7 Most Dangerous Places You Can Actually Visit
These insanely dangerous places will test your survival instincts—if you’re brave (or crazy) enough to go.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 3 min read
Some places in the world are so extreme that just being there is a risk. From toxic lakes to snake-infested islands, these destinations are not for the faint of heart. If you’re seeking an adventure with a side of danger, these are the places to visit at your own risk.
1. Snake Island, Brazil
Marinha do Brasil on Wikimedia Commons
Ilha da Queimada Grande, better known as Snake Island, is home to thousands of golden lancehead vipers, one of the deadliest snakes in the world. Their venom can melt human flesh, and there’s at least one snake for every square meter of land. The Brazilian government has banned visitors, but that doesn’t stop the occasional reckless explorer. If you somehow end up there, don’t stop moving because the snakes definitely won’t.
2. Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
Thomas Fuhrmann on Wikimedia Commons
This otherworldly landscape looks like something from Mars, with boiling lava lakes, toxic gases, and blistering heat that can reach 120°F (49°C). It’s one of Earth’s hottest and most uninhabitable places, but that hasn’t stopped thrill-seekers from visiting. The ground can collapse under your feet, filling the air with suffocating sulfur. It’s like nature’s version of “do not enter” signs, except they’re everywhere.
3. Lake Natron, Tanzania
Christoph Strässler on Wikimedia Commons
At first glance, Lake Natron looks beautiful, but don’t be fooled—this place is a natural death trap. The water is so alkaline that it burns the skin and eyes of animals, turning them into eerie, stone-like mummies. Temperatures can reach 140°F (60°C), and the lake’s blood-red color makes it look like something out of a horror movie. If you ever wanted to visit hell without actually dying, this might be the closest thing.
4. Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine
George Chernilevsky on Wikimedia Commons
Radiation still lingers in this ghost town decades after the infamous 1986 nuclear disaster. While guided tours are allowed, straying off the path could mean stepping into dangerously radioactive hotspots. The eerie, abandoned buildings and mutant wildlife make it a haunting yet fascinating place. It’s like a real-life post-apocalyptic movie, except the danger is very real.
5. Death Valley, USA
Tuxyso on Wikimedia Commons
With temperatures soaring past 130°F (54°C), Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth. People have died just from being outside too long, and cars break down under the relentless sun. Water is scarce, shade is even scarcer, and cell service is practically nonexistent. If you get lost here, your best bet is to hope someone finds you before the heat does.
6. Mount Everest, Nepal
Vyacheslav Argenberg on Wikimedia Commons
Reaching the summit of Everest is the ultimate achievement, but getting there is deadly. Freezing temperatures, avalanches, and the notorious “death zone” with barely any oxygen have claimed hundreds of lives. The mountain is so dangerous that climbers often pass frozen bodies along the trail. If that’s not a warning sign, nothing is.
7. The Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan
Tormod Sandtorv on Wikimedia Commons
Also called the “Door to Hell,” this massive burning crater has been on fire for over 50 years. Soviet engineers accidentally set it ablaze in 1971, and it’s been burning ever since. The heat is unbearable up close, and standing near the edge is a serious risk—unless you enjoy falling into a fiery pit. It’s like looking straight into the underworld but with way more heat.