As tourism continues to explode throughout the world, travelers seek out more interesting and remote destinations to explore.
This has led thrill seekers to locations reported to be haunted, or ones where just the mere sight would lead the traditional vacationer running in the opposite direction.
If you are one of those brave souls who wish to have an eerie, yet unforgettable, travel experience, then you definitely need to check out these spooky spots.
Not all allegedly haunted spaces have skulls lining the walls like the Paris Catacombs, as Proud American Traveler has previously reported, but most have visitors reporting a feeling of unrest just the same.
1. Pripyat, Ukraine
The devastating nuclear disaster of 1986, Chernobyl, put Pripyat, Ukraine on the map.
Over 50,000 residents in nearby towns were told to evacuate, but the damage had already begun to take effect.
Many people died shortly after the blast, and the area remains mostly a ghost town with fallen chairs and shriveled curtains as the ghosts of a once cozy home.
Tours of the area are available. There is still some traces of radiation present, but experts say it is within normal limits of exposure.
And don’t be surprised if you see an old lady in a rocking chair outside one of the homes.
You aren’t hallucinating or seeing a ghost.
About 200 now mostly elderly residents remained in the town because they either refused to leave or it was thought moving them would be more dangerous than staying.
2. Hashima Island, Japan
This small island off the coast of Nagasaki was a booming coal town in the 50s with families living in solid concrete apartments around the bustling work areas.
Life was good for Hashima residents until 1974 when the coal was almost completely gone.
Virtually overnight, an entire thriving community vanished and the town was left untouched for thirty years.
It only took a few curious travelers to create the old mining town into a popular dark-tourist location and bring life to the stale remains of the land once again.
Now tours run regularly and one can imagine themselves as Indiana Jones exploring the dusty shafts and ruins.
The small island has since gained UNESCO World Heritage status and has become a popular filming location, being featured in films such as James Bond, Skyfall.
3. Akarmara, Abkhazia
Another popular abandoned coal state, Abkhazia, carries an air of desolation and lost dreams.
Located between Georgia and Russia on the Black Sea, Abkhazia residents fled in desperation when a failed economy and war plagued the area.
The unforgiving surroundings of towering trees and thick forest brush have swallowed up the memories of families who once laid stake to the land.
Tourists looking for something off the beaten path have begun to visit the area, witnessing the real cost of Soviet rule.
4. Plymouth, Montserrat
Mother Nature can be a powerful force to reckon with, and no one knows that better than the ex-residents of Plymouth, Montserrat.
This ghost town on the Caribbean island has had an exclusion order placed on it since 1995, but some areas are still able to be toured.
To get the best view of the ash-covered wasteland, you can take a boat trip along the shore or look down on it from Katy Hill.
A gust of wind may blow forgotten toys through a gray-stained yard, or a wind whistling through abandoned alleys may give the illusion of busy streets, but life is nowhere to be found.
There’s so much more to see in the world than the ten most popular cities, and thrill-seekers won’t need to seek out danger if they put any of these spooky destinations on your vacation list.
Just be sure to pack an extra sweater for the chill each untraditional getaway will bring.
