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I often get asked why I travel to the places I do: the Balkans, North Korea, the Stans, etc. I thought it would be fun to explain myself, so maybe I can convince others (and myself?) that I’m not crazy.
First, I think everyone has a different idea of what they want from vacations. Many want to escape it all while on a beach sipping cocktails, or think about nothing as they cruise around the Mediterranean. Now I must confess that I’ve never tried it, but I generally don’t care for beaches, and I think I’m plenty good at lazing around at home. Though maybe my life just isn’t stressful enough for me to understand… But anyway, what I want right now from an international vacation is an adventure, something that takes me slightly out of my comfort zone, something that’s both engaging in the moment while also creating wonderful stories to tell after.
Furthermore, I think a lot of these countries are just incredibly interesting places to be. North Korea is one of the only places in the world that’s still largely untouched by Coca Cola and McDonald’s. The Balkans are one of the few safe places in the world where you can see the remnants of a very recent and bloody war.
And sure, these places don’t loom quite as large in the history of the West. But that has its own advantages. Before going to the Balkans, I knew almost nothing about the area. Taking the trip was a chance for me to read up on what was a very interesting, albeit often tragic, region and history. In contrast, visiting Paris was less novel in that I was mostly seeing and experiencing landmarks, artworks, palaces, etc. that I already knew about before deciding to go on the trip. And that’s definitely not a bad thing. A lot of places like this are at the top of my travel list, and Versailles was my favorite place in France precisely because I knew so much about it from AP Euro. But these countries off the beaten path are often no less interesting, and planning a trip there can be a chance to learn about a beautiful history that just happens to be neglected by American history texts.
Finally, traveling to these places can often be a better experience just because they’re off the beaten path. You’re less likely to be competing with thousands of other people at any particular museum or attraction (I hate crowds!). And you’re more likely to see something closer to authentic local life. Again, I try not to have illusions here - I know that just walking around a country and snapping pictures can’t really give you a sense of the local culture and people. But, in places with a less developed tourist industry, it’s much easier to at least get glimpses of local life when your experiences are less constructed. For example, it’s much easier in these places to share buses and restaurants with locals, as there just aren’t enough tourists to sustain tourist trap-esque establishments.
Now the less fun part. I’m not in denial - these places are totally risky. I realize that I could be detained by the DPRK for any number of frivolous reasons, or kidnapped while in Kazakhstan. But I think these risks are not quite as high as one might think relative to more conventional destinations. I believe that people underestimate the risks of traveling to supposedly safe Western nations. Precisely because they are tourist traps, these destinations can be a target for thieves, scam artists, and even terrorists. As I write this, there is a “high threat from terrorism” in France. And second, these obscure countries are often quite safe. In many cases, they are unfamiliar to Westerners, which breeds a certain fear. But in all honesty, I felt perfectly safe in the Balkans, for example. And for the DPRK (and hopefully the Stans), I’ll be on a totally escorted tour, increasing the safety.
At the end of the day, everyone tries to rationally evaluate the risks involved and decides whether they’re comfortable with them. In my case, an escorted tour to the DPRK is on the safe side of the line I’ve drawn, whereas hitchiking across Afghanistan is not (Google this - people have done it!).
And it is actually because of these risks that I’m preferring to go now. As a young man in my 20s, I feel much more comfortable taking on these places than I would as a 50 year old, possibly with kids. Given that I want to someday go to these places, now is definitely the time to do it. Places like London and Rome are largely accessible regardless of one’s tolerance for adventure or risk, but Iran most certainly is not.