There are many reasons why places might be off-limits to visitors and tourists. Some countries and regions are considered too dangerous to visit due to conflict, while specific archaeological and culturally important heritage sites are closed to save them from irrevocable damage. These gorgeous photos offer a glimpse of places we may never get to see.

Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, to the country’s east, is home to important 19th-century monuments, pastel-coloured, hillside homes in capital Port-au-Prince and a beautiful coastline (pictured). Visiting the Caribbean country is currently off-limits as a state of emergency has been declared following the July 2021 assassination of President Moïse, which has also led to the closure of the airport and the border with the Dominican Republic.

The US Department of State also has a “do not travel” warning in place due to the risk of kidnapping, crime and civil unrest. The country has also been hit by severe weather events and natural disasters in the past, including a catastrophic, 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew, which struck the country in 2016. These caused huge devastation yet many of the country’s important landmarks, including the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, pictured) in Cap-Haïtien remain remarkably intact.

Other beautiful buildings include the ruins of Sans-Souci Palace, the Baroque former royal home of King Henri I, who was key in the Haitian Revolution that won independence from France in 1804. And one of the most stunning landmarks is the Citadelle Laferrière, an early 19th-century fortress perched on the Bonnet à l'Evêque mountaintop in Nord. The citadel, pictured, was originally built under the orders of Henri to protect the newly independent country against French invasion.

Many of Scotland’s islands rival the Caribbean – and anywhere in the world, really – for sheer beauty. Tiny Gruinard Island is one of them. Its nickname, however, is less appealing. It’s known as Anthrax Island because it was used as a testing site by British Armed Forces during the Second World War. It was quarantined for years and finally declared safe in the 1990s, though it remains unpopulated and many people are still reluctant to set foot on its enticing sandy shores.

Derbent is one of the world’s oldest cities, with a history stretching back around 5,000 years. However, it’s part of the Russian Republic of Dagestan region, to which the FCDO currently advises against any travel due to ongoing conflict in the region. The city owes its rich and eclectic heritage to its strategic position between the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains: it’s been occupied by the Persians, Arabs, Turks, Mongols and now Russians over the years. The most iconic structure is the citadel of Naryn-Kala (pictured), which dates from around the 6th century.

The huge fortress perches on a hill, where it can be seen from pretty much anywhere in the city, and includes the ruins of the Khan’s Palace, the office, guardhouse and royal baths. There’s beauty everywhere in Derbent, though, from burnished gold beaches lapped by the Caspian Sea to cemeteries with ornate and intricately decorated tombs and mausoleums (pictured).

Chechnya, officially the Chechen Republic, lies north of Derbent, bordering Dagestan, and is also part of the no-go area of southwestern Russia, according to FCDO travel advice. Decades of conflict have brought the country to a near-standstill and disputes with Russia have been ongoing since the 1830s. There are also serious human rights concerns, including abuses against LGBTQ+ people, according to Human Rights Watch. Pictured is the capital, Grozny, and the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, unveiled in 2008.

Beautiful architecture in the city is equalled by some stunning landscapes, such as Argun Canyon and Lake Kezenoyam, whose milky turquoise surface is surrounded by meadows. There are some important archaeological sites too, including Tsoi-Pede Necropolis or Russia’s 'City of the Dead' (pictured), a cemetery with medieval buildings, towers, altars and crypts on a rocky landmass between two rivers.

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The crumbling ruins and stone structures of this sunken city peep tantalisingly from the turquoise-tinted water a little off the rocky northern shoreline of Kekova, a tiny uninhabited island off the coast of Antalya in Turkey. Simena was a sea-trading post and ancient Lycian settlement believed to date to around 2,000 BC. It was destroyed by a series of earthquakes at some point in the 2nd century. The vast majority of the undersea city are protected and strictly off-limits to visitors, though.

