8 Beautiful Travel Destinations (If You’re Okay With Dying) (3 of 5)

Danakil Desert, Northeast Africa

Danakil Desert is tucked away in an extremely desolate area shared by Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. The mineral pools with their bright neon colors are quite a sight to behold, but it’s earned the nickname “gateway to hell” for a good reason. The volcanic formations give the appearance of an alien planet, and the sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and other highly toxic gasses that are spewed in the air are completely unbreathable. The acid spit out by hot springs will leave you with chemical burns that will more likely than not prove to be fatal. If this sounds like your dream spot, keep in mind that you’ll need to hire an armed escort. Not because they can protect you from any of the deadly things belched out from the Earth, but because kidnapped tourists fetch a hefty ransom.

Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

Beaches of pure white sand. Turquoise waters. Idyllic coral reefs. Dangerous levels of radioactive cesium. All of this can be yours if you plan your next vacation on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands! Between 1946 and 1958, the U.S. detonated 23 nuclear weapons at Bikini Atoll, including the infamous Castle Bravo test, which remains the most powerful nuclear explosion the U.S. has carried out. Sadly, the locals had to be forcibly removed because exposure to high levels of radiation isn’t all that great. In the decades since the weapons testing, the levels have declined enough that short-term exposure probably won’t end your life, but it isn’t the kind of place you’d want to retire off to.