Travellers have been urged to avoid heading to 31 countries by the UK Government. The Foreign Office' s red list of no-go zones highlights areas of the world where the risk of serious injury, death, disease, being imprisoned or a whole host of other horrible outcomes are high, even for tourists. Holidaymakers daring to venture into these locales do so at their peril, as they'll be voiding any insurance cover and potentially dangling on a thread without supportive assistance if things go south.
Those who risk it all in these destinations might very well end up gambling with their own lives, Foreign Office officials warn. "Get advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences," the government department advises. Here's a list of countries and territories that the Foreign Office has issued travel warnings for, covering either all or most parts of these nations.
Even if a country isn't mentioned here, there could still be restrictions in certain areas, such as contentious borders or specific regions. So, before you jet off, make sure to check the Foreign Office website for the latest travel advisories and restrictions. Sign up for FREE to Mirror Travel and discover dream escapes, latest travel advice and more JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP: Discover your next dream getaway in the UK or abroad by joining our free Mirror Travel WhatsApp community HERE .
GET THE NEWSLETTER: Or sign up to the Mirror Travel newsletter for a weekly dose of the best holiday deals, travel warnings, expert advice and hidden gems, straight to your inbox. Europe Belarus - do not travel Kosovo - all but essential travel warning for significant parts of the country Russia - do not travel Ukraine - do not travel. Middle East Iraq - do not travel and all but essential travel warning Iran - do not travel Israel - do not travel and all but essential travel warning Lebanon - do not travel Occupied Palestinian territories - do not travel Syria - do not travel Yemen - do not travel.
Africa The UK government has issued a 'do not travel' and 'all but essential travel' warning for several countries in Africa. These include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and significant parts of Western Sahara. North America Haiti - all but essential travel warning Venezuela - all but essential travel warning Asia Afghanistan - do not travel Myanmar - do not travel North Korea - all but essential travel warning Pakistan - do not travel to certain parts of the country Earlier this month the UK Foreign Office sounded the alarm on 'exit bans' affecting Brits abroad, updating its travel advice for those jetting off to Vietnam.
A worrisome trend of tourists finding themselves unable to leave the country and having their passports confiscated sparked the government's renewed guidelines. Holidaymakers caught in such dilemmas are urged to seek legal counsel and get in touch with the closest British embassy or consulate. A government spokesperson cautioned: "Vietnamese authorities may place an exit ban on certain individuals to prevent them from leaving the country.
Your passport will be seized until the case is fully investigated." In case of being snagged by an exit ban, the advice is clear: "If you are unable to leave the country because of an exit ban, consult a lawyer and contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.".
