Iconic
Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive. 265 curated drives with mapped stops, distance, duration, and route notes — including Overseas Highway, Sea to Sky Highway, Death Valley Circuit.
These 265 routes range from 10 to 7820 km and from 1 to 21 days, across 93 countries. Top picks: Overseas Highway, Sea to Sky Highway, Death Valley Circuit.
IconicOverseas HighwayUS-1 leaves the Florida mainland and drives 230km over 42 bridges across the Florida Keys, the highway that goes to sea. Turquoise flats on both sides, pelicans on every railing, and America's most southerly point at the end.
IconicSea to Sky HighwayBC-99 from Vancouver to Whistler is one of the world's great short drives, Howe Sound's fjord on one side, the Coast Mountains on the other, threading through old-growth forest past tumbling waterfalls and into a world-class mountain town.
IconicDeath Valley CircuitThe lowest, hottest, driest national park on Earth, and one of its most spectacular. Golden badlands, salt flats at 86m below sea level, rainbow-painted hills, and dunes that hum when the sand shifts in the wind.
IconicAlaska HighwayThe ALCAN, built in eight months in 1942 to connect Alaska to the Lower 48, is the last great North American frontier road. 2400km of boreal wilderness, glacial rivers, the Yukon's vast silence, and more wildlife per kilometre than almost anywhere on Earth.
IconicNatchez Trace ParkwayThe oldest road in America, a 715 km National Parkway following a 10,000-year-old trail used by Native Americans, French traders, and flatboatmen walking home from New Orleans, now a billboard-free parkway of cathedral forest, Civil War earthworks, and ancient mounds.
IconicMillion Dollar HighwayColorado’s Million Dollar Highway is the dramatic stretch of US 550 between Silverton and Ouray, threading over Red Mountain Pass through steep alpine scenery, old mining country, and sheer canyon walls. Expect tight curves, dramatic overlooks, and one of the Rockies’ most memorable short drives.
IconicSeward HighwayThis classic Alaska drive runs from downtown Anchorage south to Seward, following Turnagain Arm past tidal mudflats, glacier-capped peaks, and roadside viewpoints. It’s a straightforward paved route, but the scenery demands frequent stops for hikes, wildlife viewing, and overlooks along Kenai Peninsula’s dramatic coast.
IconicOlympic Peninsula LoopThis classic loop circles Washington’s Olympic Peninsula from Seattle or Tacoma into a landscape of rain forest, wild Pacific beaches, glacier-capped peaks, and mountain passes. Follow forest highways to Hurricane Ridge, the Hoh Rain Forest, Ruby Beach, and the shores of Lake Quinault for a compact, varied Pacific Northwest road trip.
IconicSouthern Alps HighwayNew Zealand's South Island SH6 and SH73 cross the Southern Alps through Franz Josef Glacier, the turquoise Hokitika Gorge, Arthur's Pass, and Lake Tekapo, a drive of glaciers, braided rivers, and an outrageously starry Mackenzie sky.
IconicGreat Alpine RoadVictoria's B500 climbs over the Australian Alps from Wangaratta to Bairnsdale, the highest sealed road in Australia, through snow gum forests, Mount Hotham ski resorts, and the gold-rush valley of Harrietville.
IconicPacific Coast Highway, New ZealandNew Zealand's Pacific coast from Whakatane to Napier, through Māori culture, East Cape's remote headlands, Gisborne's chardonnay vineyards, Hawke's Bay's Art Deco cities, and the easternmost point of the North Island. Off the beaten track until the final destination: Napier's extraordinary Art Deco streetscape.
IconicGreat Barrier Reef DriveThis classic tropical coast drive follows the Captain Cook Highway from Cairns to Port Douglas, skimming rainforest-clad headlands, palm beaches, and the Coral Sea. It is one of Australia’s most accessible scenic routes, with easy stops for lookouts, swimming beaches, and reef-day-trip departures.
IconicThe Romantic RoadGermany's most celebrated themed route, from the Residenz palace city of Würzburg through the medieval timber-framed perfection of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the walled town of Dinkelsbühl, and the circular Nördlingen (built inside a meteor crater) to the fairy-tale pinnacles of Neuschwanstein Castle above Füssen. The idealised German Middle Ages through the most beautiful medieval townscapes in Europe.
