Most people prefer places like Hawaii, Rome or Paris for their vacation. But some people are looking for more adventure. If you’re one of them, you’ve come to the right place!
We will show you the most unusual places in the world. But beware! You are not allowed to visit most of these places. Nevertheless, you will enjoy reading about them. Have fun!
1. Big Diomede Island (Russia)
The two islands of Big Diomede and Little Diomede lie along the Bering Strait, separating the United States from Russia.
While a little more than 100 people live on the island of Little Diomede on the American side, Big Diomede is not inhabitable. This island is used as a Russian weather station.
2. Snake Island (Brazil)
If you don’t like snakes, you’d better stay away from here: Ilha da Queimada Grande is also known as “Snake Island.” The island lies off the coast of Brazil and is teeming with endangered snakes.
Anyway, a visit here is not allowed. The island is closed to the public. On the one hand, to protect the people, but also the snakes.
3. Poveglia Island (Italy)
Now it’s getting creepy: the Italian island of Poveglia, you can’t really visit, so you’ll have to settle for hearing stories about it. And they are not for the faint of heart.
Throughout history, there were tens of thousands of plague victims on this island, who were quarantined. Later, a mental hospital was established there. Nowadays, it is closed to the public.
4. Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (China)
The tomb of Qin Shi Huang was discovered in 1974 during the excavation of the Terracotta Army. It is by far one of the greatest historical finds in history.
Out of respect for Chinese history and culture, it is still being excavated. Qin Shi Huang was the not only the first emperor of imperial China, but also the founder of the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC.
5. North Brother Island (New York City)
North Brother Island is located in the Bronx in New York City. After a passenger ship sank nearby, this place was once a refuge for a thousand people.
Later, the island became a hospital where people with contagious diseases were housed. Today it is abandoned and serves as a bird sanctuary.
6. North Sentinel Island
The North Sentinel Island is located in the Bay of Bengal and the home to the Sentinelese. They are indigenous people and are considered to be the last populations on earth that have not yet come into contact with the modern world.
They are known to be violent towards other people and visitors. That’s why you should never get too close to this island.
7. Robins Island (New York)
Robins Island is located in Long Island (New York) and was purchased by Louis Moore Bacon with the intention of creating a private resort with vacation homes for his family.
But not only that, the island also became a nature reserve to protect the endangered species of the region. Really great!
8. Chernobyl Exclusion Zone ( Ukraine)
In 1986, the world’s largest nuclear disaster to that time occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Residents from surrounding towns had to be evacuated within a radius of 1,000 square kilometers.
For adventurers there are tours there nowadays, but it is still forbidden to stay or live in this area for a long time.
9. Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench is the deepest oceanic trench on earth. That’s why it’s not accessible to anyone – not even scientists. The Mariana Trench is more than 36,000 feet deep.
So far, only four manned expeditions have made it to the bottom of the ocean (in fact, one of them was James Cameron). It must be an incredible feeling to swap off to such depths. Among other things, there are some pretty bizarre creatures to see there.
10. Discovery Island (Disney World)
Discovery Island is part of Walt Disney World in Florida and was open to the public from 1974 to 1999. Here the visitors could take a look at the fauna and flora there and explore the island.
Now, however, Discovery Island is abandoned. However, those who want can visit the island by boat in Bay Lake.
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11. Pluto’s Gate (Turkey)
The ancients believed that the Ploutonion in Hierapolis, or Pluto’s Gate, was a dangerous place that would bring death. The religious site, as the name suggests, was dedicated to the god Pluto and served as a ritual passage to the underworld.
In 1965, researchers actually confirmed that this passage was built on top of a cave that produces toxic gases, including high amounts of carbon dioxide.
12. Morgan Island (South Carolina)
Morgan Island is also called “Monkey Island” because of its high population of rhesus monkeys. They were brought there from Puerto Rico during an outbreak of herpes virus B, which means they are not native.
Humans are not allowed to enter this island. Firstly for their safety, but also for the safety of the four-thousand monkeys.
13. Terra Indigena Xinane Isolados (Brazil)
This area is absolutely taboo to the public. It is located on the border between Bolivia and Brazil and covers 1,750 square kilometers.
The Brazilian government has reserved this area for the uncontacted indigenous population. And that’s a good thing. To travel there would certainly be an adventure, but as said forbidden.
14. Ise Grand Shrine (Japan)
The Great Shrine of Ise is located in Japan. It is one of the most important sites of Shintoism. Built around the third century in honor of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and the universe. The shrine is reconstructed every 20 years to preserve Shinto ideas of death and rebirth.
Only the members of the Japanese imperial family are allowed to enter this shrine. All other people are forbidden to do so.
15. Diego Garcia (Indian Ocean)
The small island of Diego Garcia is located in the Indian Ocean. Once upon a time, about 2,000 people lived there, but in 1973 the inhabitants were expelled by the British government so that the U.S. could build a military base there during the Cold War Square.
