The Dark Tourist

Comedian Dom Joly’s fascination with unusual travel destinations stems from a childhood spent in war-torn Lebanon, where he collected shrapnel instead of marbles and encountered the grim realities of sectarian violence. These early experiences left him with a deep aversion to sanitized, modern-day tourism and a craving for the world’s most unsettling places.

In “The Dark Tourist,” Joly embarks on a darkly humorous quest to visit destinations that most tourists would avoid at all costs. From skiing on segregated slopes in Iran and spending a weekend in Chernobyl to touring assassination sites in America and gaining rare access to North Korea, Joly’s journeys are as disturbing as they are entertaining.

As he navigates these unconventional locations, Joly’s witty observations and sharp commentary shed light on the absurdities and horrors of the human experience. His travels culminate in a return to his roots in Beirut, where he makes a startling discovery about his connection to Osama Bin Laden.

Equal parts hilarious and harrowing, “The Dark Tourist” is a one-of-a-kind travelogue that showcases Dom Joly’s fearless approach to comedy and his unquenchable thirst for adventure in the world’s most unsettling destinations. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered what lies beyond the beaten path.