IconicDouro Valley Wine RouteThe oldest demarcated wine region in the world, the Douro Valley winds east from Porto through terraced vineyards carved into schist hillsides, past baroque manor houses and centuries-old quintas that produce some of the world's finest port and table wine.
IconicCappadocia Valleys LoopA compact Cappadocia route for visitors who want more than one balloon-view stop. The loop links Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos, underground cities, Ihlara Canyon, Soğanlı Valley, and Ürgüp into a short drive through volcanic rock, cave churches, vineyards, and early Christian hideouts.
IconicThree CornichesThree parallel cliff roads between Nice and Monaco, each at a different altitude, the Basse Corniche past Belle Époque villas, the Moyenne past Èze's eagle's nest, and the Grande Corniche where Grace Kelly drove her last road.
IconicBlack Forest High RoadThe Schwarzwald-Hochstrasse (B500) runs along the ridge of Germany's most romantic mountain range, dense spruce forests, cuckoo clock villages, thermal spa towns, glass-clear lakes, and cake made with cream and kirsch.
IconicGorges du VerdonFrance's answer to the Grand Canyon, a 25 km gash through the limestone hills of Provence where the Verdon River has carved sheer cliffs nearly a kilometre high. The usual route begins in the hilltop town of Moustiers-Ste-Marie, creeps around the gorge rim with roadside viewpoints galore, loops the 23 km Rte des Crêtes with 14 lookouts (keep eyes peeled for eagles and vultures), and ends at Castellane.
IconicChianti RoadToscana simply doesn't get more bella than the SR222 through Chianti country, linking two great medieval cities through gently rolling countryside striped with cypress trees, olive groves, and vines. Most photogenic during the late springtime eruption of poppies and wildflowers; stop at every enoteca for Chianti Classico, a sangiovese-dominated drop that tastes like the landscape.
IconicRing of KerryIreland’s classic loop on the Iveragh Peninsula combines Atlantic cliffs, sheep-flecked hills, and bright harbors in a single easy day drive. Expect constant scenery, narrow rural roads, and frequent stops for beaches, stone forts, and mountain passes, with Killarney as the natural gateway.
IconicAlbanian Riviera and Llogara PassThis classic south Albania drive follows the Ionian coast from Vlora over the switchbacks of Llogara Pass to the turquoise coves and stone villages of the Riviera. Expect mountain panoramas, beach stops at Dhërmi and Himarë, and a slower pace on one of the Balkans’ most scenic roads.
IconicVršič PassThis classic alpine crossing climbs from Kranjska Gora to the Soča Valley through 50 tight hairpins and dramatic limestone scenery. At 1,611 meters, Vršič Pass delivers sweeping views of the Julian Alps, roadside memorials, and short stops for hikes, making it Slovenia’s most iconic mountain drive.
IconicSnowdonia CircuitThis loop threads through the heart of Snowdonia, combining slate-era heritage, mountain passes, and classic Welsh coast views. Start in Betws-y-Coed, climb toward Llanberis and the slopes of Yr Wyddfa, then swing through Beddgelert, Harlech, and the shores of Porthmadog before returning through inland valleys.
IconicCosta VerdeThe Rio–Santos coastal highway (BR-101) threads between the Serra do Mar mountains and the Atlantic, colonial fishing villages, the world's largest urban forest at Tijuca, islands, and Brazil's most spectacular beaches.
IconicTranspantaneiraThe only road into the Northern Pantanal, 147km of raised dirt track on 122 wooden bridges through the world's largest tropical wetland. In the dry season, caimans line every bridge, capybaras graze the shoulders, and the Cuiabá River banks are the best place on Earth to see a wild jaguar.
IconicSerra do Rio do RastroSC-438 climbs the Serra Geral escarpment in 18km of relentless hairpins, from the subtropical coastal plain to a cold gaucho plateau at 1400m. Above the clouds, apple orchards, frost-dusted dawns, and the sheer-walled canyons of Aparados da Serra await.
IconicEstrada RealThe Royal Road built in the 1700s to carry gold and diamonds from the Minas interior to the coast. This stretch, the Caminho dos Diamantes, connects UNESCO Ouro Preto through the colonial hill towns of Tiradentes and São João del-Rei to the diamond capital of Diamantina, birthplace of President JK.
