7 Bizarre Travel Experiences That You Won’t Believe Are Real
Discover the world's strangest travel experiences, from fiery craters and bone-adorned chapels to haunted islands and ice hotels, that prove adventure can be as bizarre as it is unforgettable.
- Alyana Aguja
- 3 min read
Travel isn’t just sightseeing; it’s about immersing yourself in the unusual and accepting the surreal. Whether it’s sleeping in an ice hotel and crawling through bone-filled catacombs or standing on the brink of a volcanic crater, these authentic experiences reframe adventure. Prepare to discover some of the globe’s most unusual destinations that defy the routine and deliver memories you’ll treasure forever.
1. The Door to Hell – Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan
Image from Wikipedia
Since 1971, a burning crater in the middle of the Karakum Desert has been ablaze day and night. Nicknamed the “Door to Hell,” the 70-meter-wide and 30-meter-deep crater was accidentally lit up by Soviet geologists searching for natural gas. The mystical, unearthly image of dancing flames amidst desert sands is nothing short of entrancing and spine-chilling.
2. The Bone Church – Sedlec Ossuary, Czechia
Image from Wikipedia
Under the charming town of Kutná Hora is a chapel covered in bones of about 40,000 to 70,000 people. The Sedlec Ossuary, or “Bone Church,” has artistic depictions of human skeletons, including a chandelier composed solely of bones. The gruesome sight is a grim reminder of death and the transience of time.
3. The Icehotel – Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Image from www.icehotel.com
Every year, the Jukkasjärvi village builds a hotel made of ice and snow, where visitors have the opportunity to sleep in sub-zero temperatures. The Icehotel was established in 1989 and is sculpted by hand from huge ice blocks, melting away every spring to be remade again. Visitors can be amazed at stunning ice sculptures and sleep on ice beds covered by thermal sleeping bags.
4. The Naked Man Festival – Okayama, Japan
Image from Japan Travel
Dating back more than 500 years, the “Hadaka Matsuri,” or Naked Man Festival, is a contest where thousands of men wear only loincloths to vie for sacred Shingi sticks. It is held yearly in Okayama, and the participants hope that gaining these sticks will bring them good fortune for the coming year. The festival is a wild and frenetic show of tradition, religion, and community pride.
5. Sleeping in a Crane Hotel – Harlingen, Netherlands
Image from Get Lost
In Harlingen, a port city in the Netherlands, an antique industrial crane has been converted into a lavish hotel suite. The panoramic harbor views from a height can be enjoyed by guests, along with the novel experience of controlling the crane’s movement. The unusual accommodation combines industrial heritage and contemporary comfort.
6. Solo Stay on a Haunted Island Resort – Siquijor, Philippines
Image from Tripadvisor
Famous for its connections with witchcraft and folk medicine, Siquijor Island is a spooky excursion for the daring. There was a story about a traveler who was the sole visitor to a deserted luxury resort with surrounding tales of evil spirits. The haunting vacancy and barren majesty offered an experience never to be forgotten and a spine-tingling thrill.
7. Visiting the Paris Catacombs – France
Image from Les catacombes de Paris
Under the busy streets of Paris is a system of tunnels containing the remains of about six million individuals. The Paris Catacombs provide a spooky and unforgettable experience as tourists walk through walls covered with neatly stacked bones and skulls. This ghoulish site offers a glimpse into the city’s past and attitude toward death.