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Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been at war for 30 years, beginning with the Soviet invasion in the 1980's. The country has a long history of occupation, most recently by the United States. It is the rare traveler that chooses to visit modern Afghanistan. One of the poorest nations on the planet, an excursion to Afghanistan can include stepping on a land mine and being blown to bits, facing extreme racism from its' countrymen, encountering a Taliban fighter or being on the receiving end of a violent hate crime. If you have hard drugs in mind, a visit to the country's abundant opium fields might be a nice side trip as Afghanistan is one of the world's leading opium exports. Although the country has been racked by war, it is a naturally beautiful nation with a long and treasured history. The beautifully bare highlands and large rolling plains are a compliment to the hospitality a mindful traveler will encounter when visiting with Afghans.

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Somalia

Skip a few stones and you are in another severely dangerous nation. Somalia has not had a functioning central government in over a decade. Sure this place has a nice climate year round and miles of sandy beach bordering the beautiful Indian Ocean, but cruising these waters carries risks. Piracy is a major problem in this country and we are not talking about the innocuous swashbuckling folk of Disney lore. These modern-day pirates will not hesitate to attack vessels they consider of high value. However, on land it is a different story. Since Somalia's civil war, which broke out nearly 20 years ago, the state has divided itself into dozens of warring fiefdoms. Somalia's minister of tourism admitted that his country has not greeted an official tourist in over 14 years, and you might not want to be their first.

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Haiti

As beautiful a country as they come, Haiti would be a grand destination if you could ignore hunger riots and police brutality under an unstable government that allegedly organises 'Voodoo Death Squads'. Anywhere in the Caribbean will offer you warm waters and gorgeous sunsets every night, and Haiti has a fantastic chest of natural assets. While a vibrant culture of food, music and myth are still very alive in Haiti, taking a journey to experience all that any time soon would simply be asking for trouble.

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Thailand

Steeped in history, Thailand is beautiful but also deeply engulfed in human and drug trafficking. It is still a popular tourist destination. Known for its natural beauty and predominantly Buddhist beliefs, it is little wonder that many still come to seek spiritual guidance and renewal, though there is still significant risk of crime in cities like Bangkok. The country is home to some of the world's most pristine forest and is a mecca for climbers, boasting some of the finest climbs found anywhere. Every year tourists in the country go missing without a trace, even more shocking is that word of these disappearances seldom make headline news in the country. The police who aren't always there to protect and serve are instructed to 'shoot to kill'. Go to Thailand to experience the wild nightlife, exotic food and awakenings of the soul - just exercise caution, and maintain situational awareness.

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Iraq

Is the fact that U.K. airline British Airways stopped all commercial flights to Iraq back in 1991 enough of a deterrent for travelling to this war-torn nation? Aside from having a massive occupying army and active terrorist cells, just getting into this country is difficult. Despite foreign efforts to stabilise their government and bring liberation to their people, Iraq is still in the midst of a complicated and deadly war. This is unfortunate because Iraq is home to some of the finest collections of historic art in the world, and if you do decide to travel here, visiting the recently re-opened Cultural Museum in Baghdad is a must. In a country where hiring bodyguards is highly recommended, perhaps it is not all bad for those who have always wondered what it was like to be famous and to have to travel with an entourage.