IconicPan-American Highway, PeruPeru's stretch of the Pan-American Highway takes in everything from pre-Inca history to world-renowned wineries, the road winds through coastal desert, tiny fishing villages, the Islas Ballestas wildlife islands, the mysterious Nazca Lines, colonial-era towns, and the Atacama at Tacna. Drive only during daylight hours; fuel up wherever you can.
IconicAvenue of the VolcanoesThis classic Ecuadorian highland drive follows the spine of the Andes from Quito toward Chimborazo, linking a chain of volcanic peaks, market towns, and broad alpine valleys. Expect dramatic snowcapped summits, fertile farmland, and frequent roadside viewpoints in one of South America’s most iconic mountain corridors.
IconicAcross the High AtlasFrom the rose-red walls of Marrakech over the spine of the Atlas Mountains via the 2,260m Tizi n'Tichka pass, past kasbahs of red pisé, across the hammada plateau to Ouarzazate's film sets, through the Draa Valley's 40 km of palm groves, and into the Sahara at Merzouga's towering Erg Chebbi dunes. The great desert approach.
IconicChapman's Peak DriveLess than 10 km long but with 114 curves and breathtaking views of Hout Bay and the Sentinel, affectionately known as "Chappies," this toll road was originally built during World War I, blasted from the sheer face of the 593 m Chapman's Peak above the Atlantic Ocean. A steep cliffside drive with natural canopy overhangs, the views are unbeatable on a sunny day.
IconicPanorama RouteMpumalanga's Panorama Route strings together the most dramatic escarpment scenery in Southern Africa, canyon viewpoints, gold-rush villages, ancient potholes, and waterfalls spilling off the edge of the highveld.
IconicSkeleton CoastThe C34 salt-and-gravel coastal road from Swakopmund north along Namibia's Atlantic fringe to Terrace Bay, through the Skeleton Coast National Park, past bleached whale bones, shipwrecks, and Cape Cross Seal Reserve's 100,000-strong fur seal colony. Ultra-desolate. Motorbikes not permitted on the coast road.
IconicKyrgyzstan LoopThe great Kyrgyz circuit from Bishkek through the nomad heartland, over the Tian Shan to Song-Kul's high-altitude lake (3,016m), through the Naryn canyon to Karakol, along the blue shore of Issyk-Kul, and back. A route of yurt camps, eagle hunters, and passes above 3,500m with almost no tarmac for 300 km at a stretch.
IconicUzbekistan's Silk RoadThe original Silk Road through Uzbekistan's four great cities, Tashkent, Samarkand's Registan, Tamerlane's birthplace at Shakhrisabz, Bukhara's medressehs, and Khiva's walled Itchan Kala. Three UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1,100 km through a landscape that has barely changed since the caravans came through.
IconicTurkmenistan: Gates of HellThrough the Karakum Desert from Ashgabat, the world's most surreal capital of white marble and golden statues, north to the Darvaza gas crater (the Gates of Hell), a 69-metre burning pit ignited by Soviet drillers in 1971 and still flaming today, before continuing to Dashoguz on the Uzbek border. One of the most extraordinary drives on earth.
IconicHokkaido Flower RouteThrough the patchwork hills of Biei and the lavender ocean of Furano, Hokkaido's interior turns into an impressionist painting each summer as flower farms, canola fields, and potato blossoms roll across the volcanic upland in waves of purple, yellow, and white.
IconicTaiwan Island LoopTaiwan's extraordinary island circuit from Taipei, through Taroko Gorge's 19-km marble canyon, the East Rift Valley's terraced rice paddies, Kenting's tropical beaches, Sun Moon Lake's indigenous Thao culture, and the high-mountain Alishan Forest Railway country. Asia's most compact great drive through an island that punches far above its size.
IconicSpiti Valley CircuitThis high-altitude Himalayan circuit links Shimla, Kaza, Tabo, Dhankar, and the Spiti River valley through stark brown mountains, cliffside monasteries, and lunar landscapes. Expect long days on rough but spectacular roads, with dramatic passes, quiet villages, and some of India’s most memorable alpine scenery.