To this day, only the military is allowed to enter this island. For the public is strictly forbidden to enter.
16. Mezhgorye (Russia)
Mezhgorye is located in the Ural Mountains in Russia. Rumor has it that this small, enclosed town is being used as a nuclear missile site. Accordingly, it is said to be guarded by battalions to keep out intruders.
It is impossible to say whether this is really true, as the Russian authorities do not reveal the real purpose of this town. Really mysterious.
17. Navassa Island (Caribbean)
Navassa Island is uninhabited and is home to many rare species. This island is disputed between the United States and Haiti. To visit it, one needs a special permit.
However, these are rarely granted. The rare animal species on the island will certainly be more than happy that only a few people come there.
18. Uluru Rock (Australia)
Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is an inselberg in the central Australian desert. In the past, the sandstone monolith could even be climbed, but since October 2019, the people of the Anangu tribe have been asking tourists not to do so.
The reason is the erosion caused by the many climbing. Although you can no longer climb Uluru, but certainly visit!
19. Surtsey Island (Iceland)
Iceland is known for its many volcanoes. Surtsey Island is located in the southern coast of Iceland and one of the youngest islands in the world. It was formed during a volcanic eruption that lasted from 1963 to 1967.
However, it is not possible to visit this island. Surtsey is used only for scientific research. Scientists want to observe how ecosystems develop without human intervention.
20. Doomsday Vault (Norway)
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, or “Doomsday” Vault, is located in Norway and is the scientists’ solution to a possible apocalypse. The vault stores millions of seeds in case humans ever needs to restore vegetation.
The vault is hidden in the mountains above sea level. It can withstand both explosions and earthquakes and is designed to last approximately 200 years. Thus, it is prepared for any kind of apocalypse.
21. Bhangarh Fort (India)
Bhangarh Fort is open during the day, but from sunset to sunrise it is closed to the public.
Don’t risk circumventing this prohibition: after dark, according to locals, every person who has ever tried to enter Bhangarh Fort has mysteriously disappeared. No one knows what happened to them. Really spooky, isn’t it.
22. Pravcicka Brana (Czech Republic)
Pravcicka Brana is located in the Czech Republic and is the biggest attraction there. Why? Well, it is Europe’s largest natural sandstone arch.
However, it is forbidden to visit it since 1982. Constant foot traffic on the stone has caused too much erosion in the past. But it’s not that bad after all. After all, the arch is a breathtaking sight even from a distance.
23. Niihau Island (Hawai)
Niihau Island belongs to Hawaii and has the apt nickname “Forbidden Island”. In 1864, this island was purchased for $10,000 by Elizabeth Sinclair. Since then it has been privately owned by her descendants.
It covers 180 square kilometers and currently only 170 people live on Niihau Island. And since it is private property, the island can probably only be visited by invitation.
24. Chapel of the Ark of the Covenant (Ethiopia)
According to legend, the Ark of the Covenant, which supposedly contains the written Ten Commandments, is inside an Ethiopian church called The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion.
However, no one is allowed to enter the chapel. Not even historians or researchers are allowed to enter there. This unique privilege is reserved only for the “guardian” of the Ark. So no one can say whether the legend is true or not.
25. Paris Catacombs (France)
This is surely one of the creepiest places in the world: the Paris Catacombs are underground, interconnected tunnels beneath the city. While there are guided tours of the catacombs, most of them are not for the public.
The reason is the high risk of getting lost as well as the great danger of something collapsing on you. Would you dare to go down there?
26. Alnwick Poison Garden (England)
The Poison Garden keeps its promise: in this particular garden in Alnwick are plants that can kill you. You can enter the garden only with a qualified guide.
The rules there are also very strict, and it is always dangerous: one summer seven people fainted after inhaling too many of the toxic fumes.
27. Varosha (Cyprus)
Varosha was a popular seaside resort in Cyprus until 1974. Even Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor could be found here. But in 1974 Turkish troops invaded after the situation with Greece came to a head.
The town is still completely deserted these days. It is also not very advisable to travel there, because trespassers risk being shot by the Turkish military.
28. Point Nepean National Park (Australia)
Point Nepean National Park is located on the remote western tip of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Much of the park can be explored on your own.
However, there are certain areas that are off limits to the public due to nature and dangerous conditions (including treacherous waters). In addition, rather houses many rare species of animals that certainly should not be disturbed.
29. Lascaux Caves (France)
In France there are the caves of Lascaux in Montignac. They are known for their stunning collection of cave paintings created over several generations by early humans.
However, only researchers are allowed to enter the cave. People who are interested can visit Lascaux II, an exact replica that is about 600 feet from the real cave.
30. Heard Island (Australia)
Heard Island is part of Australia, but this tiny territory is located in the middle of nowhere between Antarctica, Australia and the southernmost tip of Africa. The island is virtually inaccessible, because getting there is incredibly difficult.
Moreover, the only inhabitant of Heard Island is a currently active volcano. So for people, the stay there could be quite uncomfortable.
