REVEALED: These are the world’s most dangerous selfie hotspots

Hiker girl with backpack taking self portrait in beautiful scenery on a rock in ukrainian carpathians

Nothing says “I’m on holiday” like a good old-fashioned selfie at a famous landmark.

But, there’s a dark side to travel selfies: thousands have died taking selfies in dangerous locations in the last few years.

So, what should you avoid?

Gambling website TopRatedCasinos has crunched the numbers to find out which are the most dangerous selfie hotspots around the world.

To do this, it analysed news articles within the last two decades which reported incidents (ranging from minor injury to death) at some of the biggest tourist hotspots, to compile a list of the most dangerous selfie spots around the globe.

This was followed by gathering Instagram hashtags for each location, to reveal which is the most at risk of danger.

With a whopping 4,869,100 posts on Instagram, Yosemite National Park is the most popular dangerous selfie hotspot.

It’s estimated that five million people visit here each year and over a 1,000 have died. From slipping to their death to selfie attempts gone wrong, this one you need to take extra caution with.

Image source: iStock/shalunts

Following in second place is another USA attraction: the Grand Canyon. The Arizonan national park boasts 4,267,800 Instagram posts and is estimated to be the cause of 12 deaths each year.

In third place is Snowdon, located in Wales, with 1,576,589 posts. With the most recent death reported in September, visitors need to be careful of their footing as that seems to be the main cause of injury and death.

Also representing Europe is the Plitvice Lakes National Park which can be found in Croatia.

With 16 lakes lying within it that are connected by a series of waterfalls, it’s no surprise there are 986,915 posts from tourists flocking to this hotspot.

However, in 2016 mountain rescuers pleaded with tourists to stop taking “stupid and dangerous selfies” after completing 1,200 rescue operations and with many unfortunately falling to their deaths.

Completing the top 10 most dangerous hotspots are:

5. Cliffs of Moher (641,247 posts)

6. Loch Lomond (491, 707 posts)

7. Brecon Beacons (392, 381 posts)

8. New Smyrna (365, 647 posts)

9. Cabo da Roc (286,190 posts)

10. Pamplona (214,000 posts)

Trolltunga finds itself in 11th place among the list of dangerous selfie hotspots with 212,988 posts. Tourists have been said to flirt with death when visiting in a quest for the perfect selfie.

With many climbers dangling from Trolltunga for the perfect shot, intense weather conditions and many not equipped with the right gear, it has a lot of potentials to go wrong.

Mount Everest and Lulworth Cove find themselves in 12th and 13th place with 201,878 and 160,087 Instagram posts respectively.  Both of these popular attractions have made headlines multiple times after people have injured themselves after taking on daredevil worthy challenges.

In 14th place is Mount Kilauea in Hawaii (139,018 posts), followed by Clifton Suspension Bridge in the UK (89,400 posts) and Mount Merapi in Indonesia (75,103 posts).

Despite its beautiful views, that wasn’t enough to stop Yungas Road – also known as “Death Road” – making the list in 17th spot (56,474).

It holds the title of the most dangerous road in the world and rightly so as its narrow and winding track is often overloaded with trucks and overcrowded buses, accompanied with slick roads thanks to the rainforest climate bringing heavy rain and fog.

Completing the top 20 list are Huashan National Park in China (41,111 posts), Diamond Bay Reserve in Australia (33,722 posts) and Northcliff Hill in South Africa (23,609 posts).


Featured image credit: istock/Photoboyko

Latest News

  • Destinations

Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts

Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]

  • Aviation
  • Sustainability

Singapore Airlines Group first to receive SAF from Neste as AU/NZ play catchup

Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has signed an agreement with Neste to purchase 1,000 tonnes of neat Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel TM. The purchase makes SIA and Scoot the first carriers to receive Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced at Neste’s refinery in the country, at Singapore Changi Airport. The milestone will also mark the first […]

  • Aviation

Qantas Red Tail sale discounts more than 200,000 fares

Qantas has launched its latest International Red Tail sale, discounting more than 200,000 fares to Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu and other US destinations, plus Vancouver. The discounted seats are available to book either as a cash fare or as a reward seat using points. Thirty routes are on sale, including 10 for under $1,199 […]

  • Health & Wellness

Bannisters by the Sea unveils retreat style package for new mothers

Boutique hotel Bannisters by the Sea has revealed a brand-new package for new mothers – Bannisters Mummymoon – right in time for Mother’s Day. Designed to nurture and rejuvenate new mothers, this luxurious escape prioritises postpartum self-care and wellbeing in a serene coastal setting. Reconnecting and Recharging: The two-night Mummymoon allows mums to reconnect with […]

  • Destinations

APT offers destination incentives to enjoy the Best of Asia

APT Luxury Travel launches has launched its Asia Sale featuring 20 trips, with journeys through Vietnam and Cambodia as highlights, as well as opportunities to explore Japan, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka. It’s ‘Spiritual Cambodia and the Mekong’ land and river cruise tour for example takes guests on an all-inclusive 11-day journey through Vietnam […]

  • Travel Agents

Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland

Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]

  • Cruise

Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers

French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]

  • Destinations

Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents

World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]