For years, this country has been deemed one of the crucial dangerous places to travel — yet tourists keep coming.
Libya, situated in North Africa, has struggled through many years of unrest after NATO-backed forces assassinated dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Since then, the battle to take power has raged on between rival groups from the east and west of the country.
The fighting has led many countries to label the country unsafe for tourists to go to, but that hasn’t stopped some daring adventurers from joining the “danger tourism” or “dark tourism” trend.
The US has issued a Level 4 — the very best — travel advisory against traveling to Libya, warning of “crime, terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.”
The UK government also “advises against all travel” to the African country.
Nevertheless, Libya attracts near 100,000 international tourists yearly, Travel and Tour World reported.
Recent developments and possible stabilization have pushed some places, like India, to ease their travel restrictions and a few travelers claim to have visited Libya with none anxiety or issues.
“We felt secure the entire time there,” said Hudson and Emily, content creators who visited Libya in 2024, said.
The couple traveled with a bodyguard who was “very serious about his job” and even went into the bathrooms with them. Despite the additional precaution, they enjoyed their time within the African country, admiring the traditional ruins and UNESCO World Heritage sites of Leptis Magna, the “beautiful” city of Tripoli and the “super friendly people.”
But that doesn’t mean it’s a secure spot.
Last May, a British tourist was held for seven hours at gunpoint at a military checkpoint in Libya.
Daniel Pinto, 26, arrived within the country on May 29, 2024, and spent 21 days traveling — since it was a “mysterious” place he desired to see.
He describes himself as a “danger tourist” and has previously been to Iran, Iraq and Syria. But this time, his tour hit a snag when he was detained for hours at gunpoint by the military. He didn’t explain how he got out of the situation, but didn’t appear to too shaken by the “scary” situation by the point he shared his story.
Pinto and others who’ve ignored travel advisories to go to countries deemed unsafe are a part of a growing variety of travelers skipping piña coloadas and looking for a thrill.
Travel experts have said they’re seeing increased interest in visiting the sites of natural disasters, mass murders or other events or situations by which something bad has happened.
For years, this country has been deemed one of the crucial dangerous places to travel — yet tourists keep coming.
Libya, situated in North Africa, has struggled through many years of unrest after NATO-backed forces assassinated dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Since then, the battle to take power has raged on between rival groups from the east and west of the country.
The fighting has led many countries to label the country unsafe for tourists to go to, but that hasn’t stopped some daring adventurers from joining the “danger tourism” or “dark tourism” trend.
The US has issued a Level 4 — the very best — travel advisory against traveling to Libya, warning of “crime, terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.”
The UK government also “advises against all travel” to the African country.
Nevertheless, Libya attracts near 100,000 international tourists yearly, Travel and Tour World reported.
Recent developments and possible stabilization have pushed some places, like India, to ease their travel restrictions and a few travelers claim to have visited Libya with none anxiety or issues.
“We felt secure the entire time there,” said Hudson and Emily, content creators who visited Libya in 2024, said.
The couple traveled with a bodyguard who was “very serious about his job” and even went into the bathrooms with them. Despite the additional precaution, they enjoyed their time within the African country, admiring the traditional ruins and UNESCO World Heritage sites of Leptis Magna, the “beautiful” city of Tripoli and the “super friendly people.”
But that doesn’t mean it’s a secure spot.
Last May, a British tourist was held for seven hours at gunpoint at a military checkpoint in Libya.
Daniel Pinto, 26, arrived within the country on May 29, 2024, and spent 21 days traveling — since it was a “mysterious” place he desired to see.
He describes himself as a “danger tourist” and has previously been to Iran, Iraq and Syria. But this time, his tour hit a snag when he was detained for hours at gunpoint by the military. He didn’t explain how he got out of the situation, but didn’t appear to too shaken by the “scary” situation by the point he shared his story.
Pinto and others who’ve ignored travel advisories to go to countries deemed unsafe are a part of a growing variety of travelers skipping piña coloadas and looking for a thrill.
Travel experts have said they’re seeing increased interest in visiting the sites of natural disasters, mass murders or other events or situations by which something bad has happened.
