Lots of world wonders are currently off-limits to ordinary travellers, such as the following...



The Minaret of Jam, Afghanistan

Afghanistan is among those nations deemed too dangerous to visit.

"Hotels and guesthouses used by foreign nationals and the government of Afghanistan are subject to regular threats," The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) warns. "Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Afghanistan. Specific methods of attack are evolving and increasing in sophistication. There is a high threat of kidnapping throughout the country."

Among its highlights is the 12th-century Minaret of Jam, one of the most impressive archaeological remains in the Middle East – and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Soaring to 213 ft (65m), with a 29ft (9m) wide octagonal base, it is made more dramatic by its setting along the valley where the Hari-Rud and Jam rivers meet.