Diving and snorkelling are banned to protect the fragile ruins, with the region categorised as a Specially Protected Area, though some tour boats are allowed to pass by slowly. The ruins have contributed to historians’ understanding of the Lycian civilisation, which was unique to Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Lycia was made up of a democratic federation or union of cities, known as the ‘Lycian League’. It’s believed to be the first such system, inspiring the modern democratic systems in place today.

Walls and foundations can be seen just beneath the surface of the area’s limpid waters while some of the lost city's ornate tombs (as pictured) can be seen rising above the waves at low tide too. Other structures, including a shipyard, a church and stone staircase leading straight into the sea, are right at the water’s edge, revealing the city’s precarious coastal location.

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The huge monumental structures of ancient Kibyra in southwest Turkey’s Burdur Province are usually open to tourists although remain relatively quiet. This intricate Medusa mosaic, however, is mostly off-limits and usually accepts a limited number of visitors only at certain times of the year. The mosaic was discovered in the ancient Greek (and later Roman) city in 2009 and is believed to be around 2,000 years old.

Its delicate, softly coloured tiles depict the image of Medusa, the serpent-haired female creature of Greek mythology, and were unearthed in the ruins of the bouleuterion, a building used was used as a courthouse, theatre and parliament house. It was created with small, cut pieces of coloured marble, inlaid to make a pattern, and is covered for at least nine months of the year to protect it from the elements.

The ancient city of Timbuktu, capital of the Tombouctou region, glimmers on the edge of the Sahara Desert and is a designated UNESCO heritage site. The FCDO advises against all travel to this area, the provinces of Kidal, Gao and Mopti, and most of Mali’s borders, while the US State Department has a blanket “do not travel” advisory in place for the entire country.

Founded in the 5th century, the desert city was an important hub of Arab-African trade and flourished with a marketplace where manuscripts, salt, gold, grain and cattle were exchanged. It was also the location of one of the world’s first universities, established in the 12th century. At one time there were 180 Koranic schools here, attended by around 25,000 students.

One of the most important structures is Sankore Mosque built in the 14th century and attached to the Koranic Sankore University (pictured). Along with Djingareyber and Sidi Yahia, it’s one of Timbuktu's three mud-and-timber mosques that require constant restoration and are considered endangered by UNESCO due to 'desertification', effectively being damaged and encroached upon by desert sands. Some of Timbuktu’s ancient mausoleums and manuscripts were also destroyed following the 2012 military coup.

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People are advised against all travel within a 12-mile (20km) exclusion zone around Ecuador’s border with Colombia, with the exception of the official border crossing city of Tulcán in Carchi province. The restrictions are in place due to ongoing unrest and the area is under army control. Included in the zone, in the north of the South American country, are the towns of San Lorenzo and Nueva Loja, which was founded as the base camp for Texaco. It also encompasses swathes of El Angel Ecological Reserve, pictured.

The vast reserve is famous for its moorlands, found only here and in southern Colombia and studded with frailejones. These rare plants soar up to 20 feet (6m) high and bloom with flowers similar to sunflowers. Other beguiling features of this biodiverse park include rivers, lagoons, and forested mountains with paper trees – named because of the way their thin bark peels away. It’s also home to wildlife including paramo wolves and condors.

There are travel warnings in place for all regions of Afghanistan, which has been largely inaccessible for decades due to ongoing conflict. The FCDO advises against all travel for security reasons, while the US State Department also has a “do not travel” warning in place. The vast country is rich in both culturally important landmarks and natural beauty, with a mix of ethereal landscapes, ancient monuments and ornate architectural structures such as the Sakhi Shrine (pictured) in the capital Kabul.

Among the country's most important structures is the Minaret of Jam, pictured, which pierces the sky at 213 feet (65m) high. The intricate tower, in brick and blue tile, was built by acclaimed architect Ghurid Sultan Ghiyas-od-din and is part of the UNESCO heritage site of Jam in the Shahrak District, Ghor Province. The region, characterised by deep river valleys, mountains and jagged rock formations, is extremely remote and almost inaccessible in itself.

