10 Beautiful Travel Destinations (That Will Kill You)

Traveling is often about going off the beaten path and discovering places most people have never seen or heard of. Sometimes, however, that approach can backfire. The world is full of visually stunning locations that are also profoundly dangerous, whether due to crime, extreme environments, political instability, or lingering human-made hazards.

From deadly deserts littered with skeletons to some of the most unforgiving jungles on Earth, these destinations lure travelers with beauty while hiding risks that can quickly turn fatal. In many cases, the danger isn’t obvious at first glance—until it’s too late.

Related: 10 Unforgettable Culinary Experiences Worth Traveling For

10 Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

Located right on the US–Mexico border, Ciudad Juárez could have been an ideal destination for a road trip from nearby countries. Instead, it has become one of the most dangerous cities bordering the United States, shaped by prolonged cartel violence and weak institutional control. Its strategic position across from El Paso, Texas, made it a key drug trafficking corridor into the US, drawing intense competition from criminal organizations.

Violence in Ciudad Juárez peaked between 2008 and 2011, when the city recorded several thousand homicides over those years, briefly earning a reputation as one of the most violent cities on Earth. Although murder rates have fluctuated since then, travelers still risk being caught in ongoing conflicts involving the Juárez Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, and Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The danger is compounded by corruption within local law enforcement and limited capacity to protect civilians. The US State Department continues to advise against non-essential travel to the area, citing kidnapping, violent crime, and organized criminal activity as persistent threats.^[1]

9 Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

Bikini Atoll sounds like a dream destination in the Pacific, and visually, it almost is. White sand beaches, turquoise waters, and coral reefs make it appear idyllic. The danger lies beneath the surface—in the form of lingering radiation from nuclear weapons testing conducted by the United States between 1946 and 1958.

During that period, 67 nuclear devices were detonated at or near the atoll, including the infamous Castle Bravo test, the most powerful nuclear explosion ever carried out by the US. Local inhabitants were forcibly relocated, many suffering long-term health consequences tied to radiation exposure.

Although radiation levels across much of the Marshall Islands have declined, scientific studies show that Bikini Atoll remains unsafe for permanent human habitation. Cesium contamination in soil and food sources continues to exceed international safety standards, making long-term exposure a serious health risk for anyone attempting to return.^[2]

8 Anthrax Island, Scotland

Anthrax Island, formally known as Gruinard Island, sits in Gruinard Bay on the northwest coast of Scotland. Though uninhabited, it gained notoriety during World War II when it was used by British scientists as a testing ground for biological weapons, specifically anthrax spores. The experiments were authorized amid fears of a potential Nazi biological attack.

The tests rendered the island lethally contaminated, forcing authorities to ban access for nearly half a century. In 1986, an activist group called the Dark Harvest Commandos illegally removed soil from the island and deposited it at a military research site, drawing public attention to the unresolved contamination.

A massive decontamination effort using formaldehyde and seawater was completed by 1990, after which the island was officially declared safe. However, its reputation as a former biological warfare site endures, and access remains restricted, making it one of Britain’s most infamous—and unsettling—locations.^[3]

7 Death Valley, California

Death Valley is one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Located in eastern California, the desert holds the record for the highest air temperature ever reliably measured: 134°F (56.7°C). Summer ground temperatures can climb even higher, making dehydration and heatstroke constant threats.

Flash floods can surge through narrow canyons with little warning, while abandoned mines dot the landscape, many with unstable tunnels and toxic gases. Wildlife presents additional dangers, including sidewinder rattlesnakes adapted to the punishing heat.

Despite its hostility, Death Valley attracts thousands of visitors each year, drawn by features like Ubehebe Crater, salt flats below sea level, and dramatic volcanic formations. That beauty often masks the risk, especially for underprepared tourists who underestimate how quickly conditions can become fatal.^[4]

6 Death Road, Bolivia

The North Yungas Road, better known as Death Road, once linked La Paz to the town of Coroico and was infamous for its lethal conditions. Built in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners of war, the narrow dirt track clung to cliffs rising more than 10,000 feet above sea level, with sheer drops and no guardrails.

Fog, heavy rain, landslides, and oncoming traffic made navigation treacherous. While exact death tolls vary, dozens—if not hundreds—of fatalities were reported over decades of use. Vehicles regularly plunged off the road, vanishing into jungle ravines below.