IconicBhutan Lateral RoadBhutan's only east-west highway traverses the entire Himalayan kingdom, prayer flags over mountain passes, ancient dzongs above rivers, Tiger's Nest clinging to a 900m cliff, and a country that measures Gross National Happiness.
IconicMae Hong Son LoopThailand’s Mae Hong Son Loop is a classic mountain drive from Chiang Mai through Pai, Mae Hong Son, and back via the forested hills of northern Thailand. Expect more than 1,800 curves, river valleys, hot springs, cave temples, and Shan-influenced town culture on a relaxed multi-day circuit.
IconicHai Van PassThis coastal day drive links Da Nang and Hue over the legendary Hai Van Pass, where the road climbs forested mountains before opening to sweeping views of the South China Sea and Lang Co Lagoon. It combines dramatic switchbacks, old military relics, and classic central Vietnam scenery.
IconicThakhek LoopThe Thakhek Loop is a classic central Laos motorbike and road trip, starting and ending in Thakhek on the Mekong. It winds through limestone karst hills, quiet villages, river caves, and the dramatic Kong Lor Cave area, with a mix of smooth roads, rough patches, and unforgettable scenery.
IconicBali Island LoopCircle Bali on paved coastal and highland roads from Denpasar through Ubud, Kintamani, Lovina, Pemuteran, Gilimanuk, and back via the southern beaches. Expect dense traffic near the south coast, cooler mountain views, temple stops, and easy daily access to food, fuel, and guesthouses.
IconicCosta Rica: Parks & WildlifeThe world's greatest concentration of biodiversity per square kilometre in a country the size of West Virginia, from San José through the cloud forests of Monteverde, the active Arenal Volcano's lava fields and hot springs, down to Manuel Antonio's rainforest beaches where sloths hang in the canopy above white sand. 5% of the world's species in one small, peaceful country.
IconicMuscat to SalalahThe classic Oman desert drive on Highway 31, from Muscat south via Nizwa's gateway mountains, then across 360-degree desert skyscapes through eight coastal waypoints to the extraordinary Dhofar Mountains and Salalah's beaches. The monsoonal Khareef (June–September) transforms Dhofar into remarkable greenness.
IconicJebel Hafeet Mountain RoadFrom Dubai across the desert to Al Ain, then up 60 switchback hairpins to the summit of the UAE's highest peak, consistently ranked among the world's greatest driving roads, with the whole Arabian plain at your feet.
IconicAcross the Austrian AlpsThe great Austrian crossing from Tyrol to Vienna, from Innsbruck's Golden Roof and Habsburg legacy, over the Brenner Pass and through the Salzkammergut's lake district (where Hallstatt gave its name to the Iron Age), into the Baroque splendour of Salzburg (Mozart, the Sound of Music, the Salzburg Festival) and finally the imperial grandeur of Vienna. Austria's full cultural and natural range in one drive.
IconicAlice Springs to DarwinThe Stuart Highway runs dead-straight through the Red Centre, Uluru and Kata Tjuta at the start, Kings Canyon, Devil's Marbles, Tennant Creek, Katherine Gorge, and finally Darwin where the Outback meets the Timor Sea.
IconicAlsace Route des VinsThe Route des Vins d'Alsace winds between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine plain through a string of medieval villages, half-timbered houses hung with geraniums, storks on every chimney, and Riesling in every cellar.
IconicAltai Mountains and Chuysky Trakt Extended LoopThis extended Altai road trip follows the legendary Chuysky Trakt from Biysk into a high-country loop through river valleys, steppe, and glacier-carved peaks. Expect sweeping passes, turquoise rivers, nomad landscapes, and classic stopovers around Chemal, Onguday, Kosh-Agach, and the Ukok-facing southern Altai.
IconicAlUla to Tabuk and the Red SeaThis desert-crossing drive links AlUla’s sandstone wonders with the mountains and port city of Tabuk, then continues west toward the Red Sea coast for a striking contrast of oasis, canyon, and shoreline scenery. It’s a classic Saudi road trip for big landscapes, heritage stops, and open-road driving.
