In case you haven’t noticed, the world seems to be getting more and more dangerous by the day. While you might be busy right now preparing your travel plans for 2018, it’s important to note that there may be a few places that you might wish to cross off your list of considered destinations as they are the most dangerous places in the world.
For a wide variety of reasons, there are just some dangerous places around the globe that are too hot to visit at the moment. While this is not to say that you definitely shouldn’t travel to these places, it is to say that should you do so, then you’ll definitely want to keep your wits about you (and make sure you’ve always got a means of getting in touch with friends and family back home).
So, what are the 15 most dangerous places to travel in 2017? Let’s take a look…
The World’s Most Dangerous Countries to Visit
Among the most dangerous tourist destinations, there are several that stand out for a variety of reasons, but all are definitely unsafe. These dangerous countries to visit may have breathtaking landscapes and incredible cultures, but political and social conflict unfortunately keep them from being accessible to most tourists. The most dangerous countries to visit are located on every continent and have their own reasons for being dangerous places to travel.
1. Colombia
The days of Pablo Escobar may be over, but drug cartels remain a problem, and this country is still one of the 20 most dangerous in the world. Colombia is a country on the rise and the influence of drug cartels isn’t anywhere near where it was in the 90’s, however it’s still among dangerous places to travel because of the country’s civil war and it’s inability to completely clamp down on criminal activity.
2. Ethiopia
Though beautiful, Ethiopia is confronting a dramatic rise in terrorism, especially in places that are frequented by Western tourists. As it borders the wildly unstable Somalia and Eritrea, unfortunately Ethiopia is among the most dangerous countries to visit because of the instability of it’s neighbors.
3. Mali
There are a number of reasons why Mali has been the subject of multiple traveling warnings, not the least of which is frequent terrorist incidents. Mali unfortunately is one of the most dangerous places in the world because the government’s weakness has allowed terrorism to flourish within its borders.
4. India – Many Issues Make it Among the Most Dangerous Places to Travel
Economic disparity as well as a rising problem with violence against women may be a few reasons to scratch India off of your 2017 travel list. Also, India is one of the world’s most dangerous tourist destinations because it lacks basic sanitary protections. The possibility of getting sick from a visit to India makes it one of the world’s most beautiful dangerous places.
5. Honduras
The murder rate in Honduras is appreciably higher than it is in most places around the globe. In fact, one of its cities (San Pedro Sula) has a murder rate of 169 people per every hundred thousand. Sadly, this makes it one of the most dangerous places to travel in Latin America – a real shame because Honduras has some impressive landscapes and archaeological ruins.
6. Venezuela – Poverty Puts it Among Dangerous Places
Severe economic issues and short supplies of food and water have turned Venezuela into a dangerous place, with violent crime sharply on the rise. Because Venezuela’s economy is so tied to oil, the only way for the economics of this country to provide relief to its citizens and attract tourists is for oil prices to rise sharply. Seeing as that isn’t happening quickly, it is relegated to being one of South America’s most dangerous countries to visit.
7. South Africa
Some of this country’s urban centers, and particularly Cape Town, have become hot beds for organized and petty crime alike which means you have to be on guard in one of the most dangerous tourist destinations.
8. Bangladesh
Recent terrorist attacks in Bangladesh have prompted by the U.S. and the U.K. to issue travel warnings about the country to their citizens. As one of the world’s rising economy, tourist money could definitely help this country but unfortunately it’s still too dangerous to visit.
9. Nicaragua – One of Central America’s Most Dangerous Countries to Visit
With an election coming up, the potential for getting caught in civil unrest is quite high in Nicaragua, especially if the ruling party doesn’t win. Sadly, that makes this Central American country one of the most dangerous places in the world.
10. Brazil
With all the upheaval that the debacle preceding the Summer Olympics there kicked up, now is definitely not the time to check out Christ the Redeemer. While the favelas may be interesting to visit, the crime in these impoverished areas makes them a no-go, which is a shame because that’s the place to find authentic Brazilian culture.
11. Egypt – A New Addition to the List of Most Dangerous Places in the World
Political turmoil continues to be a problem in Egypt, which is why you should reconsider that sightseeing tour in Giza for the foreseeable future. Even though the military is now firmly in control of the government, Egypt has shown itself to be anything but stable.
12. Kenya
While there’s plenty to see and do in this beautiful nation, crime has been on the rise here and terrorists attacks have been all too frequent in recent years. As it shares proximity to the Middle East, it is especially sad that a nation rich in cultural and natural wonders is risky to visit.
13. Algeria – Possibly the Leader Among Africa’s Dangerous Places to Travel
If you do travel here, be sure to stick to well-populated areas, as the country’s more remote regions have been the site of a dramatic uptick in armed violence and kidnappings.
14. Turkey
Turkey has not been immune to the rise of terrorism in the region, which is why it’s important to be extra vigilant if you visit. Furthermore, as the government shifts from being a democracy to a dictatorship, the wrong move from a tourist could mean a lot of time in a Turkish jail – and that’s not a great way to spend your vacation.
15. North Korea – The World’s Most Dangerous Tourist Destinations
Especially given what’s sure to be a fraught relationship with the new U.S. administration, North Korea should be avoided at all costs.
