Seven years ago, British travelers freely explored dream destinations, ticking off bucket-list locales like Cuba’s idyllic beaches, the cultural marvels of St. Petersburg, and even the haunting site of Chernobyl.
However, since 2019, the number of countries classified as too perilous for travel by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has surged by 12.
Concerns such as a significant threat of kidnapping, armed robbery, and severe violence have long rendered places like Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo off-limits for tourists.
Recent global conflicts, including the latest strife in the Middle East, have transformed previously popular holiday destinations into restricted zones.
The FCDO provides various levels of travel advisories, ranging from warnings against ‘all travel’ to ‘all but essential travel’ both for entire countries and specific regions across Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
It has flagged some 76 countries or territories out of 226 countries as ‘do not travel’ areas – due to security, health or legal reasons.
The red list – where Brits are warned against all travel to ‘all parts’ of a country – now has a bleak 14 nations on there.
Travel to ‘parts’ of a further 38 nations have also been advised against.
But as the world becomes a more volatile place, what does this mean for the future of holidays?
A handful of UK tour operators continue to advertise trips to off-limits countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen, as there remains a market for those seeking ways around the restrictions – a phenomenon that has become viral on social media.
One such company, Untamed Borders, told the Daily Mail they have seen an attitude shift towards risky adventures in the past 15 years.
‘There are more people willing to go to places with travel warnings and it falls into two categories,’ James Wilcox, founder of Untamed Borders said.
‘One is that 20 to 25 years ago there was no information. If something was listed by the government how would you be able to get more nuanced information?
‘Whereas now there is more information available to you on security, you’ve got updates on X on exactly what’s happening, you can speak to people, you can get more nuanced information about places that have warnings than you ever could.
‘And another point is I think during Covid Spain for example had travel warnings against it, so there were places people ‘knew’ were fine but had government travel warnings, so that made people more willing to ignore them.
‘And this is what’s happening at the moment, there are still loads of Brits in Dubai.
‘It normalises a situation, the Middle East would have been viewed as a warzone a few years ago. But now Dubai it’s getting missiles shot at it but a lot of people in the UK will know people living in Dubai and so that conflict zone becomes a bit normalised.’
In addition to the FCDO’s 14 red list countries, holidaymakers are also advised against travel to parts of a further 38 countries, with all but essential travel advised for entire and parts of another 24.
And while there has been a shift in attitude towards risky travel, the majority of Brits remain careful to follow the FCDO’s travel advice and avoid the ever-growing list of dangerous countries.
The 14 countries on the FCDO red list
1. Afghanistan
The hashtag ‘#afghanistan’ has 6.3million posts on TikTok and includes multiple videos of male travel influencers sharing their experiences in the ‘stunning’ country ruled by the oppressive Taliban.
In one video, influencers can be seen posing in the sunshine, strolling through mosaic-lined mosques and making a peace symbol while standing outside.
However, the FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan where the ‘security situation is volatile’ and British nationals could face ‘years of imprisonment’ with limited support.
It is ranked in the 10 most dangerous countries according to the Global Peace Index, scoring 5/5 for risks of political instability and terrorism.
Recent conflict between Afghanistan and neighbouring Pakistan has made the nation even more dangerous to visit, particularly in border areas.
2. Haiti
Criminal and gang activity is extremely high in Haiti, with a significant risk of theft, including armed robbery.
The areas of Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil and Martissant are among the most dangerous areas with heightened gang activity. People using cash machines have been targeted by criminals on motorbikes.
There is also a high threat of criminal kidnaps in Haiti, with criminal groups often using firearms and extreme violence. Improvised barriers and false checkpoints are used to stop and snatch victims at gunpoint.
Political instability in the region means that violent demonstrations, protests and roadblocks could also occur, and security incidents can lead to fuel and food shortages.
The hashtag ‘#afghanistan’ has 6.3million posts on TikTok and includes videos of male travel influencers sharing their experiences in the ‘stunning’ country ruled by the oppressive Taliban
3. Belarus
According to the FCDO, Brits face a significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention for engaging in ‘any political activity in Belarus’, which can include donating to organisations now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime.
While it is considered to be safe in terms of violent street crime, the threat comes from the government itself.
The authorities remain extremely repressive after a violent crackdown was launched against demonstrators after the 2020 presidential elections.
Demonstrators failed to topple President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been the only president of Belarus since the position was established in 1994.
Its close alliance to Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict also makes it a no-go zone for Brits.
4. Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso has been on the red list for many years due to the risk of terrorist attacks and terrorist kidnappings.
The unstable political situation and political violence also means the FCDO deem it too dangerous for Brits to visit.
The West African country is currently under the military rule of Captain Ibrahim Traore, who seized power in a 2022 coup.
A Freedom in the World report this year placed political rights in the country at 2 out of 40, and civil liberties at 18 out of 60.
The military junta announced a ban on all political parties after taking power, and Human Rights Watch have recorded state killings of civilians as well as attacks carried out by jihadist groups.
To add, there is no British Embassy and all consular support is provided only through the embassy in Ghana.
5. Mali
The FCDO has advised against all travel to the nation due to unpredictable security conditions.
Mali is currently ruled by the military junta led by interim President Assimi Goita, after seizing power in coups in 2020 and 2021.
He enacted a revised Transitional Charter granting himself a five-year presidential mandate. Elections have been postponed while a severe security crisis is ongoing.
The terrorist group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin has implemented blockade on key routes throughout Southern and Western Mali, including the capital Bamako.
Attacks can happen at any time and there is a high threat of kidnapping and criminal activity across Mali.
6. Iran
America and Israel’s recent war on the Islamic Republic of Iran has meant there are significant security risks related to entering the country.