IconicAncient Phoenicia, LebanonThe most compact extraordinary drive in the Middle East, Beirut's resilient cosmopolitan energy, the Jeita Grotto (the largest stalactite cave in the Middle East), the Phoenician city of Byblos (possibly the world's oldest continuously inhabited city), the cedar forests of Bcharre, and the Roman temple complex of Baalbek (the largest Roman temples ever built). Lebanon in a loop.
IconicAncient Tea Horse RoadThe ancient trade route that carried Yunnan's pressed tea cakes to Tibet on horseback, reborn as the most rewarding drive in southwest China, from Kunming through the marble-pillared city of Dali, the Naxi kingdom of Lijiang, and into the snow-peaked gorges of Shangri-La.
IconicAparados da SerraThe Serra Geral escarpment splits the Rio Grande do Sul plateau with two of the deepest canyons in South America, Itaimbezinho (720m deep, 5.8km long) and Fortaleza (900m deep). The araucária pine forests above and the Atlantic Forest below create two entirely different worlds within 20km.
IconicArctic HighwayFrom St. Petersburg north through the Karelian lakes and birch forests to Murmansk, the world's largest city above the Arctic Circle, and an ice-free naval port that never closes. In summer the sun never sets; in winter the Northern Lights arc overhead without interruption.
IconicArica to Lauca and Putre AltiplanoClimb from the Pacific heat of Arica into Chile’s high Altiplano on one of the country’s most dramatic mountain drives. The route follows the Lluta Valley to Putre, then continues into Lauca National Park for volcano views, bofedales, turquoise lagoons, and herds of vicuñas under thin, brilliant air.
IconicArthur's PassThis classic South Island drive runs from Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains to the alpine village of Arthur’s Pass and on to the West Coast. It pairs braided rivers, beech forest, steep mountain walls, and dramatic viaduct engineering with easy roadside access to short walks and viewpoints.
IconicBadlands & Black Hills LoopSouth Dakota's astonishing concentration of American myth, the razor-ridged Badlands spires and buttes rising from the Great Plains, the ancient Lakota sacred Black Hills, Crazy Horse's unfinished mountain monument, and Mount Rushmore's four presidential faces carved into granite. Bison herds, prairie dogs, and the ghosts of the frontier frame the most symbolically loaded landscape in the American West.
IconicBartang Valley Pamir VariantThis Pamir variant leaves the Pamir Highway at Rushan and follows the dramatic Bartang Valley past turquoise river bends, cliffside villages, and steep rock walls toward the upper valley. It is a rugged, high-altitude detour with big mountain scenery and a strong sense of isolation.
IconicBay of Kotor to DurmitorThis Montenegro road trip links the Adriatic beauty of the Bay of Kotor with the high alpine landscapes of Durmitor National Park. Expect tight mountain roads, dramatic viewpoints, monastery stops, and a steady climb from sea level to glacial lakes, pine forests, and the iconic Tara River canyon.
IconicBlue Mountains and North Coast JamaicaThis Jamaican loop links the cool, misty slopes of the Blue Mountains with the lush east and north coasts. Start in Kingston, climb past coffee estates and forest viewpoints, then descend through Port Antonio to Ocho Rios and the island’s resort-lined northern shoreline.
IconicBolaven Plateau LoopThis classic Laos loop climbs from Pakse onto the cool, forested Bolaven Plateau, circling coffee country, crater lakes, and some of the country’s best waterfalls. The route links village roads and paved mountain sections into an easygoing road trip with frequent scenic stops and local homestays.
IconicBonito and Bodoquena Pantanal SulThis classic Mato Grosso do Sul road trip links Bonito’s clear rivers and sinkholes with the limestone hills of Bodoquena and the wildlife flats of the southern Pantanal. Expect good paved highways, short gravel detours, birdlife everywhere, and memorable stops for swimming, cave views, and ranch stays.
IconicBorneo Sabah LoopThis Sabah circuit links Kota Kinabalu with Kinabalu Park, Sandakan, the Kinabatangan wetlands, and the east-coast beaches before looping back through interior highways. Expect lush rainforest, limestone hills, mountain views, and some of Borneo’s best chances to see orangutans, pygmy elephants, and proboscis monkeys.
