Danger tourist Barry Hoffner made it his mission to visit every country in the world. That includes some dangerous countries that the US advises against visiting.
"If you put yourself out there, people really care, and you can find those experiences that make you feel closer to people who otherwise would just be people you read about," he told the New York Post.
According to Hoffner, the most dangerous thing about visiting Level 4 countries is the lack of help from the US if you do get in trouble. It's basically visiting at your own risk. But Hoffner is a risk taker.
"People who have never been to certain parts of the world see a checkpoint with an officer with an AK-47, and immediately, there's fear," he said. "But that's just natural in those countries. That doesn't mean they're going to shoot you." However, he recommends having a guide for an area who can help navigate the risks.
Danger Tourist Talks Risks
Keep in mind these are still very dangerous areas.
"There are certainly very unsafe places," he said. "But there are also very safe places in those countries, like Port Sudan and Lviv."
Part of his travels took him to a war zone in the Sudan where he had to ask if he should be there.
"If your intention is to take a selfie of you with a tank in the background or some soldiers, that's not responsible. But if you're going to listen, to learn, to understand, and to tell the story of those people, that is part of bearing witness," the tourist said.
For the danger tourist, Level 4 countries have brought him some of his favorite memories.
"Our minds go to the headlines, because that's what we know of a lot of these countries. But oftentimes, these places completely change your narrative," he explained. "Some of my deepest experiences have been in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. I can't recommend those places for everyone, but what I can say most of the beautiful moments in life come from pushing your boundaries."
