A staircase in Hawaii leading to a popular beauty spot is being demolished after tourists continued to use the steps that had been off-limits for more than 35 years.
The Haiku Stairs, also known as the "Stairway to Heaven," were built during World War II to provide pedestrian access across the island for the U.S. Navy.
The trail, consisting of more than 3,000 steps and climbing to 4,000 feet above sea level, was officially closed to the public in 1987, but tourists have braved the "no trespassing" signs to find one of the best viewpoints on the island of Oahu reach.
The Haiku Stairs have become particularly popular in recent years since the rise of social media platforms: the hashtag #haikustairs has been used more than 63,000 times on Instagram.
In 2021, the city council on the island of Oahu voted unanimously to remove the stairs. In April 2024, it was announced that demolition would begin later this month, a project that will cost $2.6 million (£2.08 million).
"Due to the rampant illegal violations, [the] Haiku Stairs are a significant burden and expense to the city and impact the quality of life of local residents," Honolulu City Council Member Esther Kia'ina told Hawaii News Now.
"This decision was based on our respect for the people living in and around the entrance to the stairs, our respect for our ʻāina [land and sea]and our respect for both the future and the past of the culture of the Haʻikū community," said Mayor Blangiardi.
There are, of course, parts of Hawaii that have not been negatively affected by tourism. That of the Telegraaf Chris Leadbeater introduces Lanai.
"Take a moment (because many don't) for Lanai - which is only the sixth largest of the eight main islands, and often overlooked. This is a shame, because Polihua Beach is beautiful and the quieter atmosphere makes for a holiday paradise," he writes.
Unfortunately, the Haiku Stairs is not an isolated example of a natural attraction or piece of historical engineering being closed due to the increase in tourists.
From a paradise beach in Thailand to a gorge in Iceland, these are the beautiful spots closed to the public and the lesser-known alternatives that welcome visitors with open arms.
Maya Bay, Thailand
After the release of the 2000 hit film, The beach Maya Bay on the island of Ko Ph Phi Le became one of Thailand's most popular tourist attractions.
By the mid-2010s, as many as 6,000 tourists a day were arriving, contributing to environmental degradation in the bay as litter, tourist boats and sunscreen destroyed the coral reef.
To allow for a period of nature recovery, local authorities took the bold step of closing the beach in 2018, with no fixed end date.
Maya Bay eventually fully reopened to the public in 2022, after the pandemic lockdowns, with new rules in place.
Today, boats can no longer moor in the bay, visitor numbers are limited to 3,000 per day between 10am and 4pm and there is now a designated area of the bay for swimming.
The alternative: Sok San beach, Cambodia
There are plenty of white-sand beaches with turquoise waters throughout Southeast Asia, but without the partygoers or sunbathing masses.
To write for The Telegraph Sean Thomas describes Sok San beach in Cambodia as "seven long, idyllic kilometers of angelically soft white sand, shaded by swaying palms and bathed in gentle surf, cleverly warmed to a soothing 29.3 degrees Celsius.
"The obvious comparison for a world-class beach like this is the Maldives, Thailand or Polynesia - and therein lies the problem. In all those places you would be looking at an island full of buildings, taking full advantage of the sand, the sea and the effortlessly blue sky.
"Here, in Cambodia, that development has not taken place."
Fjadrárgljúfur Gorge, Iceland
Iceland's Fjaðrárgljúfur Gorge made headlines after being featured in the music video for Justin Bieber's song: I'll show you in 2015.
So far, the video has been viewed more than 520 million times, and apparently some Bieber fans have been inspired to see the video for themselves. Following an explosion of interest in the gorge, Iceland's Environment Agency announced in 2019 that it would close the site five weeks into the year.
At the time, Daníel Freyr Jónsson of Iceland's Environment Agency directly linked the issue of overtourism to the video clip.
"Previously this gap was relatively little known," he told RUV, the Icelandic public broadcaster. "But I think Icelanders have known about it for much longer.
"The big increase in foot traffic there started after Bieber came. There has been an increase of 50 percent to 80 percent between the years 2016, 2017 and 2018."
The gorge has been closed intermittently since then so park authorities can repair damaged trails and keep tourists at bay during periods of dangerous winter weather.
The alternative: North Iceland
Most British tourists visiting Iceland tend to stick to the so-called 'Golden Triangle' around Reykjavik, or the south coast, which has impressive beaches and a milder climate.
However, Richard Waters suggests that people should consider exploring Iceland's quieter, wilder far north: "With a carpet of freshly fallen snow covering the quiet Siglufjörður, I drive back to Akureyri through tunnelled mountains, along the coast and through the bottle green interior, and I wonder where everyone has gone," he writes.
"At 39,000 square kilometers, Iceland is slightly smaller than Cuba and a large part of its population of 340,000 is located in the south.
"No wonder you quickly feel like it's you, the rough elements and those cool, chocolate-colored horses."
Walker Canyon, California
In February 2019, the hills of Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore became something of a social media sensation. As thousands of bright orange poppies covered the landscape (a 'superbloom' in local parlance), Instagrammers traveled to the area to snap a photo.
Local officials complained about "large crowds at Disneyland," calling the event a #PoppyNightmare on social media channels. Nearby roads were clogged with traffic and some visitors resorted to parking on the highway and completing their journey on foot.
Anticipating another "superbloom" event, the city of Lake Elsinore closed Walker Canyon Road in February 2023 and posted no-parking signs on the street, with police officers on patrol. Officials took the same measure this year.
The Regional Conservation Authority of Western Riverside County warned in early March: "Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore, known in the region for its beautiful landscapes, is temporarily closed to ensure public safety and protect sensitive habitat.
"During this time, the public is urged to avoid the area and obey signs."
The alternative: Las Trampas Regional Park
On the other side of California, Las Trampas Regional Park has an abundance of open space (5,778 hectares).
In spring, the rolling hills are covered with a rich variety of wildflowers, including the Instagrammable California poppies.
Visit Tri-Valley California writes, "Las Trampas Regional Park has so much open space that it is one of the most popular places in the Tri-Valley to take your dog on off-leash walks."
Mount Everest base camp, Tibet
In February 2019, China closed access to the Everest base camp on the Tibetan side of the mountain after a growing waste problem. Only people with a climbing permit were allowed to enter the camp, meaning tourists could only get as far as a monastery at 5,200 meters (17,060 feet), just below base camp.
The Chinese base camp, which is accessible by car, had become increasingly popular in the years leading up to its closure - with 40,000 visitors in 2015.
The Nepalese base camp can only be reached on foot - a hike that usually takes up to two weeks.
The alternative: the Trans Bhutan Trail
Why not avoid Everest altogether and consider a trip to Bhutan?
Michelle Jana Chan writes: "Bhutan, an ancient kingdom and a democracy with a new face, continues to value cherished traditions such as Buddhist rituals, national dress and the local architecture of painted and carved wooden farmhouses.
The country perfectly combines trekking with cultural experiences, including visits to Buddhist temples, monasteries and nunneries, built precariously on cliff edges and partly carved out of the rock."
