Forbidden Destinations: The Most Mysterious Places You Can’t Visit

Did you know that there are several mysterious and forbidden places that you can’t visit even if you want? Probably not! While travel has no bounds other than the imagination, these are places that are literally barred for the general public. Sounds fascinating? Let’s take a closer look at some of them below.

List of Top Forbidden & Mysterious Destinations in the World

Here are some of the forbidden places that you simply CANNOT visit:

North Sentinel Island (India)

North Sentinel Island is probably one of the most mysterious places in the world. This island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago houses the secretive Sentinelese tribe. What makes it even more intriguing is that they are one of the last uncontacted peoples in the country and people are strictly forbidden from entering the island to safeguard its inhabitants from diseases.

Vatican Secret Archives (Vatican City)

You’ll be amazed to know how the Vatican Secret Archives comprise a massive collection of several historical and rare documents, including papal records. Of course, access is hugely restricted, even for researchers, and granted only on a highly selective, case-by-case basis. While travellers can explore Rome’s vibrant culture and stay in premium serviced apartments in Vatican, the mysteries of the Vatican Secret Archives remain firmly out of reach.

Mount Athos (Greece)

A shocking fact that you probably didn’t know is that this beautiful mountainous peninsula in Greece is solely male territory. It houses several Orthodox monasteries and women cannot enter this region at all.

Lascaux Caves (France)

One of the world’s most famous caves, known for their prehistoric and stunning cave paintings, have been closed to the general public from 1963 onwards. This move has been taken to prevent any damages to the delicate artwork inside. France may welcome travellers with luxurious serviced apartments and vibrant city life, but hidden treasures like the Lascaux Caves remain strictly off-limits to the public.

Ise Grand Shrine (Japan)

It is one of the country’s most iconic and important shrines and only a select list of individuals may enter the same. Travellers are barred from accessing the inner sanctum here.

Svalbard Global Seed Vault (Norway)

One of the most fascinating attractions in the world, it is a vault with a huge collection of seeds across diverse varieties. This is a strategic move to prevent crop failures in the future and it can only be accessed by specific researchers and not travellers.

Fort Knox (USA)

The U.S. Army forbids general access to this spot, since it stores a major chunk of gold reserves in the country. Only a select few from the U.S. Army can gain entry to Fort Knox.

Crooked Forest (Poland)

Poland’s Crooked Forest is famous for its gorgeous trees which have a unique bent look and the reasons behind their shape are still to be discovered. This place is barred off to the general public.

Gates of Hell (Turkmenistan)

It’s a massive crater which has been burning for several decades now. However, it is not accessible to travellers and that has only enhanced its allure over the years.

Surtsey Island (Iceland)

It’s a tiny island within an archipelago on Iceland’s southern coast and was created due to a volcanic eruption over four years. Surtsey is also called the Earth’s newest island and is only accessible for some geologists and scientists, while being forbidden for tourists to prevent any disruptions.

North Brother Island (USA)

North Brother Island is one of the most famous places in the USA which lies abandoned and was once the site of a quarantine hospital that housed the Typhoid Mary. She was the first American to carry the typhoid fever, and later the place turned into a rehabilitation center for drug addicts. Now, however, it is permanently closed for the public and has become a bird sanctuary.

Dulce Base (USA)

This is a charming town near the Colorado border in the New Mexico region and houses 2,600 Native Americans. It is actually an underground laboratory where several experiments happen in the hidden compound with cutting-edge security. The base is heavily guarded and is one of the world’s most intriguing forbidden places.

Heard Island (Australia)

Heard Island is one of the most fascinating and unexplored destinations, nestled between Madagascar and Antarctica. It is officially within Australia, and contains two active volcanoes. Limestone and debris dot the whole region due to previous eruptions and to preserve its fragile ecosystem, the Government of Australia has banned access for the general public.

Snake Island (Brazil)

Snake Island is infested with innumerable deadly snakes and this makes it completely forbidden for general tourists. Humans do not dare to set foot on the island and the Government has made it officially illegal to visit the same as well. Estimates put the number of golden lanceheads (the world’s deadliest serpents) here at a whopping 4,000.

Area 51 (USA)

Southern Nevada is home to Area 51, which has always been the subject of immense mystery and speculation. This U.S. military base has reportedly been a testing ground for aircraft and weapons although there are conspiracy theories about alien evidence being concealed here. It is completely off-limits for visitors.

Tomb of Qin Shi Huang (China)

China’s first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, has a secret mausoleum buried beneath a pyramid for 2,000+ years. It is one of the biggest historical discoveries of the modern world, although it still remains a mystery, since the tomb has been sealed off since time immemorial. Legends speak of how the tomb complex houses several things that the Emperor would require in his afterlife. Excavation here has been prohibited by the Chinese Government and it continues to remain one of the world’s forbidden destinations.

Pravcicka Brana (Czech Republic)

Pravcicka Brana is Europe’s largest sandstone arch and it was open to tourists until 1982. However, to keep erosion at bay later on, people were legally forbidden from visiting this landmark. Geologists worry that it may collapse soon and hence it has become a place that is off-limits for tourists.

Niihau Island (USA)

Niihau Island is home to just 160 people and the general public cannot enter the island. To gain entry to the destination, you should either have a relative here or be employed in the U.S. Navy. The decision to restrict entry to outsiders comes from a desire to preserve the rich natural ecosystem and wildlife here.

Concluding Notes

As you can see, there are several forbidden or restricted places that still bear that air of unknown mystery. While you can’t access these places legally, there’s no harm in enjoying the legends, mysteries, and amazing facts that they have generated over the years.