IconicBR-319 Amazon Highway Manaus to Porto VelhoThis legendary Amazon crossing links Manaus to Porto Velho through long stretches of rainforest, river crossings, and sparse settlements. When conditions allow, the drive feels deeply isolated and dramatic, with huge skies, dense jungle, and a true expedition atmosphere on one of Brazil’s most talked-about roads.
IconicCalchaquí ValleysThrough the high-altitude Andes of northwestern Argentina, the world's highest vineyards at Cafayate, the sculpted red rock canyons of Quebrada de Cafayate, pre-Inca ruins at Quilmes, and the colonial splendour of Salta.
IconicCambodia Temple RouteThis heritage-focused loop links Cambodia’s most iconic temple landscapes, beginning in Phnom Penh and heading north through Kampong Thom to the jungle-fringed towers of Sambor Prei Kuk before reaching Siem Reap. Continue to Angkor’s grandest monuments, then finish with a serene countryside return through rice fields and village roads.
IconicCanary Islands DriveThe volcanic islands off Africa's Atlantic coast where summer never ends, Teide National Park's 3,715m lunar volcano (the highest peak in Spanish territory), the UNESCO laurisilva cloud forest of La Gomera, Masca village in a near-vertical volcanic gorge, the black-sand beaches of Tenerife's southern coast, and the endemic Canarian dragon trees.
IconicCanning Stock RouteThe big one, the most challenging 4WD track in Australia, from Wiluna north to Halls Creek through the Great Sandy, Little Sandy, and Gibson Deserts. 51 wells once watered the cattle drives; today a truck visits Well 23 once a year and leaves a 50-gallon drum of fuel if you've pre-arranged it. Serious expedition territory.
IconicCape Cod, Old King's HighwayRoute 6A, the Old King's Highway, traces the Bay side of Cape Cod through 300 years of sea-captain architecture, cranberry bogs, saltmarsh, and shingled villages. The Cape narrows to a sandy hook at Provincetown, where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620.
IconicCaptain Cook HighwayQueensland's most scenic coastal road runs from Cairns north to Mossman between the Wet Tropics rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, the only place on Earth where two UNESCO World Heritage sites touch simultaneously.
IconicCastaway on Flores, AzoresThe most remote and beautiful island in the Azores, Flores (the Island of Flowers) is a crater-lake wonderland at the western edge of Europe, 2,300 km from Lisbon. Seven calderas filled with hydrangea-ringed lakes, the vertical sea cliffs of Fajã Grande (the most dramatic coastline in the Atlantic), and the cascading waterfalls of Poço da Alagoinha in a valley of lush green fern. The end of Europe, dripping with rain and colour.
IconicCauseway Coastal RouteFrom Belfast through the Glens of Antrim to the Giant's Causeway, the most scenic coastal road in the UK traces ancient volcanic basalt, a Scottish rope bridge, a whiskey distillery in a clifftop cave, and a Game of Thrones landscape.
IconicCebu and Bohol Road TripLoop through southern Cebu’s coast and Bohol’s inland hills for a compact island road trip of white-sand stops, waterfalls, and heritage towns. Start in Cebu City, follow the shoreline to Oslob and Moalboal, then ferry to Bohol for the Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, and a finish in Tagbilaran or Panglao.
IconicCentral Cross-Island HighwayTaiwan’s Central Cross-Island Highway links the west and east sides of the island through the steep spine of the Central Mountain Range. The drive climbs past Taroko Gorge viewpoints, high bridges, and forested passes before descending to lush valleys and small mountain settlements.
IconicChain of Craters RoadThe most geological road on Earth, descending 1200m from Kīlauea's active summit caldera to the Pacific coast, past pit craters and still-smoking lava fields, ending where a previous flow swallowed the road whole and entered the sea.
IconicChapada DiamantinaThe highland plateau of Bahia, Brazil's walking and driving heartland. Diamond-rush colonial villages, table-top cerrado mountains, 100m waterfalls into swimming holes, underground lakes glowing with refracted light, and the most extraordinary cerrado scenery in Brazil.
IconicChapada dos VeadeirosA UNESCO cerrado highland 250km north of Brasília, the ancient quartz-crystal plateau that generates one of the highest concentrations of natural crystal in the world. Waterfalls, cerrado canyons, the New Age capital of Alto Paraíso, and the clearest night skies in Central Brazil.
