You’ve seen the daring pics and read the thrilling accounts – now you want to go and have your own authentic adventure. Not so fast. The Australian Government has updated its advice around ‘extreme tourism’, warning Aussies not to risk their lives by visiting countries on its ‘Do not travel’ list after being inspired by the exploits of social media influencers.
As travellers increasingly seek less-travelled locations to explore, they can also run the risk of injury and death, kidnapping and imprisonment in countries where there is conflict, war and unrest.
Not to mention, most standard travel insurance policies won’t cover you for ‘Do not travel’ destinations.
The latest Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) advice on extreme tourism states: “There are serious risks in ‘Do not travel’ destinations. We provide this advice to Australians for a reason. Often that’s because Australians or other foreign nationals have already been victims.”
DFAT’s Smartraveller website currently has 23 destinations on its ‘Do not travel’ list, including Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Syria.
It also advises Aussies to check for any ‘Do not travel’ areas within destinations with lower overall travel advice, such as parts of Mindanao in the Philippines or border areas in Colombia.
DFAT warns that extreme tourism travel to a ‘Do not travel’ destination is extremely risky and can be very dangerous due to the heightened threat of death, injury, kidnapping or arbitrary detention.
“Travelling somewhere uncommon or unsafe can seem thrilling, especially if you’ve seen others do it and return safely,” Smartraveller notes.
“Before you decide to travel, you need to ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk.
“If you do get into trouble, our ability to provide consular assistance in these places is extremely limited. In almost all cases, you also won’t be covered by travel insurance.”
Lesser-known destinations to visit in 2025
Extreme tourism warnings doesn’t mean only visiting tourist hotspots and avoiding off-the-beaten-path destinations altogether on your travels.
Stick to reputable and specialist tour operators for guided small-group tours that will allow you to experience different destinations in a safe and supportive environment.
Experience a Pakistan women’s expedition or Benin, Togo and Ghana with Intrepid Travel, trek Kilimanjaro with Explore Worldwide, visit Colombia with G Adventures and see the gorillas in Rwanda with Bench Africa, to name just a few.
For more info, head to smartraveller.gov.au