The entire country has more than its fair share of gorgeous landscapes, though perhaps one of the loveliest natural attractions is Band-e Amir National Park, pictured. In the central Bamyam Province, it’s made up of six sapphire and turquoise-hued lakes, naturally separated by travertine dams (created by mineral deposits) and ringed by the Hindu Kush mountains. Its vastness, and breathtaking beauty, has led to comparisons with America’s Grand Canyon.

Somalia and the Republic of Somaliland, which has declared itself an independent state, are currently considered unsafe for visitors due to security reasons, with the exception of the cities of Hargeisa and Berbera, where all but essential travel is advised against, according to the latest FCDO advice. The country, located in the Horn of Africa, is a real beauty, with architecturally rich cities surrounded by mountains and the longest coastline on mainland Africa. Pictured is the seaport of Bosaso in the northeastern Bari province.

Somalia also harbours some of the best-preserved and, it’s believed, earliest rock art on the continent, particularly in the caves of Laas Geel (pictured). The caverns are laced around a granite outcrop in the Maroodi Jeex region of the country, between Hargeisa and Berbera. The paintings of pastoral scenes, cattle, dogs and wildlife including giraffes are believed to range from between 5,000 and 10,000 years old.

Speaking of giraffes, the lofty beauties – though no longer roaming the region where the cave paintings are found – can be seen grazing on acacia trees elsewhere in Somalia, particularly close to its border with Kenya. The country’s diverse wildlife also includes lions, cheetahs, African bush elephants, the Somali wild ass and zebras. Lag Badana-Bushbush National Park, by the southern coast, is home to monkeys, hyenas, gazelle and rich birdlife.

Travel to the beguiling north African country of Sudan is advised against, particularly the Darfur states, the Abyei Region and the areas around the border with South Sudan and Libya. That means that the country’s ancient pyramids – there are more here than in Egypt – are essentially off-limits to tourists for the foreseeable future, due to ongoing security concerns, although the FCDO states that the situation has stabilised since 2019. Pictured is the old town in capital Khartoum.

There are nearly 200 small (relative to those in Giza) yet perfectly formed and beautifully ornate pyramids at Meroë, to the east of the Nile and northeast of Khartoum. The burial chambers are scattered among the dunes at Meroë, creating a breathtaking blend of natural and manmade sculptures. These architectural marvels were built by the rulers of the ancient Kushite kingdom, a major power in the ancient world from the 8th century BC to the 4th century.

West of Meroë are the archeological ruins of Naqa, an ancient city that was part of the Kushite kingdom. Naqa is known for its impeccably preserved temples including Amun and Apedemak (Lion Temple), which is prized as a classic example of Kushite architecture. There’s also a Roman kiosk, whose architecture and decorative elements suggest Pharaonic Egyptian, Hellenistic and Kushite influences.

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The prehistoric paintings of Lascaux Cave, near the village of Montignac in northwestern France, were stumbled across by four young boys who were exploring the area in 1940. What they found were some of the finest examples of Paleolithic cave paintings, depicting large mammals such as huge bulls, bison, cats, a rhino and a bear, in the world. Fossil finds have confirmed that the animals in the paintings would have roamed the area at that time.

The original cave was closed to the public in 1963 because the sheer volume of carbon dioxide from human breath caused the paintings – estimated to date between 17,000 and 15,000 years BC – to deteriorate. Now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains closed to the public to preserve the paintings, while a complete replica of the original cave, with paintings, tours and interactive exhibits, allows visitors to learn about the remarkable discovery.

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The northern highland region of Tigray is rich in cultural and religious treasures, though its proximity to the Eritrean border means people are currently advised not to travel there or within 19 miles (30km) of its borders with the Afar and Amhara regions. A state of emergency is currently in place in the southern part of Amhara due to clashes. The restrictions are due to ongoing military conflict within Tigray and between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces. Flights are also suspended across the area.

