Sameer Singh Rathore

Where he guides: India

Booked through: Imaginative Traveller

You said: "Everything he did was over and above his work obligations."

Esam Abd El Salam

Where he guides: Egypt

Booked through: Intrepid

You said: "I can't imagine a tour leader doing a better job."

You can read more about the shortlisted guides in the April/May 2008 issue of Wanderlust - you can buy a copy in our online shop here

Read more about the 2007 award winners here

Watch the video highlights of the 2007 ceremony

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