The Iranian regime, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before a series of Israeli airstrikes assassinated him, is at war with the US and is under constant military bombardment.
British and British-Iranian dual nationals are also at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention.
Iranian airspace remains closed so there is no direct way of travelling to the war-torn country, and UK government support is extremely limited in Iran.
It is likely that for as long as the conflict continues, travel to Iran will be banned.
Iran has retaliated by effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint that carries roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply
7. Iraq
The FCDO advises against all travel to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, due to the recent escalation in tensions in the region.
There is a significant risk of further escalation due to its close proximity to Iran, with the Iranian regime publicly stating its intention to target locations associated with the United States and Israel.
There have been widespread attacks against US and British bases in Iraq, and most recently a British motor oil company reported being hit by drones in the city of Erbil, in the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
While the British embassy in Iraq continues to operate, precautionary measures have been taken to temporarily withdraw some staff from Iraq.
8. Israel
The latest outbreak of war between Israel and Iran means that all travel to Israel is deemed unsafe.
The US and Israel entered war with Iran on February 28, targeting Iran’s leadership and striking a girls’ school in Minab, killing 168 people including about 110 children.
It led to retaliatory attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is now led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, after his father was killed by Israeli strikes.
Despite Israel’s multi-layered missile defence system, some Iranian strikes have managed to breach the Iron Dome, meaning Israel is not safe from strikes.
Security risks are heightened, particularly by the Gaza and Lebanon borders.
9. Niger
There has been a rise of reported terrorist and criminal kidnappings of foreign nationals in Niger which has prompted the FCDO to warn against all travel to the country.
The political situation also remains unstable following a military coup in July 2023 which saw President Mohamed Bazoum detained.
It was the fifth unconstitutional seizure of power by parts of the country’s presidential guard since the country’s independence in 1960.
There also remains a serious risk of terrorist attacks in Niger, including in the capital Niamey.
10. Palestine
Travel to all parts of Palestine are also advised against by the FCDO due to ‘regional escalation’.
Tens of thousands of Gazans were killed by two years of relentless Israeli strikes on the small strip after Hamas’ October 7 attack in 2023.
While a ceasefire was declared in October last year, there have still been reports of drone strikes on civilians in Gaza, making it unsafe for Brits to visit.
Border crossings out of Gaza have also been closed to civilians by Israeli military after they took control of the Rafah crossing.
There are no exit routes available for foreign nationals to depart Gaza independently and Consular support is not available from within Gaza.
The occupied West Bank is also prone to attacks from illegal settlers, meaning there is increased risk of violent incidents including stabbings, shootings and arson attacks.
11. Russia
Terrorist attacks are said to be ‘very likely’ in Russia, particularly at large gatherings and popular tourist sites.
Attacks have taken place in Moscow and St Petersburg as well as other Russian cities in recent years and Russia’s aviation has also been targeted.
Terrorists are active in the North Caucasus region, and have carried out a number of attacks mainly in the Dagestan region.
The Ukraine-Russia war also deems it unsafe to travel, with drone attacks reported in western and southern Russia, particularly near the border with Ukraine, as well as Moscow and St Petersburg.
12. South Sudan
All travel to South Sudan has been warned against due to the risk of armed violence and criminality.
The political and security situation is said to remain unpredictable, with risks that routes in and out of South Sudan may be blocked.
There is also a high risk of serious crime such as robbery and assault, and checkpoints operated by soldiers and other armed men are common.
They have been known to demand money from drivers and abuse people, especially women.
South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous environments in the world for aid workers, with cases of aid workers killed in targeted attacks.
13. Syria
The FCDO has warned against all travel to all parts of Syria due to unpredictable security conditions and the threat of terrorist attacks.
There is a very high threat of kidnapping by terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda operating within Syria and affiliated groups such as Daesh, formerly ISIS.
Terrorist groups in Syria routinely use kidnapping as a tactic for financial or political gain and there have been a number of kidnappings including of British nationals and other westerners.
Brits are seen by the groups as legitimate targets, whether visiting merely as tourists or as air workers and journalists.
The situation remains volatile in Syria after the Al-Assad regime was toppled in December 2024.
14. Yemen
Yemen remains one of the most dangerous nations to visit as there is a serious risk of terror attacks on foreign nationals.
The threat is the worst in areas where Al-Qaeda and Islamic State – Yemen Province have tribal connections and in the regions of Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt and Shabwah.
Western and Houthi interests in Yemen remain a feature in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP) propaganda, and it views westerners and Houthis as legitimate targets.
While terror attacks have so far been focused on the Houthis and Yemeni government, the FCDO warns that western interests are highly likely to be regarded as targets.
With this also comes a high risk of terrorist kidnappings. The AQAP have called for the continued kidnapping of westerners.
Smoke billows from hashish and narcotics being destroyed by Houthis in Yemen in July 2025
While official travel advice has warned against travel to an increasing number of countries, sharing idyllic shots from what are considered dangerous countries has certainly become a phenomenon on social media.
Though Dubai is not included on the FCDO red list, the Foreign Office has warned against ‘all but essential travel’ to the UAE.
Yet scenes from Dubai show influencers claiming to feel extremely safe despite the city’s airports being attacked have come into question.
There have been claims that some influencers based in the United Arab Emirates are being paid to pump out ‘propaganda’.
Content creators with droves of followers have been sharing videos of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with the words, ‘I know who protects us’ in the midst of Iranian attacks.
Meanwhile, 45 people of ‘various nationalities’ have been arrested by police in Abu Dhabi for ‘spreading misinformation and filming and sharing event locations’ over alleged footage showing attacks.