Tigray’s most famous attraction is the UNESCO archaeology site of Aksum, known for its sky-piercing obelisks and the St. Mary of Zion, a Christian church believed to have harboured the biblical Ark of the Covenant (now said to be kept in the neighbouring Chapel of the Tablet). Other deeply important religious sites include the remote, clifftop 6th-century monastery of Debre Damo, which was attacked and looted in early 2021.

It’s advised not to travel to Ethiopia’s Somali Region unless essential, while parts of the area – bordering Somalia to the east – fall under the FCDO’s highest warning, which advises against all travel. This is due to ongoing clashes and fighting between different ethnic groups. The territory is a mix of arid desert landscapes, mountains and valleys carved by rivers, as pictured.

It is usually possible to visit North Korea, though it certainly isn’t ever easy. British citizens can usually only enter the country as part of an organised tour, while extremely strict government laws in the country mean there’s a relatively high risk of arrest and/or detention for infringements that might be considered negligible elsewhere, such as taking unauthorised photos. One specific rule is that, when photographing statues of the country's leaders, the entire figure must be in the frame. Pictured are bronze statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in capital Pyongyang.

The US State Department also has a “do not travel” advisory in place for those reasons and, currently people can’t use a US passport to travel to or through the country without a (rarely granted) special validation. Because of this, few people will be able to see and explore the many attractions here. The country has fascinating cultural institutions like the International Friendship Museum, soaring skyscrapers, and naturally beautiful areas including some glorious sandy beaches.

The landscape is also dotted with mountains, some with thickly forested slopes and others surrounding lakes or plunging down into river valleys. Many parts of the country are ethereally beautiful with natural scenery to rival anywhere else in the world. Heaven Lake (pictured), close to the border with China, shimmers in a caldera atop the volcanic Paektu Mountain and sits surrounded by other peaks.

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This verdant island, around 20 miles (32km) off the coast from São Paulo, is nicknamed Snake Island, and it’s nothing to do with its shape. Ilha da Queimada Grande harbours one of world’s deadliest species of snake, the Golden Lancehead Viper, whose venom can tear through flesh. There are more than 4,000 of the vicious vipers here, which explains why the government has prohibited visitors. Only a select few scientists are allowed on the island to study the snakes every few years.

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Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is currently under a state of emergency, declared by the military after it staged a coup in February 2021, and the FCDO warns that the political and security situation has worsened. Travel warnings and restrictions were in place before the coup due to ongoing conflict and what Human Rights Watch describes as a humanitarian crisis and “grave abuses” against Rohingya Muslims. It’s estimated that more than 800,000 people have fled the country since 2017 due to violence in the Rakhine State. This photo shows a landscape in Shan State, or Muang Tai.

It’s an extraordinarily beautiful country, rich in both natural landscapes and cultural treasures. Among its most famous sites are the temples of Bagan, which was once the capital of the Pagan Empire that ruled here between the 10th and 13th centuries. There were once more than 10,000 Buddhist temples, monasteries and pagodas on these plains. The 2,000-odd that remain today are nevertheless an awesome sight, peeking above the trees in the verdant valley.

The ancient Pyu cities, dating back as far as 200BC, of Sri Ksetra, Halin (pictured) and Beikthano are home to some of the world’s oldest Buddhist temples and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. The three brick-walled and moated cities remain only partially excavated but what has been uncovered includes the remains of palace citadels, burial grounds, water management features and monumental brick Buddhist stupas, such as the Payama Stupa at Sri Ksetra.

A FCDO warning against all travel to Libya has been in place consistently since 2014, due to military clashes, inter-militia fighting and what’s described as “fragile” local security situations. The country, in the Maghreb region in north Africa, has a history stretching back to around 8,000BC, when the coastline was populated by Berber people. It’s since been under Roman, Greek, Persian, Arab and Turkish rule, which has created a rich archaeological and architectural tapestry. One of its most famous sites is Leptis Magna, pictured, imposing Roman ruins that sit on the country's Mediterranean coast.

