All nine countries on UK Foreign Office's 'do not travel' list that could put you at risk visiting
The summer is rapidly approaching and Brits will no doubt be already making plans for a good old fashioned summer holiday.
With some parts of Spain telling drunken British tourists to stay away, the options might be a little more limited than other summers from times gone by, depending on the type of holiday you like to have.
If you're an adventurer, you may well be tempted try somewhere new and exotic, which is fine, so long as you don't break any rules such as visiting forbidden islands or isolated tribes.
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However, there are nine countries which the Foreign Office has put on its 'do not travel' list, with a warning issued to anyone who does consider visiting them.
They say that ignoring the guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) could put individuals at risk and also invalidate their travel insurance.
While there are some pretty obvious options on here to avoid, there are also some you might not expect, and the risks involved are more than enough to put people off.
Afghanistan
Let's start in alphabetical order shall we. Afghanistan has presumably been on the 'no travel list' since even before the US invaded in 2001.
The Taliban re-took political control of the country in 2021, shortly after the US army was withdrawn, so it's definitely not a safe option to travel to.
Belarus
While there is no war ongoing in Belarus, they are a close ally of Russia and it is suggested that there is a small chance of the war with Ukraine overspilling into the Eastern European country.
So again, it's probably one you should avoid for the time being. Brits also reportedly face a significant risk of arrest there, if you have at any time engaged in any activity now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime.
Haiti
We probably all remember the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, but the Foreign Office's advice for not travelling there 15 years on is for a far different reason.
The FCDO suggests that 'there are currently no British consular officials in Haiti' and therefore it's ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person.
The FCDOP references the 'volatile security situation' in the country, which is in the grip of gang violence and organised crime.
Iran
There are plenty of reasons to not travel to Iran this summer, with political tensions in the Middle East perhaps the most dangerous.
But the reality is, just having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.
Libya
Libya has featured on the do not travel list since 2014 due to a fragile local security situation as well as the 'severely limited' UK government support on offer in the North African country.
The FCDO warns that 'intense fighting' can start 'without warning'.
Russia
No surprise here as there a massive risks involved with travelling to an active war zone.
Security incidents, a lack of flights home to the UK and limited government support are also listed as reasons why we shouldn't visit the home of Putin this summer.
South Sudan
South Sudan is completely off the cards due to the risk of armed violence and criminality. The political and security situation also remains unpredictable there, ever since 2011 when it split from Sudan.
Syria
There has been an ongoing civil war in Syria since 2011 and all British Embassy services in Damascus, the country's capital, are suspended right now.
Yemen
Bad news for any salmon fishing fans as there are plenty of unpredictable security conditions in the Middle Eastern country, with government support once again limited and British embassy services suspended.
James Moorhouse