A modern highway has since replaced much of the route, significantly reducing traffic fatalities. However, Death Road has found new life as an adventure tourism destination, particularly for downhill cyclists, who continue to risk serious injury or death for the thrill.^[5]

5 Anak Krakatoa, Indonesia

At first glance, Anak Krakatoa looks like just another island among the thousands that form the Indonesian archipelago. Adventurers might even consider hiring a boat to explore it, though doing so is strongly discouraged by the government. The island sits within a government-enforced exclusion zone of several kilometers, as it is home to one of the most active and unpredictable volcanoes on the planet.

Anak Krakatoa means “Child of Krakatoa,” a reference to its emergence from the sea following the catastrophic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, one of the deadliest volcanic events in recorded history. That explosion triggered tsunamis exceeding 100 feet in height and killed more than 36,000 people along nearby coastlines. Anak Krakatoa began forming in the 1920s and has been growing and collapsing in cycles ever since.

In December 2018, a partial collapse of Anak Krakatoa’s flank caused a deadly tsunami that struck surrounding coastal communities, killing hundreds. The volcano continues to erupt frequently, generating ash plumes, lava flows, and underwater landslides capable of triggering additional tsunamis without warning. As a result, authorities strictly limit access, and even experienced volcanologists approach the island with extreme caution.^[6]

4 Danakil Desert, Northeast Africa

The Danakil Desert lies in a geologically depressed region of northeastern Africa shared by Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. While it appears visually stunning—with neon-colored mineral pools and alien-looking volcanic formations—it is one of the most hostile environments on Earth. Locals often call it “the gateway to hell,” a nickname earned through relentless heat and toxic conditions.

Much of the desert sits below sea level, and daytime temperatures regularly exceed 120°F (50°C). The region’s extreme volcanism releases sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and other dangerous gases into the air. Its acidic hot springs and salt flats can cause chemical burns, and prolonged exposure can be fatal without proper protection.

Beyond environmental dangers, the Danakil Desert is also politically volatile. Armed escorts are mandatory for visitors due to past kidnappings and regional conflict, particularly near the Eritrean border. Solo travel is prohibited, and even guided expeditions face significant risks from both nature and instability.^[7]

3 Valley of Death, Russia

Located on Russia’s remote Kamchatka Peninsula, the Valley of Death stands in stark contrast to the region’s otherwise lush wilderness. Discovered in the 1930s near the base of the Kikhpinych Volcano, the valley is devoid of vegetation and littered with animal remains, including birds, foxes, and bears.

The danger comes from a lethal buildup of volcanic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, which pool in the valley’s low-lying terrain. These gases can render victims unconscious within minutes and cause death shortly thereafter. Because many gases are odorless or difficult to detect, explorers often realize the danger too late.

Local accounts claim dozens of human fatalities over the decades, including scientists and hikers who underestimated the risk. The area remains poorly mapped and difficult to monitor, making it one of the most treacherous natural sites in Russia despite its haunting beauty.^[8]

2 Darién Gap, Colombia–Panama Border

The Darién Gap is a dense, roadless jungle separating Central and South America, forming a natural break in the Pan-American Highway. While it spans only about 60 miles at its most notorious stretch, it is one of the most dangerous regions on Earth due to its unforgiving terrain and lack of infrastructure.

Travelers face venomous snakes, tropical diseases, swollen rivers, and extreme humidity. In recent years, the region has become a major migration corridor, drawing tens of thousands of people each year attempting to reach North America. Criminal groups operate throughout the jungle, engaging in robbery, assault, and human trafficking.

Despite these dangers, adventure tourism companies have begun offering guided expeditions into the Darién Gap. These trips, marketed toward thrill-seekers, carry enormous risks. Deaths and disappearances occur regularly, underscoring why the region remains officially discouraged for travel by multiple governments.^[9]

1 Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Stretching along Namibia’s Atlantic shoreline, the Skeleton Coast is one of the most hauntingly beautiful—and deadly—coastlines in the world. Bordered by the Namib Desert on one side and the cold Benguela Current on the other, the region is notorious for shipwrecks, skeletal remains, and extreme isolation.

Dense fog, violent crosscurrents, and hidden sandbars have doomed hundreds of vessels over the centuries. The remains of approximately 500 shipwrecks still line the shore, ranging from early European sailing ships to modern steel-hulled freighters. Sailors who survived wrecks often faced death inland from dehydration or exposure.

The dangers do not end on land. Lions, hyenas, and jackals roam the coastline, while at least a dozen shark species patrol offshore waters. Combined with limited access and harsh conditions, the Skeleton Coast remains one of the most unforgiving travel destinations on the planet, despite its stark and mesmerizing beauty.^[10]