Dominated by an amphitheatre, Leptis Magna is believed to date from around the 7th century BC. It was enlarged by Roman emperor Septimius Severus who was born here and ordered the construction of many of the larger structures that still remain. Other awe-inspiring sights include the ornate Gurgi Mosque, the ancient Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius, the volcanic crater lakes of Waw an Namus, and Gaberoun, an oasis amid the rolling, sculptural dunes of the Sahara (pictured).

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The FCDO and US State Department advise against all travel to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region (pictured), due to ongoing regional tensions and the activities of militant groups. Travel has been severely restricted for the past few decades due to military conflict. The country sprawls across lands once known as Mesopotamia (Land Between the Rivers), where some of the earliest civilisations including Sumer, Akkad, Babylon and Assyria began.

It’s a vast and famously beautiful country, with some of the most important religious and cultural monuments and artefacts amid a landscape of rivers, plains and mountains. First established in the 3rd millennium BC, the ancient city of Ashur (pictured) was an important centre of trade and became the first capital of the Assyrian Empire between the 14th to 9th century BC. It was also the religious capital of the Assyrians, associated with the god Ashur, and the burial place for its kings.

Ashur is one of the sites considered seriously at risk due to damage inflicted by the Islamic State. Another is the fortress city of Hatra, the capital of the first Arab Kingdom and dating back to the Parthian empire in the 3rd or 2nd century BC. It's known for its mighty walls and towers, temples and sculptures dedicated to gods including Apollo and Poseidon. The site is currently being restored after it was taken by ISIS in 2015 and damaged with sledgehammers and guns. Some carvings and statues were completely destroyed.

Travel warnings are in place advising against any travel to Yemen, including the mainland and islands, due to ongoing conflict, instability and a major humanitarian crisis. The western Asian country, that lies on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, borders Saudi Arabia and Oman. It has a long coastline and is scattered with important archaeological sites including the Old City of Sana’a, pictured, whose intricately detailed tower-houses are built with pisé (rammed earth).

Other treasures include the medieval Bab Al Yemen gate, the 11th-century hilltop Sira Fortress, and the imposing Al Saleh Mosque (pictured), built in 2008. Yemen also has a scattering of islands, including the Kamarān group and the Ḥanīsh Islands in the Red Sea and Perim (Barīm) Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Arabian Peninsula from Africa.

The largest island, Socotra, is perhaps the most striking too. Its nickname is the "alien island”, referring to its ethereal and isolated beauty. Lying in the Arabian Sea, nearly 620 miles (1,000 km) off the coast, Socotra is laced with beaches and home to around 800 species of flora, many of which can’t be found anywhere else on the planet. The most distinctive are the dragon blood trees, which sprout from the arid ground like bizarre umbrellas, and bottle trees (pictured).

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Syria remains a no-go destination due to the ongoing military situation, with a civil war ravaging the country since 2011, following a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. Both the FCDO and US State Department have the highest level warnings in place, advising against all travel. The country is home to many important archaeological, cultural and religious treasures, including the Umayyad Mosque (pictured). Located in the capital city and also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus, it’s one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world.

Many archaeological treasures have also been irrevocably and, in some cases, intentionally damaged in the ongoing conflict. These include the ruins of the ancient desert city of Palmyra in the Homs province, dating from around the 1st century. The site, on the historic Silk Road route, has been occupied by the Islamic State fundamentalists twice and is now completely off-limits to all visitors. Among the wonders destroyed were the temple to Mesopotamian god Bel and the Arch of Victory. Parts of Palmyra's Roman Theatre (pictured) are also believed to have been destroyed.

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The hilltop castle of Krak des Chevaliers, built for the Emir of Aleppo in 1031, is believed to remain largely intact despite weathering centuries (and bearing the scars) of conflict. The huge, fairy tale-like fortress is considered one of the world’s most important and best-preserved medieval castles. Along with another nearby medieval fortress, the Qal’at Salah El-Din, the limestone castle (pictured) forms one of Syria’s six World Heritage cultural sites and is listed on UNESCO’s endangered list.