IconicChâteaux of the LoireThe Loire Valley is the garden of France, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Renaissance royal châteaux, troglodyte wine cellars cut into chalk cliffs, and river islands of white-sand beaches linking Chinon's medieval fortress to Chambord's Renaissance fantasy.
IconicChiapas Highlands San Cristobal to PalenqueThis classic Chiapas drive drops from the cool cobblestone streets of San Cristóbal de las Casas into lush canyon country, pine forest, and humid lowland jungle before ending at Palenque’s Maya ruins. It is a dramatic one-way transition from highland culture to tropical archaeology.
IconicChilean Lake District Pucon to Puerto VarasThis classic Chilean Lake District drive links Pucón and Puerto Varas through a chain of blue lakes, snowcapped volcanoes, and well-kept paved highways. Detour for forested viewpoints, hot springs, and waterfront towns such as Villarrica, Frutillar, and Ensenada for an easy, scenic South American road trip.
IconicChiloe Island LoopThis loop traces Chile’s misty Chiloé Island from Castro through stilt-house villages, tidal wetlands, and fishing coves to the windswept south coast. Expect slow scenic driving, colorful wooden churches, artisan markets, and wild Pacific views, with the route naturally closing back through Ancud.
IconicCircuit of MallorcaA full loop around the Mediterranean's most beautiful island, southwest from Palma through Palmanova to Sóller's mountain village in the Serra de Tramuntana, east through Sa Pobla and the flat grape-growing Manacor plains to the east coast beaches, then back to Palma. Six Endesa EV charging stations make it Spain's smoothest electric island loop.
IconicClarence DriveThe R44 between Gordon's Bay and Hermanus hugs the Kogelberg coastline, mountain cliffs plunging to turquoise sea, fynbos slopes, penguin colonies, and the world's finest shore-based whale watching.
IconicColca Canyon and Arequipa to Lake TiticacaThis classic southern Peru road trip links Arequipa’s volcanic skyline with the terraces of Colca Canyon and the wide-open altiplano around Lake Titicaca. The drive climbs from canyon villages and condor lookouts to puna grasslands, then finishes in the lakeside city of Puno.
IconicColombia Caribbean CoastThis coast-to-coast drive follows Colombia’s Caribbean shoreline from Cartagena through Barranquilla and Santa Marta to the gateway of Tayrona and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Expect colonial cities, mangrove lagoons, beach towns, and long stretches of warm coastal highway with lively regional food and music.
IconicColombia Coffee AxisDrive the heart of Colombia’s Coffee Axis on a loop between Medellín and Salento, passing green ridgelines, colonial towns, and working fincas. The route is best in the drier months, when mountain roads are easier and views over the Andes and wax palm valleys are clearest.
IconicCordillera Blanca LoopThis high-Andes loop begins in Huaraz and circles Peru’s Cordillera Blanca on paved and rough mountain roads past turquoise glacial lakes, Quechua villages, and dramatic snow peaks. The route reaches classic viewpoints around Llanganuco and Chavín before returning through the Callejón de Huaylas.
IconicCorsica Island DriveNapoleon's birthplace and the most dramatic island in the Mediterranean, the Col de Bavella's granite needles, the Gorges de Spelunca's ancient Genoese bridges, Calanche de Piana's UNESCO orange granite formations, Ajaccio's Napoleonic legacy, and the limestone cliffs of Bonifacio above the straits. The island that rewards the driver who goes beyond the beaches.
IconicCross-Island Dominica via Morne Trois PitonsThis cross-island drive links Roseau to the island’s east side through the lush volcanic interior of Morne Trois Pitons National Park. Expect rainforest climbs, crater ridges, river valleys, and quick detours to Trafalgar Falls, Emerald Pool, and the Boiling Lake access area before descending toward the Atlantic coast.
IconicDakar Rally TerritoryFollow the world's most demanding rally through the Empty Quarter's boundless ergs, the Hejaz lava fields, and the ancient Nabataean trade routes to Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia at its most elemental and most extreme.
IconicDali Lijiang Shangri-La RouteThis classic Yunnan mountain drive links Dali’s lakeside old town, Lijiang’s UNESCO-listed lanes, and Shangri-La’s Tibetan plateau scenery. The road climbs steadily through Erhai viewpoints, alpine valleys, and the upper reaches of the Yangtze basin, with dramatic weather shifts and plenty of cultural stops along the way.
