Buzz
Vacations are meant for unwinding and enjoyment, yet the sobering thought of not having another break for an entire year can dampen the mood. While you might plan to bring back delightful keepsakes for yourself and budget-friendly trinkets for friends, certain destinations come with an unexpected twist—some places are rumored to carry curses.
10. Koh Hingham, Thailand
The shores of Koh Hingham, a small island, are breathtakingly scenic, adorned with polished black and white stones. The island is uninhabited, and travelers must arrange transport from the neighboring island of Koh Lipe. The journey takes roughly 20 minutes, but once you arrive, it’s crucial to ensure you leave without taking anything—lest you risk bringing back more than memories.
Legend has it that the island's stones and shores are guarded by an ancient curse, placed by the deity of Tarutao. Removing even a single stone is seen as an act of disrespect toward the god, inviting a lifetime of misfortune. Even the smallest rock can trigger the curse if the divine will is ignored. When dealing with a deity threatening bad luck, it’s wise to err on the side of caution.
Despite the warnings, many tourists disregard the advice, and numerous visitors have reportedly mocked the curse, pocketing smooth stones as souvenirs. However, many later regret their actions and mail the stones back in hopes of lifting the curse. Thailand’s national parks department confirms receiving packages annually filled with the gem-like rocks returned by remorseful travelers.
While on the beach, visitors are free to interact with the stones as they please. Some inscribe messages on the black and white rocks, while others construct small stupas, embedding their deepest hopes, prayers, and dreams within them.
9. Ye Olde Cross Pub’s Dirty Bottles, England
If your English travels extend beyond London, Alnwick Castle is a must-visit landmark. For over 700 years, this iconic castle (featured in productions like Downton Abbey and Harry Potter) has stood watch over the historic town of Alnwick. Nearby lies Ye Olde Cross Inn, a quaint pub with a peculiar sealed window, rumored to guard against a deadly curse.
Dating back to the 17th century, the pub is now known as The Dirty Bottles. Its name comes from a collection of ancient, dust-covered bottles trapped between two front windows. Despite the pub’s modern renovation, the bottles remain as a nod to its storied past, carefully preserved and out of reach from inquisitive patrons.
Legend has it that the pub’s innkeeper arranged the bottles in the window to entice customers. Tragically, he suffered a fatal heart attack while setting up the display. His widow, in her grief, cursed the bottles, declaring that anyone who disturbed them would meet the same fate. The bottles were sealed, and they remain untouched to this day.
While there’s no record of other sudden deaths linked to the cursed bottles, there’s a poetic irony in their legacy. The innkeeper’s attempt to draw in customers centuries ago still captivates visitors, fulfilling its purpose to this day.
8. Pele’s Curse, Hawaii
Each year, approximately eight million visitors flock to Hawaii’s stunning island paradise. Unfortunately, over the past five decades, their actions have significantly harmed the state’s natural beauty. Many tourists took souvenirs, often lava rocks, prompting the goddess Pele to intervene and protect her land.
Guidebooks and tourist materials caution visitors about the curse. Those who remove Pele’s natural treasures risk invoking her anger, leading to a streak of misfortune.
The curse appears effective. The Hawaiian post office frequently receives packages filled with returned stolen items, from rocks and shells to sticks. Many include letters to Pele, recounting tales of bad luck, including illness, depression, and even the misfortune of winning a lottery that fell short of expectations. All are attributed to Pele’s curse.
Some claim they don’t believe in the curse or haven’t experienced any misfortune, yet they feel their act of theft is blocking their path to good fortune.
Park officials are somewhat puzzled by the curse’s effectiveness, as it lacks historical or religious origins. They even find it slightly disrespectful to Polynesian deities, given its fabricated nature.
The curse’s origin traces back to a park ranger frustrated with tourists ignoring laws against taking rocks. The first mention of the “curse” dates to 1946, when someone cleverly realized that supernatural warnings might work where legal ones failed. By the 1970s, journalists had documented countless packages sent to Hawaiian hotels by tourists hoping to reverse the “curse.”
7. The Bad Luck Blarney Stone, Ireland
Yes, this is the famous Blarney Stone, renowned for bestowing good luck and eloquence on those who dare to kiss it by leaning backward over the castle’s edge. For over two centuries, people have traveled to kiss the stone, and while we won’t speculate on local customs, its rich history is undeniable.
