World's safest country for 2024 has amazing beaches, volcanoes and ice caves

13 December 2023 , 14:20

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A woman swimming in Iceland's blue lagoon (Image: Getty Images/National Geographic Image Collection RF)

The world's safest country for 2024 has been revealed - and it's full of ridiculously beautiful places to explore.

International SOS, a medical and security consultancy, has updated its Travel Risk Map which ranks countries based on risks such s climate change, security, health and mental health.

Topping the list is Iceland which has maintained "a calm and safe security environment". It's great news for tourists too, as the country is full of incredible destinations including black sand beaches, volcanic trails, ethereal waterfalls and even Northern Lights hotspots.

Come winter time, Iceland transforms into a real-life winter wonderland. For example, head to Vatnajokull and you'll find the Crystal Caves hidden amongst the impressive glaciers.

The Crystal Caves in Vatnajokull (Getty Images)

The caves are actually quite off the beaten path, but there are guided tours so you can explore them properly. While you're in the area you may also want to stop off to see the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a turquoise lagoon that's famed for the icebergs that make up the landscape. As night falls, you can quickly find out why Iceland is one of the best countries for seeing the Northern Lights, with a whole host of vantage points for spotting the Aurora.

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But it's not just during winter that Iceland is well worth a visit. When the summer arrives and temperatures warm up, there are heaps of gorgeous trails to explore along the volcanic landscapes, not to mention it can be an ideal time to visit the likes of the 'Golden Circle' aka Gullfoss, Geysir, And Thingvellir National Park, as well as awe-inspiring hotspots such as the Skógafoss waterfall.

There are also plenty of incredible beaches to discover along the Icelandic coast, with their eye-catching black sands due to the volcanic residue. Reynisfjara Beach just by the small fishing village of Vik looks like something out of a storybook thanks to the striking black sands and the rocky shores - you can reach it by road,but you'll need to pay a small fee if you want to go and visit.

Thingvellir National Park (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Then of course there are the country's world-famous geothermal pools. The iconic Blue Lagoon never fails to wow visitors whether they're keeping warm in winter or just enjoying some relaxation in the warmer months, while the recently opened Sky Lagoon with its immense infinity pool is definitely one for the bucket list.

If whale watching has always been on your wishlist, then consider a trip between April to late September, which tend to be the best months for a chance to see the majestic creatures.

It's not the first time that the winter hotspot has come out top in rankings of this nature - last year it was also named the world's safest country for tourists in a separate study.

You can find out more about the global security rankings on travelriskmap.com.

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Julie Delahaye