Pripyat, Ukraine

In the shadow of the infamous Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Pripyat has stood frozen in time since the catastrophic meltdown in 1986. The abandoned city is eerily preserved, and its decaying buildings, empty streets, and rusted Ferris wheel create an otherworldly atmosphere that serves as an everlasting reminder of that fateful night. Radiation levels are now low enough that the area is safe to visit, but only through authorized guided tours.

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A post shared by I am the Zne, Chernobyl Zone (@chernobylzone)

Aokigahara Forest, Japan

At the base of Mount Fuji, Aokigahara Forest has earned itself a reputation due to the number of people who choose it as a setting to take their own lives. Beyond its inherently tragic history, the forest is known for its dense foliage and winding paths, which, combined with its relative lack of wildlife, give it an unsettlingly quiet feel. Should you decide to venture inside, do yourself a favor and stick to marked paths.

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A post shared by Shamit Dasgupta (@shamitdasgupta)

Island of the Dolls, Mexico

Just outside the center of Mexico City, the canals of Xochimilco are dotted with thousands of little islands known as chinampas. One of these islands, known locally as La Isla de las Muñecas, is home to a chilling collection of thousands of dolls, which hang creepily from the trees. Local legend tells of a lone man who once inhabited the island and began collecting dolls as a way to pay tribute to a girl who passed away in the area.

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A post shared by Eduardo AB (@eduardo_brau)

The post The Creepiest Locations for Curious Travelers appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Find a Tour Company

While you can visit Chernobyl these days, it is actually illegal to do so as a tourist unless your expedition is led by a tour company. Be sure to do your research before going in order to find the best prices and the expedition that you like best.

Decide How Long You Want to Say

Some trips to Chernobyl last longer than others, with some being day trips that leave from Kyiv and others being multi-day trips which include a hotel stay in the area. Decide which one suits your plans and wants best, and be prepared to pay more the longer you stay.

Private vs. Public Tours

If you are really looking to have a personalized Chernobyl experience, you might want to pay for a private tour of the site. This will give you more freedom in terms of what you will see and where you will go during your time there, but will also cost significantly more.

The post Planning Your Visit to Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

It’s now possible to see the abandoned city of Pripyat and even observe the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant from up close—but there are some secrets involved. Here are a few facts you probably didn’t know about visiting this fascinating destination.

Radiation Measurement Checkpoints

As you’ll be visiting a site that is off-limits for humans to live due to a nuclear disaster in 1986, you’ll be screened with a radiation dosimeter upon entering and leaving the zone to ensure you have not been exposed to too much radiation during your visit.

Dining in the Plant’s Cafeteria

Would you believe that part of a standard tour includes eating in the former nuclear plant’s cafeteria? It sure does, and you’ll be served traditional Ukrainian dishes that are thankfully made with ingredients from outside of the nuclear zone.

The Levels of Radiation are Astoundingly Low!

Despite the radiation checkpoints and the specter of a relatively recent disaster, this area is completely safe for visitors, because its radiation levels are now so low. In fact, you’ll be exposed to more radiation on a transoceanic flight than you will be if you spend a whole day visiting.

The post Secrets of Visiting Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

It is not safe to venture into certain areas around the former Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This is due to high levels of radiation, but many of the zones are safe to visit with a guide.

To visit the site, you must book a tour, which typically leaves from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. These tours cost about $99 and are very comprehensive. 

A tour with the company Chernobyl Tour will take you into the now-abandoned Zalissya village, Pripyat, the Exclusion Zone, and many other important sites around the former nuclear plant.

Each of these places tells the story of the disaster and gives visitors a glimpse into the past. The tour ends with a meal at the Chernobyl state canteen—for some authentic Soviet style food. Don’t worry, the food is brought in from Kyiv and not grown nearby.

