When you think of the 10 craziest places on the planet, you probably picture remote deserts, active volcanoes, or perhaps a bustling city in the middle of a conflict. Every minute, five hundred hours of video flood YouTube, and some fearless creators are turning those extreme locales into click‑magnet content. Below we count down the most audacious spots ever captured on camera, each visited by a different travel YouTuber willing to risk it all for the perfect shot.
Exploring the 10 Craziest Places on YouTube
10 Chechnya, Russia—Bald and Bankrupt
This British‑born, Russian‑speaking explorer has a reputation for chasing the untamed, having already filmed in the Sahara, Sinaloa, and Bolivia. Yet his heart beats strongest for the former Soviet sphere, where he’s already charmed three million subscribers with trips to Belarus and war‑scarred Ukraine. His forays into Russia’s more perilous provinces—like Dagestan and neighboring Chechnya—showcase just how bold a traveler he can be.
In a region most sensible tourists would avoid at all costs, Bald and Bankrupt (real name Benjamin Rich) steps off a rattling train, lets out a quintessentially British “Crikey!” at the frosty air, and wanders down a rain‑slick gravel lane hoping to stumble upon the town centre. He soon finds himself navigating Chechnya’s winding gorges alongside a friendly taxi driver named Ruslan, with not a single insurgent in sight.
What many click‑bait channels might paint as a terrifying war zone, Rich instead reveals as a land of striking scenery and warm locals. Even a brief stop at a Russian military checkpoint becomes just another quirky episode, with Ruslan joking, “You offered to pay more for every adventure!” as they breeze through.
9 Lima, Peru—Kurt Caz
When a creator’s video titles constantly shout “most dangerous hood,” you know you’re in for a wild ride. South African adventurer Kurt Caz finds himself perched atop a hill in Lima’s Rímac shantytown, having trekked through near‑deserted streets that locals warn could end in robbery—or worse.
His nerves are tested when a shady tuk‑tuk driver, who seems eager to make hushed phone calls, insists he remain on the vehicle. The tension spikes further as Kurt encounters a suspicious figure on the barren hilltop, reinforcing his intuition that lingering there would be unwise.
8 Cameroon—PPPeter
Landing on a cargo ship from Nigeria, Peter is immediately confronted by Tiko police who attempt to push him back across the border to the supposedly safer Nigeria. Undeterred, he stays despite a nearby “mass shooting” by a rebel group just a few hundred meters away.
The ensuing three‑day stay on the port ship culminates in a heart‑pounding midnight dash, organized by the Czech embassy, toward Cameroon’s French‑speaking region. Even after battling food poisoning and a brush with life‑threatening malaria, Peter admits it’s the most terrified he’s ever felt.
7 Afghanistan—Indigo Traveler
Afghanistan rarely makes a bucket‑list, thanks to decades of war and daily violence. Yet Indigo Traveler’s 2019 video flips the script, delivering a journalistic piece that avoids exploitation while shedding light on everyday life in Mazar‑e‑Sharif.
Interviews with market vendors reveal a human side often omitted from news cycles, and a poignant visit to a UNICEF nutrition clinic showcases critical aid work before the Taliban’s return. Notably, Indigo Traveler limits his own screen presence to give voice to the locals.
6 San Salvador, El Salvador—Alex Outhwaite
With the world’s highest murder rate, El Salvador isn’t a typical tourist hotspot. Still, Alex Outhwaite’s footage paints a different picture, weaving together a quaint market, a microbrewery, and an Irish pub where a Nirvana tribute band roars.
Her itinerary proves that even in a nation plagued by gangs, corruption, and violence, everyday life thrives in unexpected corners, offering viewers a nuanced view beyond the grim headlines.
5 Chernobyl, Ukraine—Shiey
While countless Chernobyl videos have surfaced after the HBO series, Shiey’s approach stands out because he wasn’t supposed to be there at all. Accompanied by two friends after an all‑night trek through abandoned Ukrainian villages, forests, and deep rivers, they slip into the exclusion zone’s hidden corners.
Dodging routine security patrols, they explore dilapidated structures and even spend a night in an empty apartment. The most eerie moment arrives when Shiey climbs the towering Duga radar installation—nearly 500 feet tall—sparking debates about the ethics of such daring exploration.
4 Mogadishu, Somalia—Drew Binsky
Somalia is often remembered for war‑torn images and pirate tales, but Drew Binsky offers a vibrant third perspective. His footage juxtaposes rundown buildings with colorful ice‑cream parlors, armed militias marching past pristine beaches, and modern hotels guarded by security barriers.
Though the city isn’t exactly safe, its bustling markets and cheerful residents depict a lively, if complex, urban tapestry that defies the usual grim narrative.
3 Detroit, Michigan, USA
Detroit’s decaying neighborhoods may not rank among the world’s most dangerous, but by American standards they sit high on the crime chart, plagued by gangs and deep‑seated poverty. Travel vlogger Charlie Bo ventures into these inner‑city areas, delivering a series that showcases places most viewers would never dare to explore.
While his footage primarily captures driving shots, the stark reality of the environment provides a raw glimpse into a side of America rarely highlighted in travel content.
2 The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan—Fearless & Far
The Darvaza gas crater, nicknamed the “Door to Hell,” erupts with perpetual flames, resembling a portal to the underworld. Since the 1970s, this massive fire pit has earned a spot as the second‑most‑visited attraction on TripAdvisor for Turkmenistan.
Mike Corey, behind the Fearless & Far channel, leverages his travel permit to film Turkmenistan’s stark beauty, from marble‑clad capital streets to the eerie glow of the crater. His most memorable moment? Roasting marshmallows over the endless inferno, an image that captures the imagination of viewers worldwide.
1 Syria—Jacob Laukaitis
Syria is commonly seen as a place people flee rather than visit, yet Lithuanian filmmaker Jacob Laukaitis dives headfirst into its turbulent reality. Through conversations with locals and sweeping landscape shots, he offers a balanced view of a nation scarred by civil war.
The video journeys from upscale coffee shops and shopping malls in Damascus to the devastated streets of Aleppo, where bombed‑out buildings and shell‑cratered avenues are still home to hopeful residents. Jacob’s blend of journalism and storytelling paints Syrian people in a compassionate light, countering the relentless negative press.