UK 'Do Not Travel' List 2026: Countries Travellers Should Avoid This Summer

Foreign Office travel advice warns against visiting several destinations amid conflict, terrorism and security risks.

British travellers planning trips abroad this summer are being urged to check the latest guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office before booking or setting off. The FCDO advises against all travel to a number of countries where visitors could face armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping, detention, political instability or extremely limited British consular support.​​​​​​​

Afghanistan remains at the top of the list, with the FCDO citing terrorism, kidnapping, violent conflict and the risk of detention. The UK Government cannot provide in-person consular assistance inside the country.

In Iran, British and British-Iranian nationals face a serious risk of arrest, questioning and prolonged detention, while regional conflict may also affect flights, borders and transport routes with little warning.

Russia's warning is linked to its continuing war against Ukraine, alongside security incidents, limited flight options and the risk of British nationals being detained. Syria carries a similar warning due to armed conflict, terrorism and unpredictable security conditions, with the British Government unable to provide consular assistance from within the country. Yemen faces the same advisory because of ongoing conflict, terrorism and severely restricted transport options, with British Embassy operations in Sana'a remaining suspended.

Haiti has been placed under an against-all-travel warning amid widespread gang violence, political instability and limited access to essential services, with British consular support inside the country extremely limited. South Sudan continues to see armed clashes, violent crime and political instability, with flights and land routes at risk of disruption without notice. In Belarus, British nationals may face questioning, arrest or detention, with added risk from security incidents linked to the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

The FCDO also advises against all travel to Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, citing similar concerns around terrorism, kidnapping and unstable security conditions across parts of the Sahel region.​​​​​​​

Travelling against FCDO advice can invalidate standard travel insurance, potentially leaving passengers without financial protection for medical emergencies, cancellations or repatriation costs if something goes wrong. It is also worth noting that the availability of commercial flights to a destination does not necessarily mean it is considered safe to visit.

Anyone with an existing booking to an affected country, or a region covered by a specific warning, is encouraged to speak to their airline, travel provider and insurer as early as possible to understand their options, rather than assuming existing plans can proceed unchanged.​​​​​​​

Travel advice can shift quickly in response to fast-moving political or security developments, sometimes with very little notice. Because of this, checking official guidance should not be a one-off task carried out only at the time of booking.

Crystal Travel's expert travel agents recommend reviewing the latest advice both when booking a trip and shortly before departure, helping holidaymakers travel with the most accurate, up-to-date picture of the destinations on their itinerary.​​​​​​​