Unusual holiday destinations to inspire your next adventure.
Are you looking for something truly breathtaking and mind-expanding?
Some of our locations are often described as dark and dangerous.
In reality, however, these places have so much more in common, such as culture, spirituality and rich history.
Dark Travel collected the most exciting places that you should visit at least once in your life.
Dark, hidden, obscure and unusual sights.
Japan is perhaps the most enigmatic country in the Far East and certainly one that offers exciting travel experiences, including some of the world's top destination for dark tourism!
Japan's darkest locations are largely related to the Second World War, including one of its worst aspects: the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs.
Fukushima
March 11, 2011: A tsunami caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which is considered to be the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
Aokigahara suicide forest
Another place that attracted the interest of Dark Travel was Aokigahara, the "suicide forest" of Japan.
Hashima Island
One of the most spectacular ghost towns on earth thanks to its unique location: a small island off the coast southwest of Nagasaki.
Okinawa - WWII
Okinawa island is indeed a rich dark tourist destination that brings us into contact with one of the most horrible battles of the Pacific in the second world war.
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Hiroshima and Nagasaki
On 6 August 1945, the American army dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima; three days later, a second bomb was detonated, this time on the city of Nagasaki.
An unusual overland journey to discover the ancient, complex and tragic history of one of the earliest Christian civilisations
Armenia is a country with an ancient, rich, complex and sometimes tragic history. Join us on this exciting journey as we explore the medieval remains and enduring legacies of one of the earliest Christian civilisations.
Hike in the spectacular gorge of Garni famous for the natural phenomenon called “Basalt Organ”
Yerevan - Goght - Garni gorge - Lusarat - Areni - Noravank - Sisian - Khndzoresk - Tatev
Ask us for Armenia Off Road: 8 days Jeep tour from 710 €
Secrets of infamous Albania
Closed to travelers for almost the entire 20th century, Albania is still a secret not discovered by mass tourism. Visit the picturesque Ottoman cities, the ancient ruins, the famous communist bunkers and the beautiful beaches of the Ionian Sea. Travelling in Albania is an adventure like no other. And designed for those with an interest in the bizarre sides of history.
BUNKERS & THE BIZARRE HISTORY OF ALBANIA.
RIDE AN INFAMOUS ALBANIAN TRAIN.
THE SECRETS OF SAZAN.
SOCIALIST REALISM AND COMMUNIST TOUR.
A Journey Through Bulgaria’s Abandoned sites, ruins and sinister Monuments
Explore ancient civilizations and marvel at otherworldly relics of a communist utopia.
Immerse yourself in the rich and often tragic history of a country that stands on the frontier between Europe and the Middle East—a country that has seen the rise and fall of three historic Kingdoms.
From glorious times to periods of impenetrable darkness…
Sofia – “The Eyes of God” cave – Pleven – Veliko Tarnovo - Sabotkovtsi – Etar – Buzludzha - Kazanlak - Tarnicheni – Plovdiv – Perushtitsa – Batak – Tsigov Chark – Dorkovo - Kostandovo – Velingrad – Bansko – Sand Pyramids of Stob – Rila Monastery – Sofia
Unique journeys to the former Yugoslavia from Albania
Discover the best of Balkan Peninsula on this multiple countries tour!
His is a relatively undiscovered and mutch less visited part of Europe.
It’s not a stretch to state that many Westerners don’t know much about the region. That is, of course, except for the Balkan War, which devastated the area in the 1990s.
If you’re one of those people who still associate the word “Balkans” with war and refugees, you really need to visit this unusual, gorgeous region.
Realizing that you’re visiting a distinctly different cultural region in Europe will help make your trip all the more enjoyable.
BALKAN TOUR: ALBANIA, MACEDONIA, KOSOVO AND MONTENEGRO - 15 Days
Crossing the "Green Line"
Surprising and exceptionally beautiful with a warm welcome. A new discovery!!!
North Cyprus has a rich and very interesting history.
There are many unusual, historical and interesting places to visit, in Kyrenia, Famagusta, Nicosia and the Karpaz Peninsula.
The Persian Empire was a vast empire in the Near East, with Iran as centrepiece. On a journey to the darkest sights of Iran.
Heart of the Silk Route / Aral Sea.
There are many beautiful and unique places to visit in Uzbekistan. Why not visit one of the biggest natural disasters in the world.
