Funny And Embarrassing Vacation Fails Captured On Camera

By: Mia Williams | Last updated: Nov 13, 2023

People usually return from vacation trips with photos of unforgettable moments. For many travelers, a vacation is an opportunity to rest, explore, learn, and capture exciting moments. 

While many trips go well, it is not unusual for vacationers to experience hilarious moments. These are the unusual and unplanned turn of events captured on camera that people may not want others to see. We’ve got some for you.

The Erect Towers of Pisa

Yes, you read it right: the erect towers of Pisa. At least, that was what the pictures of a tourist seemed to depict.

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Source: confusing_perspective/ Reddit

A fun-seeker who took a trip to Italy captured the leaning towers of Pisa in an unusual position. So, the photo showed an upright tower, and the building next to the tower seemed to lean. Quite interesting but not at all how the tourist expected the photo to turn out!

Japan’s Mount Fuji is So Exciting to Not Behold

A trip to Japan isn’t complete without a view of the magnificent Mount Fuji. This young tourist was so excited to capture the scenery for us. But wait…

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Source: Imgur

The only visible mountain is a mountain of fog. The surrounding vegetation was probably delighted to enjoy the spotlight, even just for once. 

A Tourist, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Some Bad Advice

No other photo screams “bad advice” like this one. A tourist was excited to finally see the famous Golden Gate Bridge. He was told to “get there early,” just like many unsuspecting sightseers. 

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Source: Imgur

So, he only got to see a small portion of the bridge. The San Francisco fog stays around for most of the morning, photobombing the pictures of the bridge and creating funny moments.

Invisible American Heroes

Every year, two million plus people visit the towering Mount Rushmore. However, lots of them ended up seeing a large, thick mass of fog instead. 

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Source: Reddit

When a mother and son decided to visit at the wrong time, too, they were unable to see any figures.  What they thought would be a photo of majestic figures of American heroes looked like white smoke.

A Cathedral On Fire

Here, a tourist took a photo of the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral during her visit to Paris. However, all wasn’t well with her view, as cathedrals shouldn’t be on fire. Should they?

Source: onedio

The photo showed a section of the building engulfed in bright red flames and thick smoke rising to the sky. What are the odds of a fire incident when a tourist visits an attraction? 

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A 2-Hour Drive to See Some More Fog

The Haleakala is a Hawaiian wonder that attracts lots of visitors every year, although at a great price. To see the best of the amazing red deserts and rock gardens, you must take a 2-hour drive up the mountains. 

Source: @AngCorbett/ Twitter

Again, the tourists showed up at the wrong time. After a 2-hour drive up through 10,000 ft, the landscape was still covered in fog.

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Another Fiasco at Mount Fuji

Here is another failed visit to Japan’s Mount Fuji. You can see how this visitor was all dressed up for the perfect photo, but the weather just keeps ruining expectations.

Source: greenlemon.me

He had to take the photo anyway, as the long drive couldn’t go to waste. Hopefully, he will get the timing right for his next visit.

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This Visitor Paid Handsomely For A View of Snow

Most times, the quality of a vacation experience lies in the quality of the view. So, it isn’t a wonder why people go out of their way to afford the best views just like this visitor.

Source: avoidingwork/ Reddit

After paying handsomely for a room with a view of the mountains, this visitor had a surprise in store – a snow plow passed by the glass windows instead. All that extra cost for a view that he never saw.

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The Gateway Fogs of St. Louis?

Anyone who vacations in St. Louis, Missouri, must have had The Gateway Arch in mind. This 630 feet monument is a wonder to behold, but only when the fog allows.

Source: scythebookfans/ Reddit

This tourist took pictures of the arch hidden behind a thick mass of fog. Kudos to them for looking at the brighter side of a disappointing situation. 

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When The Sunrise Hides Behind the Fog

Mount Agung, an active volcano in the heart of Bali, Indonesia, welcomes sight-seers regularly. One of its attractions is the breathtaking view of the sunrise it offers. 

Source: onedio

This tourist didn’t consider the weather and the thickness of the fog when he woke up at 3 am to make the ascent. As fog covered the sunset, he soon realized the view wasn’t as good as he had envisioned. 

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Mountains Removed Temporarily for Cleaning

Here is another vacation fail proudly sponsored by the fog. Again. This time, the visitor trekked for 15 hours to find that the mountains seemed to have moved to another location. 

Source: Imgur

It was all foggy with no trace of any rock. The 15-hour trek back will be even more excruciating. Another one in our collection of weather tricks. 

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The Grand Canyon Disappears

The Grand Canyon is another one of nature’s masterpieces. Here, there is a pleasant view of red rocks emerging from immensely arid rock erosion. 

Source: Reddit

A tourist traveled to see this wonderful sight but met something different: a grand canyon of fogs. It was all white without a single speck of red. Fortunately, he was jolly enough to find it funny.

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The Grand Canyon Vanishes. Again!

This visitor surely didn’t come all the way to see the clouds; he came to see the Grand Canyon. However, interestingly, he was also unable to catch even a glimpse of the great view.

Source: Reddit

Apparently, he is willing to give it another try: “Saw the Grand Canyon today! 10/10 would come again. (So I can actually see it.”) Hopefully, the Grand Canyon won’t be too busy next time.

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Sorry, Big Ben is Under Construction

As huge as Big Ben is, he still needs a makeover once in a while. Due to a recovery process, Big Ben was a shadow of himself and was pretty unrecognizable. 

Source: onedio

So, this is not the best time to visit the giant clock house. However, many tourists, just like the guy who took this picture, were visiting Big Ben for the first time, unaware of its renovation.

