The world is truly beautiful but we have erased a lot of its beauty, or in the case of these places, made them inaccessible. After all, what is beauty if you cannot witness and appreciate it.
Many of these countries in the list have been through horrible times in their history and are still recovering – civil war, poverty, and corruption have made them unfit for travel.
But it does not take away the fact that they are inherently beautiful places. Take a look.
1. Somalia – beautiful, clean, and virgin beaches
There’s a dialogue in Ridley Scott’s hit movie Black Hawk Down – “You know, it’s kind of funny. Beautiful beach, beautiful sun. Could almost be a nice place to visit. Almost.” Which basically sums up Somalia’s beauty.
If the country was not a breeding place of pirates and torn with civil war, it could have been a booming tourist destination that would also have been cheap and affordable. The beaches are unspoiled and beautiful.
2. Kashmir – nothing beats the Switzerland of the east, except for politics
There was a time when Kashmir was the go-to honeymoon destination for newlyweds in India. There’s no denying that the valley is the most beautiful place in India. But terrorism and civil unrest have made the state unapproachable.
Although people still go for vacations there, it seems to have lived past its glory days.
3. Afghanistan – the Bamiyan Buddha and skiing in Kandahar
Afghanistan was a beautiful country, and many of the uninhabited parts still are. The problem is that it is teeming with radicals after Soviet and US occupation. The Taliban is famous for kidnapping and killing tourists and they also went to the extent of destroying the heritage Buddha statue.
It’s sad, because the country could have been a top tourist destination.
4. Egypt – Pyramids and valley of the kings
Egypt suffered the same fate as that of Kashmir after the Arab uprising. It was already a top tourist destination and even treated its tourists very well. Terrorism and kidnappings have gone up and frequent demonstrations against the establishment have made it very unsafe for travel.
But the magnificence of the pyramids lives on. Hope the radical groups don’t break down the pyramids.
5. Guatemala – rich Mayan heritage and one of the most beautiful lakes in the world
There are sites that still showcase rich Mayan heritage. There is the black beach in Monterrico too. But Guatemala was named as one of the most dangerous places to visit because of a mix of natural disasters and rampant corruption. It is highly earthquake-prone and tourists are not advised to carry valuables with them.
6. Baghdad, Iraq – it has a rich history of Islamic pilgrimage
Iraq boasts of 4 UNESCO heritage sites. It used to be a center for pilgrimage based tourists before the war. After the war, the whole nation has fallen into a disarray. There is an incredible threat of terrorism and kidnappings. Also, the country has become a breeding ground for ISIS.
7. El Salvador – large waves that are ideal for surfing
The country has beautiful beaches that have high waves ideal for surfing. There are many archaeological sites that are open to the public. But the country itself is full of mafia and local gangs. It also has one of the highest rates of murder in the world. Pity.
8. The Democratic Republic Of Congo – the congo basin has one of the most biodiverse rainforests
But the country is politically unstable. There are kidnappings and as a tourist, you need to bribe your way through a lot of situations in the cash-strapped country.
But the wildlife is very rich. The silverback gorillas are a sight to see.
9. Liberia – home to the last remaining species of leopards, chimpanzees and jungle elephants
Like all African nations, Liberia too is a hotbed of diversity. But it is also a hotbed of sexual assault against women. It has one of the highest incidences of rape in the world.
The country’s police cannot handle peace and therefore it houses a large group of UN peacekeepers. But it still has a lot of crime.
10. North Korea – No pollution and absolute safety
North Korea is a haven if you want to get away from polluted cities of our world. Because there are just no industries to pollute the air. That means even the bustling metro cities are clean.
The danger comes from the government itself. If you flout any of the rules in the country, you are liable to be punished brutally.
But still, tourism has been on the rise for the past 2-3 years.
We hope that one day we may be able to enjoy travel in these countries.
Until then, it’s best to just stay away!