It is important to remember what happened at Chernobyl and visiting the surroundings allows visitors to learn from the past. There is a haunting beauty to the site, and the forest and animals have slowly begun to take over the abandoned villages. Chernobyl has to be one of Eastern Europe’s spookiest tourist destinations.

The post The Spookiest Travel Destination: Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

However, there are some things about visiting Chernobyl that will probably surprise you when you go. Here are three things that you might not even believe.

You Have to Pass Government Checkpoints

Even though the amount of nuclear radiation still present in the area surrounding Chernobyl is generally quite low, the Ukrainian government still maintains checkpoints to ensure that workers and visitors in the area don’t leave the area with a potentially dangerous amount of nuclear radiation in their bodies.

You Can’t Enter Any Buildings

While many people dream of exploring the abandoned buildings in Pripyat and its nearby villages, the reality is that it isn’t even legal to do so. In order to reduce potential risks related to nuclear fallout and building damage, you’ll have to observe from outside.

You Can Eat in the Nuclear Plant Canteen

Tour guides which take visitors to Chernobyl typically take the opportunity to take them to the Chernobyl Power Plant canteen for lunch, where visitors are served a traditional Ukranian meal and eat alongside the personnel who continue to work at the site to keep it safe.

The post 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Touring Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

But it also sparked a curiosity in the most adventurous among us, with many asking the question: can this place of horror be visited today? And the answer is yes.

Chernobyl is the name of a nuclear power plant that is located near the city of Pripyat in Ukraine. In 1986, the power plant suffered an explosion that became one of the greatest nuclear accidents in human history.

Today the ghost town of Pripyat is a tourist attraction that is visited by thousands of visitors every year. There are a few companies that offer tours to the town, providing visitors with a chilling time travel all the way back to the end of the Soviet era, when it was left practically untouched after the disaster.

With its amazing Soviet architecture and lack of inhabitants, the area surrounding Chernobyl offers an impressive yet chilling experience that will give you a glimpse of a post-apocalyptic human-less world.

The post Visiting Chernobyl – Is It Possible? appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Pripyat, Ukraine

In the shadow of the infamous Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Pripyat has stood frozen in time since the catastrophic meltdown in 1986. The abandoned city is eerily preserved, and its decaying buildings, empty streets, and rusted Ferris wheel create an otherworldly atmosphere that serves as an everlasting reminder of that fateful night. Radiation levels are now low enough that the area is safe to visit, but only through authorized guided tours.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by I am the Zne, Chernobyl Zone (@chernobylzone)

Aokigahara Forest, Japan

At the base of Mount Fuji, Aokigahara Forest has earned itself a reputation due to the number of people who choose it as a setting to take their own lives. Beyond its inherently tragic history, the forest is known for its dense foliage and winding paths, which, combined with its relative lack of wildlife, give it an unsettlingly quiet feel. Should you decide to venture inside, do yourself a favor and stick to marked paths.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shamit Dasgupta (@shamitdasgupta)

Island of the Dolls, Mexico

Just outside the center of Mexico City, the canals of Xochimilco are dotted with thousands of little islands known as chinampas. One of these islands, known locally as La Isla de las Muñecas, is home to a chilling collection of thousands of dolls, which hang creepily from the trees. Local legend tells of a lone man who once inhabited the island and began collecting dolls as a way to pay tribute to a girl who passed away in the area.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eduardo AB (@eduardo_brau)

The post The Creepiest Locations for Curious Travelers appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Find a Tour Company

While you can visit Chernobyl these days, it is actually illegal to do so as a tourist unless your expedition is led by a tour company. Be sure to do your research before going in order to find the best prices and the expedition that you like best.

Decide How Long You Want to Say

Some trips to Chernobyl last longer than others, with some being day trips that leave from Kyiv and others being multi-day trips which include a hotel stay in the area. Decide which one suits your plans and wants best, and be prepared to pay more the longer you stay.

Private vs. Public Tours

If you are really looking to have a personalized Chernobyl experience, you might want to pay for a private tour of the site. This will give you more freedom in terms of what you will see and where you will go during your time there, but will also cost significantly more.