Legends vary about the stone’s origins. Some claim it was Saint Columba’s deathbed pillow, while others believe it determined royal succession. There are even tales of it being a Crusades relic or the stone Moses used to draw water.
While kissing the Blarney Stone may grant you eloquence, removing stones from the castle brings misfortune. Tradition holds that stones aren’t truly “taken” but merely “borrowed,” as they inevitably return to the castle. Many are mailed back by remorseful visitors hoping to reverse the bad luck they’ve endured since leaving Ireland with a piece of Blarney Castle.
This isn’t just folklore. In 2009, Blarney Castle shared a cautionary tale on their website about a Canadian man who ignored the warnings. After suffering a streak of bad luck, he returned his stolen stone, asking the staff to restore it to its rightful place—which they did.
In 2011, an American woman learned that even possessing a piece of Blarney Castle, not just stealing it, invites bad luck. After purchasing a fragment at an estate sale, she noticed her career stagnating and fell into deep depression. She recalled the house where she bought the stone was filled with religious relics and an eerie atmosphere, and the previous owner had led a lonely, sorrowful life. Once she mailed the stone back, she felt immediate relief as soon as it was in the mail.
6. Lokrum, Dubrovnik
The first records of religious communities on Lokrum Island trace back to 1023. Legend has it that Richard the Lionheart, a key supporter, nearly lost his fleet returning from the Crusades. He prayed for salvation, vowing to build a church if spared. His prayers were answered, and he donated funds to Dubrovnik.
By 1667, religious devotion had waned. After an earthquake, Dubrovnik’s citizens sought to sell the island to fund rebuilding, which required evicting the Benedictine monks. Despite their resistance, the monks were forced to leave. Before departing, they held a final mass and marched around the island three times with inverted torches, cursing anyone who used the island for personal enjoyment.
The curse appears to have taken effect. The island has changed hands multiple times, with a strange pattern of accidents befalling its owners and visitors. Wealthy nobles faced financial ruin, ships met destruction, and lives were lost. One Austrian noble, who dared to rebuild the monastery as a summer retreat and even carved his initials into the structure, faced the curse’s wrath. He was eventually sent to Mexico, where he was shot by revolutionaries. Other owners were revealed as frauds or perished in bizarre storms, hinting that a visit to Lokrum Island might not end as pleasantly as it begins.
5. The Ayer’s Rock Curse, Australia
Known as Ayer’s Rock to tourists and Uluru to the Aboriginal people, this massive monolith is a geological wonder near Australia’s geographic center. Its sheer size and cultural significance make it a magnet for visitors, many of whom are tempted to take a piece home as a souvenir.
Uluru holds deep spiritual and cultural importance for the local Indigenous people, and the constant influx of tourists has long been a point of contention. While climbing the rock is technically allowed, doing so means treading on sacred “dreaming tracks.” The rock seems to protect itself, as many who take souvenirs quickly return them, often citing a sense of urgency to undo their actions.
The park administrators overseeing the monolith report receiving roughly one package daily, each containing fragments of the rock. Often, these packages include letters describing the misfortunes—ranging from illness and failed relationships to death—blamed on Ayer’s Rock, along with desperate pleas to end the curse.
Some visitors take more than just small pebbles. One package from South Australia contained a 32-kilogram (70 lb) chunk of the rock, while another from Germany weighed 9 kilograms (20 lb). A university student researching the curse discovered that about 25% of those who took souvenirs believed they had also brought home a bit of bad luck.
4. Langkawi Island, Malaysia
Langkawi Island is a stunning tropical destination, popular among tourists yet preserved from over-commercialization thanks to UNESCO protection. While the island is rumored to be cursed, some believe the streak of bad luck may have recently come to an end.
The curse began in 1819 with the execution of Mahsuri, a local woman. Officially accused of adultery, rumors suggest the village chieftain, whom she had rejected, orchestrated her death out of spite. While her husband was at war, Mahsuri had sheltered a wandering minstrel, an act of kindness twisted into a crime. The chieftain and his jealous wife delivered the sentence.
With her dying breath, Mahsuri cursed the island to endure seven generations of strife and hardship. The reason for this specific timeframe remains unclear, but the curse took hold. The island suffered through famine and invasions until 1980, when the prime minister aimed to transform Langkawi into a tourist hub. Gradually, hotels and resorts emerged amidst its pristine landscapes.
