Holiday in a war zone: extreme enough for you?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure, Adventure Travel, Afghanistan, Albania, Biking, Bosnia, conflict, conflict countries, Cyprus, Danger, driving, Europe, extreme travel, Georgia, Helmand, Holiday, Holidays, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, Risk, Safety, Safety Tips, Skiing, Travel, Turkey, War, war zone

Danger is exciting. But how much can you flirt with it before you get hurt? There really isn’t anyway of telling, no logic or probability to consider. But putting yourself in the path of armed conflict, even onto the damaged ground of a country recently scarred by war is ill advised. Or are we missing something? Is war zone tourism extreme enough for you?

I’m sure you have some answers, but for us it’s a matter of definition: What is a war zone? What is too dangerous? And ultimately, who decides?

Let’s start with definitions: If a war zone is a place where war is happening right now, then it’s too dangerous to visit. But just because you’re told a country is a war zone, don’t be scared off visiting, just start investigating further. Perhaps find out if the whole country/region is affected, then establish which areas are safe and what is the true risk, not just the perceived risk.

There are people climbing in parts of Afghanistan right now, without body armour. And Georgia, a place of ongoing fighting between the Russian army and Chechen rebels, is not off the adventure travel map either. So would you still go?

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Riots in Greece: Is any country ever off limits?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     extreme destinations, greece riots, war zone

The riots in Greece bring it home how unstable a world it is in which we live. Tens of thousands of people, it has been reported, have taken to the streets. While their complaint is not with us, the adventure sports tourist, their actions may put off potential holiday-makers.

People like security: it’s secure. Holidays, for most, are periods of rest and recuperation. They may incorporate sporting activities – though riot drills and water cannon wakeboarding are not usually pencilled in.

In reality, even countries once ravaged by war, conflict, and famine have been appearing on tour operators’ radars for some time. Take, for example, Cambodia and Vietnam, now two highly popular backpacking bases. read more