The post Planning Your Visit to Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

It’s now possible to see the abandoned city of Pripyat and even observe the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant from up close—but there are some secrets involved. Here are a few facts you probably didn’t know about visiting this fascinating destination.

Radiation Measurement Checkpoints

As you’ll be visiting a site that is off-limits for humans to live due to a nuclear disaster in 1986, you’ll be screened with a radiation dosimeter upon entering and leaving the zone to ensure you have not been exposed to too much radiation during your visit.

Dining in the Plant’s Cafeteria

Would you believe that part of a standard tour includes eating in the former nuclear plant’s cafeteria? It sure does, and you’ll be served traditional Ukrainian dishes that are thankfully made with ingredients from outside of the nuclear zone.

The Levels of Radiation are Astoundingly Low!

Despite the radiation checkpoints and the specter of a relatively recent disaster, this area is completely safe for visitors, because its radiation levels are now so low. In fact, you’ll be exposed to more radiation on a transoceanic flight than you will be if you spend a whole day visiting.

The post Secrets of Visiting Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

It is not safe to venture into certain areas around the former Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This is due to high levels of radiation, but many of the zones are safe to visit with a guide.

To visit the site, you must book a tour, which typically leaves from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. These tours cost about $99 and are very comprehensive. 

A tour with the company Chernobyl Tour will take you into the now-abandoned Zalissya village, Pripyat, the Exclusion Zone, and many other important sites around the former nuclear plant.

Each of these places tells the story of the disaster and gives visitors a glimpse into the past. The tour ends with a meal at the Chernobyl state canteen—for some authentic Soviet style food. Don’t worry, the food is brought in from Kyiv and not grown nearby.

It is important to remember what happened at Chernobyl and visiting the surroundings allows visitors to learn from the past. There is a haunting beauty to the site, and the forest and animals have slowly begun to take over the abandoned villages. Chernobyl has to be one of Eastern Europe’s spookiest tourist destinations.

The post The Spookiest Travel Destination: Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

However, there are some things about visiting Chernobyl that will probably surprise you when you go. Here are three things that you might not even believe.

You Have to Pass Government Checkpoints

Even though the amount of nuclear radiation still present in the area surrounding Chernobyl is generally quite low, the Ukrainian government still maintains checkpoints to ensure that workers and visitors in the area don’t leave the area with a potentially dangerous amount of nuclear radiation in their bodies.

You Can’t Enter Any Buildings

While many people dream of exploring the abandoned buildings in Pripyat and its nearby villages, the reality is that it isn’t even legal to do so. In order to reduce potential risks related to nuclear fallout and building damage, you’ll have to observe from outside.

You Can Eat in the Nuclear Plant Canteen

Tour guides which take visitors to Chernobyl typically take the opportunity to take them to the Chernobyl Power Plant canteen for lunch, where visitors are served a traditional Ukranian meal and eat alongside the personnel who continue to work at the site to keep it safe.

The post 3 Things You Didn’t Know About Touring Chernobyl appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

But it also sparked a curiosity in the most adventurous among us, with many asking the question: can this place of horror be visited today? And the answer is yes.

Chernobyl is the name of a nuclear power plant that is located near the city of Pripyat in Ukraine. In 1986, the power plant suffered an explosion that became one of the greatest nuclear accidents in human history.

Today the ghost town of Pripyat is a tourist attraction that is visited by thousands of visitors every year. There are a few companies that offer tours to the town, providing visitors with a chilling time travel all the way back to the end of the Soviet era, when it was left practically untouched after the disaster.

With its amazing Soviet architecture and lack of inhabitants, the area surrounding Chernobyl offers an impressive yet chilling experience that will give you a glimpse of a post-apocalyptic human-less world.

The post Visiting Chernobyl – Is It Possible? appeared first on Traveler Dreams.