10 Scariest Destinations for the Brave 20 Somethings

It is that time of the year where everyone is pumpkin chopping and costume shopping. The time of year where you are either staying home and binge watching everything screaming fear, terror and haunted fortresses of suffering; or attending a killer party with a murderous outfit.

However, if you are the adventurous type and are looking for something that is so thrillingly scary that it will chill you to the bone, the following list of scary Halloween destinations to visit in you 20’s is for you. Whether you believe in it or not, one thing is for sure: These scariest destinations for the brave 20 somethings will make your Halloween portentously unforgettable.

1 Uniondale, Western Cape, South Africa

If you are ever in South Africa and want to have a ghostly encounter whilst on your way to do some exquisite wine tasting in the Western Cape, be sure to drive on the road that passes through the small town of Uniondale.

The story goes that a young and recently engaged couple was driving on the road to Uniondale during a thunderous storm on Easter Weekend in 1968. Marie Charlotte Roux’s fiancé was driving the Volkswagen and while she was sleeping in the back of the vehicle, he lost control of the car; it slid off the road and overturned, killing Marie Charlotte instantly.

It is said that to this day if you drive in that specific area in which the unfortunate event occurred, you are sure to have another passenger matching Marie’s description sitting in the back seat of your vehicle, feel a pair of arms around your waist if you are on a motorcycle or even hear faint laughter around you. Nevertheless, don’t fret – Marie will soon realize that you are not heading in her direction and after a few kilometers she will disappear.

2 Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, United States

A school that was turned into a sanatorium by The Board of Tuberculosis Hospital and meant to initially only accommodate 40-50 tuberculosis patients. However, tuberculosis soon became and epidemic and it was clear that they had to expand the hospital.

Eventually, the Sanatorium was large enough to accommodate over 400 patients, but the number of fatalities outweighs this by thousands. Urban legend claims there were over 63,000 deaths, however, the hospital states it was merely 8,212. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium has been the nesting place for numerous ghost hunters and it is seen as one of the most haunted spots in the United States.

3 Aokigahara Forest, Japan

The Aokigahara Forest in Japan, also known as “The Suicide Forest” screams Blair Witch Project. This forest is extremely dense, shutting out all noise apart from the natural sounds within the forest, which could possibly include the “Yuri” or angry ghosts of the dead.

It is said that Ubasute – a ritual in which an elderly woman is carried to a mountain and left to die – was practiced here and that is why the forest is haunted by the “Yuri” – which could be a strong enough energy to influence those who dare enter, that is, if you believe in these kinds of things.

This forest has seen countless suicides – in 2003 alone there were 105 bodies found in the forest and in 2010 the forest had 200 attempts and 54 who completed the tragic act. So be careful.

4 Stanley Hotel, Colorado, United States

If you have not seen it on the reality show Ghost Hunters, you have probably read about it in Stephen King’s The Shining. The story of the Stanley Hotel extends back to a time when the Estes Valley was visited by the wandering tribes of Ute and Arapaho.

However, it was only once the Hotel was built that it started to “collect” spirits; in other words, instead of them just stopping by every now and then, they decided to stay as guests in this prestigious hotel.

We see that those who were responsible for the establishment of this prominent yet peculiar hotel, cannot seem to let it go: Mr. Stanley and his wife Flora who built the hotel can still be seen going about their business, with Flora gracing the halls with her antique Steinway.

5 Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Presumed to be one of the most haunted spots in all Scotland – in a continent that is known for its hauntingly medieval atmosphere – the Edinburgh Castle is sure to be a prominent spot to visit on your ghostly adventures.

It is said that if you visit the Edinburgh Castle you are sure to see a number of phantoms including a headless drummer, a piper that comes and goes as he pleases, the spirits of colonial and French prisoners from both the American Revolution War and the Seven Years War. Oh, and a dog is also not out of the question – this might be a reason enough for me to go and have a look.

Read also – 10 Impressive Ancient Castle Hotels around the World

6 Paris Catacombs

Who would have thought that beneath the city of Paris there is a kingdom of the dead waiting for tourist to go and visit? The city of love and lights finds it shadow self just looming beneath it with 200 miles worth of tunnels.

The story goes that by the 17th century the cemeteries in Paris were overflowing and overstuffed, so much so that corpses became uncovered and scared citizens to the bone (get it?). The solution for this was to place these corpses in tunnels beneath Paris that have existed since the 13th century. Once these burials ended, a staggering amount of 6 million Parisian bones made these tunnels their final resting place.

7 Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic

Sedlec Ossuary, also known as The Church of Bones, is a small chapel found in the suburbs of Kutna Hora and is most likely the strangest and most controversial chapel you will ever see. The outside whispers the soft and holy tunes of your standard, medieval Gothic church.

However, once you step inside you will suddenly be overwhelmed by a chapel screaming of a macabre reality. Within the walls of the chapel, you will find decorations made up of more than 40 000 human bodies.

It all started when the King of Bohemia decided to send the abbot of Sedlec Cistercian Monastery to Jerusalem in 1278; the abbot returned to a jar Golgotha soil which was known as “Holy Soil.” As a result, people from all over the world wanted to be buried in the Sedlec cemetery, which could not keep up with the demand.

Eventually, in the 15th century, the basement of the church was used as an ossuary and the bones stayed there until Frantisek Rint, a woodcarver was asked to put the bones in order, which resulted in what can be seen hanging on the walls and from the roof today.

Many claim it to be the most peaceful place in Sedlec, nonetheless, I would rather take a trip to the mountains or ocean for peace and not necessarily a chapel where the eyes of the dead follow my every move. Although I have to admit, when it comes to The Chapel of Bones and Paris Catacombs, I would gladly make the chapel my final resting place.

8 The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most visited sites in the United Kingdom, and one of the scariest destinations for the brave 20 somethings. Although it is famous for its 900 years of rich history, it is also famous for the ghosts that choose to inhabit it.

It is in this tower that you will find the Archbishop Thomas A Becket that was brutally murdered and the noblewoman Lady Arbella Stuart – who was a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I. However, the most persistent and prominent of spirits is that of Queen Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded on false charges of incest, witchcraft, adultery and conspiracy against the King.

9 The Island of Dolls, Mexico

A spine-chilling and tragic legend of a little girl who was discovered by Don Julian Santana Barrera and who drowned in mysterious circumstances. An island that was never meant to be an eerie tourist destination, but a dedication to the soul of this little girl.

A few days after Don found the little girl, he saw a doll floating in the water and knew that the doll most likely belonged to the girl he found in the water. He picked up the doll and hung it on a tree and thus his obsession with the dolls started. It is said that the dolls move their limbs, open their eyes and many claim they have heard the dolls whispering.

10 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Cambodia

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is located in Phnom Penh and was first known as a high school, but later on, it was turned into Security Prison 21 by the Khmer Rouge regime – a place where over 20 000 prisoners were tortured and killed. Many believe that the spirits of the victims are still walking the halls; those who had enough courage to stay the night have claimed to see them standing next to their beds.

Read also – 10 Reasons to Celebrate Halloween Abroad

In conclusion to writing this, I see that I was never the adventurous type after all. I guess this means I will be staying indoors this Halloween with my dear friend Netflix. How about you? Will you dare to go the extra bloodcurdling mile this Halloween? Let me know in the comment section below.