The island’s true revival began with an event that underscores the potency of deathbed curses. Wan Aishah bt Wan Nawawi, Mahsuri’s seventh-generation descendant, brought prosperity back to Langkawi. Today, visitors can pay respects at Mahsuri’s tomb, a beautifully preserved memorial.
3. The Cecil Hotel, Los Angeles
The Cecil Hotel gained notoriety in 2013 when 21-year-old Elisa Lam’s body was discovered in its rooftop water tank. She had been missing for two weeks, and eerie footage of her final moments circulated online, sparking widespread unease. Many believe she may have fallen victim to the hotel’s long-standing curse.
During the 1950s and 1960s, the Cecil Hotel became infamous as a destination for those attempting suicide by jumping. In one tragic incident, a woman fell onto a pedestrian, resulting in both their deaths. The hotel also served as the residence of Richard Ramirez, the notorious “Night Stalker” serial killer. In 1985, Ramirez occupied a top-floor room, preying on the transient guests staying in the hotel’s budget accommodations. The dumpster behind the hotel became his disposal site for bloodstained clothing.
In 1991, a journalist researching LA crime moved into the Cecil, only to later be implicated in the murders of three women, allegedly as a gruesome homage to Ramirez. This dark narrative inspired a storyline in American Horror Story: Hotel. Another unsolved case is the brutal murder of “Pigeon Goldie,” a retiree known for feeding pigeons, who met a horrific end in her room.
In 2007, new owners attempted to revitalize the hotel with renovations and a rebranding, but its dark reputation persists. Despite efforts, the Cecil remains a hotspot for police activity, often linked to drug trafficking and a high volume of domestic violence incidents.
2. Chief Niwot’s Curse, Colorado
Chief Niwot’s curse, cast upon the picturesque lands surrounding Boulder, Colorado, is unique. Unlike typical curses, it doesn’t bring misfortune but instead invokes a curse of love.
In the mid-1800s, Chief Niwot and his tribe frequently inhabited the Boulder Valley. Known as a skilled peacemaker, he maintained harmony not only with white settlers but also among neighboring Native tribes. However, tensions were unavoidable, and when Chief Niwot encountered the first gold miners venturing into the frontier, he foresaw the inevitable and cursed the land.
Legend has it that he declared, “Those who behold the beauty of this valley will yearn to stay, and their presence will lead to its ruin.”
Chief Niwot’s curse proved potent. Settlers traveling westward were captivated by the Boulder Valley, choosing to remain and bringing with them conflict and violence. Chief Niwot himself perished in the aftermath of a massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho by Colorado militiamen. His curse endures, as visitors continue to be drawn to Boulder, many deciding to relocate or return frequently. This enduring allure underscores the valley’s ability to enchant its visitors—whether for better or worse.
1. The Fairy Forts And The Curse Of Tara, Ireland
Ireland remains a land of magic and mystery, drawing countless tourists each year. However, visitors should tread carefully to avoid attracting the attention of the country’s fairy folk.
Even in the 1950s, it was customary to appease troublesome fairies—like the pooka—with a glass of liquor, hoping they’d take their mischief elsewhere. People also warned before tossing out water to avoid accidentally harming a nearby fairy. Today, certain actions are still avoided to prevent angering these supernatural beings, who are known for their sensitivity and swift retribution when their homes are disturbed.
Scattered across the Irish countryside are thousands of ring forts, believed to be remnants of fairy dwellings. These sites are considered sacred, and tampering with them invites severe consequences. Historically, the guardians of these forts were said to kidnap children, ruin crops, and cause livestock to become infertile. They also cursed humans and animals with misfortune, particularly if provoked.
Today, fairy forts are often linked to misfortune, illness, and even death, and these beliefs are still taken seriously. In 1999, plans for a bypass were altered to avoid removing a hawthorn bush, which was said to be a gathering spot for Munster fairies before the war.
In 2007, the construction of Ireland’s M3 motorway led to the destruction of a 4,000-year-old astronomical and religious site. Shortly after, personal tragedies and economic decline followed, along with building collapses, all attributed to the Curse of Tara. Whether you believe it or not, it’s nearly impossible to explore Ireland without encountering sacred ground—and showing respect is always wise.
