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Barack Obama's Iconic Travel Moments Abroad (PHOTOS)

LOOK: Obama's Iconic Travel Moments
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US President Barack Obama (R) kisses Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after making a speech at her residence in Yangon on November 19, 2012. Obama met Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi during a historic visit to Yangon aimed at encouraging political reforms. AFP PHOTO / Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

When it comes to using Air Force One, Barack Obama is quite the wanderlust. Only a year after his 2009 election, POTUS already set a new record as the most-traveled president in modern U.S. history.

According to a report issued by the National Taxpayer Union Foundation:

The bulk of Obama’s journeys beyond U.S. shores took place in 2009, when he likewise set the record as the most-traveled President for any first year in office: he took the most trips, visited the most countries, and spent the most days abroad. Obama made ten trips to 21 countries (four countries were visited twice) and was out of the U.S. a total of 37 days. The previous record holder, George H.W. Bush, took seven trips to 17 countries (one country was visited twice) over 28 days during the course of his first year in office.

In addition to attending a wide range of international meetings and summits-- which are typical to every president's itinerary, Obama also took the time to make several unique and iconic trips. He was the first sitting president to visit Myanmar, where he met and embraced fellow Nobel Peace laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. His 2009 trip to Egypt, not only marked a new beginning, but also fulfilled his campaign promise to visit a Muslim country in his first 100 days in office.

Check out the slideshow below for other iconic moments during Obama's overseas travels:

Obama's Memorable Moments Abroad
Visiting The Queen(01 of10)
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Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth has exchanged pleasantries with 12 U.S. presidents. Her meeting with the Obamas, however, was exceptionally special. Perhaps that had something to do with the suprise hug she received from First Lady Michelle Obama.Caption: This May 24, 2011 file photo shows President Barack Obama, second left, and first lady Michelle Obama, with Queen Elizabeth II, left, and Prince Philip, right, prior to a dinner hosted by the queen at Buckingham Palace in London. (AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool) (credit:AP)
In Myanmar(02 of10)
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Obama was the first sitting U.S. president to travel to Myanmar. During his trip, the president met fellow Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and praised her for her "unbreakable courage and determination."Caption: US President Barack Obama kisses Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi at Suki's residence in Yangon on November 19, 2012. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
In Ghana(03 of10)
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According to Obama, one of his most memorable trips was his visit of the Cape Coast Castle, a slave outpost in Ghana where hundreds of thousands of Africans were shipped as human cargo to the United States, South America and the Caribbean. "You almost feel as if the walls can speak. You try to project yourself into these incredibly harrowing moments," he later told CNN's Anderson Cooper. Caption: US President Barack Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia tour Cape Coast Castle, a former slavery outpost, in Cape Coast, Ghana, on July 11, 2009. The visit marks Obama's first to subsaharan Africa as president. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
In Oslo(04 of10)
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Barely a year after his election to the White House, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. POTUS personally went to pick up his prize in Oslo. Caption: Nobel Peace Prize laureate, US President Barack Obama poses on the podium with his diploma and gold medal during the Nobel ceremony at the City Hall in Oslo on December 10, 2009. (OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Vatican(05 of10)
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In 2009, Obama met with Pope Benedict XVI for the first time at the Vatican and, in a brief exchange of banter, told him: "Your Holiness, I'm sure you're used to having your picture taken. I'm getting used to it."Caption: US President Barack Obama (R) bows alongside First Lady Michelle Obama as they say goodbye to Pope Benedict XVI after an audience at the Vatican, on July 10, 2009. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
In India(06 of10)
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Obama showed off his dance skills at a high school in Mumbai. The Indians were so charmed by the president's efforts that they dubbed his moves “the Obama Indian Tango.”Caption: US President Barack Obama (L) and First Lady Michelle Obama (R) dance during a cultural event at The Holy Name High School in Mumbai on November 7, 2010. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
In Afghanistan(07 of10)
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In May 2012, Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, where he addressed military forces at Bagram Air Base and signed a strategic troop withdrawal partnership with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.Caption: US President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with troops after addressing them at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan December 3, 2010 during a surprise visit for the holidays. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
In Saudi Arabia(08 of10)
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On his first visit to Saudi Arabia, Obama not only received a lavish welcome, but the president was also awarded with the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit.Caption: Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud presents US President Barack Obama (L) with the King Abdul Aziz Order of Merit during a bilateral meeting at the king's ranch in al-Janadriya in the outskirts of Riyadh June 3, 2009. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
In Egypt(09 of10)
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After winning the White House race in 2009, Obama fulfilled his campaign promise to visit a Muslim country in his first 100 days in office. Obama traveled to Egypt, where he addressed university students and hailed a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims."Caption: In this June 4, 2009 file photo, U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a speech at Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File) (credit:AP)
In Mexico(10 of10)
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Perhaps nothing can expound on Washington and Moscow's different stance on Syria more than this photo of Obama meeting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a G20 conference in Mexico.Caption: US President Barack Obama (R) meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (L) in Los Cabos, Mexico, on June 18, 2012, during the G20 leaders Summit. (ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)

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