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A Close-Up of the Trees

While this sight-seer enjoyed her vacation in Hawaii, she briefly entrusted her photography to a stranger who did a terrible job. Interestingly, the accidental photographer assured her of his expertise when he said, “I got a close-up.”

Sure, he did. A close-up of three giant rainbow eucalyptus trees seemed to be the focus of the photo.

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Clouds Ruin the Perfect Grand Canyon Photo

This brave tourist in the Grand Canyon went the extra mile to stand on this giant boulder that looked likely to fall off at any moment. To him, it was a worthy price to pay for the perfect photo. 

Source: onedio

However, unknown to him, the weather wasn’t ready for that moment. In the end, the Grand Canyon was nowhere to be found in the photo – all that courage and anticipation for a blanket of clouds.

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A Photo of an Invisible Taj Mahal

A vacation trip to India wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal. The historic white mausoleum is a wonder and a beauty to behold. 

Source: YouTube

A photo will help anyone relive the moment once they can evade the foggy weather. This tourist wasn’t so lucky. The lush green garden pathway and the canal are the only proof of the Taj Mahal in his photo.

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Fog On the Great Wall of China

Visiting the Great Wall of China, one of the most iconic monuments in the world, is a dream for many people. For this reason, capturing the moment on camera is often a non-negotiable part of the trip. 

Source: Reddit

This tourist, however, seemed to have visited the wall at the wrong time. Almost half of his photograph is covered by fog. Obviously, the fog is no friend to tourists. 

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His Dad Had Just One Job

Many people believe that parents are generally bad at taking photos. This tourist who visited Machu Picchu generously gave his dad the benefit of the doubt. 

Source: Reddit

Did dad disappoint? Yes, he did. Dad’s fingers took up almost a third of the photograph. What’s worse is that the fingers covered the whole of his son’s face.

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Another Grand Fail at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon seems to be topping the list of favorite locations for vacation fails. This photo is another example of the influence of fog in the area. 

Source: KQED

The fog is so thick you can’t see any evidence of a canyon. Either the weather just loves ruining vacation pictures, or the visitors come around too early. 

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An Uninvited Guest Features in a Vacation Photo

This tourist was on vacation in Berlin. While chilling with his girlfriend, he took a romantic photo, only to find that they had some weird company.

Source: Imgur

The photo showed a literal clown grinning from ear to ear just behind his girlfriend. This has to be one of the top 100 photobombed pictures of the century.

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Llamas Keeps His Cool Beside Terrified Woman

This should be one of the funniest vacation fails ever. This woman doesn’t think it is, though. As she positioned herself to take a photo with the Llama, a hawk flew in to rest on her shoulders as she clung desperately to the Llama.

Source: Imgur

Thankfully, the person behind the camera didn’t stop; we would have missed out on this hilarious photo of a vacation fail.

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When Water Doesn’t Like You

With the way this lady had her arms folded in this pool, she probably had an inkling that she wasn’t very welcome. True to it, this photo was all the proof she needed.

Source: @ogug8/ Twitter

The water seemingly had a grouse against her and rewarded her with this midget appearance. What she expected to be a cute picture of her on vacation turned out to be funny. 

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A Pigeon Steals the Show in Milan

Tourists in Milan (even though they won’t admit it) have a secret dislike for the pigeons. They seem to be everywhere and won’t let you have a simple and perfect photo. 

Source: Flickr

This particular pigeon found an opportunity to be famous and took it. On the other hand, the camera guy probably lost a huge slice of his patience.

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Tour Guide Took a Selfie of Himself With the Tourist’s Phone

Another vacation, another unplanned photo. This tour guide must have been scared when he saw how the picture turned out; all those poses for nothing.

Source: Imgur

In the end, it was a nice selfie the tour guide probably posted on his Instagram with the caption: “A great day at work.”

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Not Everyone Likes to Have Fun

Imagine taking a photo in a busy place and politely waiting for everyone to clear out of your way. These three ladies seemed to have waited forever for this shot before this photobomber surfaced from nowhere.

Source: Reddit

The big man seems like he knows what he is doing. He also seems to be enjoying spoiling the fun. 

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A Mugshot at the Beach

While some go to the beach to catch some fun, others go there to get arrested. This young man was apprehended by the police and was lucky enough to have a mugshot at the beach. Not everyone has that! 

Source: Imgur

These ladies, on the other hand, were only trying to get a nice photograph. Their picture may have been ruined, but the photobomber will not be forgetting it in a hurry. 

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Not the Havasupai Falls We Know

The Havasupai Falls are renowned for producing some of the most pleasing waterfall photos. There seems to be no bad camera angle at the falls. Plus, the water’s turquoise color is a delight to the eyes when there are no flash floods. 

Source: Imgur

This tourist came in at the wrong time, as the photo shows a muddy Havasupai that falls way below expectation. 

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Die Rakotzbrücke at its Lowest

One would expect to see water under a bridge and beautiful scenery around one of the world’s most famous vacation sites. But on a visit to eastern Germany, a tourist found this bridge was under construction.

Source: Imgur

Usually, the bridge is an aesthetic wonder with its lush green vegetation surrounding a canal of clear water. This tourist met the dry ground and a large construction site: not a great vacation moment.

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Risky Photo of a Washington Monument Lamp Post

Taking a photo of the Washington Monument in a moving car is an extreme sport. This tourist wanted to do a quick drive-by photo shoot at the moment.

Source: Reddit

Apparently, the lamp post decided to steal the spotlight from the towering obelisk tower. By the time the tourist got to know that his photo had been ruined, he was probably already far gone.

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