The "Aral Sea" or what is left of it. An abandoned arid plain full of rusted shipwrecks
1001 Dark Nights: During the tour ‘In the country of thousand and one dark nights’, there is a wonderful opportunity to plunge into the culture of the East and get wonderful impressions..
Deep into the middle ages: Through the Ways of Ancient Caravans’, you have opportunity to deep into the Middle Ages and to see an extent centuries-old culture with own eyes.
The Kingdom of the Black Pharaohs
Northern Sudan is an original, mysterious and unique destination, still unknown to the most, this is the area where the African and Arabic culture meet. Its history is very much connected to the Ancient Egyptian one, the Nile River crosses the Sahara Desert and along its valley lays very interesting archaeological sites of the Egyptian and Meroitic civilizations.
The astonishing landscape of the three deserts, associated to the beauty of the Nile Cataracts, the hidden Nubian villages and the welcoming people make of this place an innovative, unexpected destination.
V O C: The United East India Company.
Remains of Dutch domination.
Centuries ago, Portuguese, English and Dutch set foot in Sri Lanka.
In the time of the Dutch rule they left their footprints. Roads, canals, forts and walled city districts, fortresses such as (Leiden, Utrecht and Delft), churches, the architecture of some buildings still remind us of the time of the Dutch.
Colombo - Negombo - Kalpitiya - Anuradhapura - Mannar - Jaffna - Delft Island - Trincomalee - Passikhuda - Batticoloa - Tissamaharama - Yala NP - Galle
Beyond your wildest dreams....Mystery & Adventure.
Home to some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world, mystic cities, colourful markets and warm hospitality, a trip to this part of the world is bound to excite even the worldliest travellers.
The most breathtaking road trip in the world
4x4 expeditions between the highest peaks of the world.
Where the Himalayas, the Karakorum and the Hindu-Kush mountain ranges meet.
Hidden, mystical and unusual cities.
Discover Alexander the great lost tribe "the Kalash people".
Experience the beautiful nature, the most beautiful valleys in the world and discover one of the oldest cultures belonging to the earliest civilizations in the world.
Extend your expedition with an unusual visit to Lahore.
In fact, Lahore has its own part of legends, myths and an element of the supernatural.
Ancient civilizations and their history ........
Experience a rare experience: Indus Valley, Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa and Taxila.
The Punjab has historically been the area through which all conquerors, traders and religious missionaries passed.
Lahore is the cultural heart of Punjab, where we discover the historical and religious memories of the Moghul, Sikh and the British Empire.
India is a medley of fascinating colors and cultures, a historical legacy, a canvas of architectural masterpieces and an extravagant exuberance of royal splendor. This land of sages and ancient legends is home to the magnificent forts and palaces of Rajasthan and the Golden Temple of Amritsar. Crowned by the Himalayas in the north, India offers an unusual adventure full of variety. From experimental trekking in the Himalayan villages, to Kangra Valley and Mcleod Ganj, home to today's Dalai Lama.
✭ Unique Journeys Across and Beyond borders of the Former USSR ✭
Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan
Dark Soviet legacy in Kazakhstan
Under the USSR, Kazakhstan hosted a sprawling network of prison camps that housed millions of prisoners.
If you’re an intrepid traveler and like to explore cool, beautiful and unusual sites that people haven’t heard about before, then you should experience this huge Central Asian country!
Nur-Sultan - ALZHIR Camp - Karaganda - KARLAG Camp - Nur-Sultan
When people left planet Earth…
There is no other place in the world where you can truly ‘feel’ the space exploration by mankind other than Baikonur in Kazakhstan. It is the world’s first and largest cosmodrome built by the Soviets in the 1950’s. Sputnik, the world’s first satellite was launched from this cosmodrome in 1957, followed by the first human space flight with astronaut Yuri Gagarin onboard the ‘Vostok’ space shuttle on April 12th, 1961. Since then over 1,200 space rockets were launched into the cosmos from this base and it currently has a busy schedule, as it is managed by the Russian space agency Roscosmos (that leases a territory almost 7000 sq. kilometres from Kazakhstan) until 2050. Almost every month there is a space shuttle launch which you can be a part of!
Taking tour to Baikonur with our local guide and space expert and visiting the facilities and objects that were used for space exploration in the past, makes these days spent in the Kazakh desert a once-in-a-lifetime experience that only a few people a year can cherish.
List of launches from “Baikonur” in 2023
Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft launch
September 15, 2023