IconicDanakil Depression ExpeditionThis expedition runs from Mekele into Ethiopia’s otherworldly Danakil Depression, crossing volcanic plains, salt flats, and low desert to reach Dallol and the edge of Erta Ale country. Expect stark colors, extreme heat, and rough tracks on one of Africa’s most dramatic overland journeys.
IconicDenali HighwayThe Denali Highway runs between Paxson and Cantwell across a vast sweep of tundra, alpine lakes, and glacier-carved ridges with constant views of the Alaska Range. Long gravel stretches and frequent wildlife sightings make it a classic remote drive, best enjoyed slowly in clear summer weather.
IconicDurban to the DrakensbergFrom Durban's Indian Ocean beachfront west into the Drakensberg, the Barrier of Spears, through the Zulu heartlands, the Midlands Meander of cheese farms and craft studios, the Cathedral Peak wilderness, and up the legendary Sani Pass to Lesotho, the mountain kingdom in the clouds at 2,874 metres.
IconicEast Coast TasmaniaThe long way from Hobart to Launceston, up Tasmania's sun-drenched east coast past convict sandstone, Wineglass Bay's perfect crescent, penguin colonies, and the fire-orange boulders of the Bay of Fires.
IconicEastern Anatolia RouteThis cross-country loop links eastern Turkey’s greatest landscapes, from the volcanic skyline of Mount Nemrut and Lake Van to the Armenian churches of Kars and the alpine valleys around Erzurum. Expect long mountain drives, big skies, strong local food, and historic towns shaped by Silk Road and frontier heritage.
IconicEastern Highlands of ZimbabweThis loop through Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands links cool mountain towns, tea estates, and forested passes with some of the country’s most rewarding road scenery. From Mutare to Nyanga, Honde Valley, and Chimanimani, the drive combines sweeping views, waterfalls, hiking stops, and crisp highland air.
IconicEmerald Island, Sri LankaSri Lanka's extraordinary island circuit, Colombo's colonial fort, Kandy's sacred tooth relic and tea highlands, Sigiriya's lion-rock fortress above the jungle, the Cultural Triangle's ancient kingdoms at Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, and the pristine east coast beaches of Trincomalee. More history and nature per kilometre than almost anywhere on earth.
IconicErg Chebbi and the Moroccan SaharaThis Saharan road trip runs from the palm-lined oasis town of Errachidia through the Ziz Valley to Merzouga and the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi. It blends paved desert highways, kasbah villages, and sunrise dune viewpoints, with the option to finish at a camel camp or desert lodge.
IconicEthiopia Historic Northern CircuitThis classic northern Ethiopia loop links the country’s greatest historic sites with dramatic highland scenery. Starting in Addis Ababa, the drive runs through Bahir Dar and Lake Tana, the Blue Nile Falls, Gondar’s imperial castles, the Simien Mountains, and onward to Axum, Lalibela, and back through the highlands.
IconicEtosha Pan CircuitA vast white salt pan, 120km across, visible from space, ringed by waterholes where lions, elephants, and black rhinos gather in the dry season. The Etosha circuit is Africa's most accessible concentrated wildlife driving, all on good gravel roads.
IconicExplorer's Way: Adelaide to DarwinAustralia's great north-south crossing on the Stuart Highway, from Adelaide across the Flinders Ranges to the opal-mining moonscape of Coober Pedy, past the dingo fence into the Red Centre, around Uluru and Kata Tjuta to Alice Springs, north through the Devils Marbles to Katherine Gorge and Darwin. The full traversal of the continent from temperate south to tropical north.
IconicFairy Meadows and Naran-KaghanThis northern Pakistan mountain loop links the Karakoram footpath to the emerald valleys of Naran and Kaghan, with alpine lakes, river canyons, and first views of Nanga Parbat from Fairy Meadows. Expect dramatic scenery, narrow roads, and a rewarding mix of jeep track and paved highland driving.
IconicFann MountainsThis classic Tajik mountain drive follows the Zeravshan Valley from Penjikent into the high country around the Fann Mountains, where turquoise lakes, limestone walls, and apricot orchards crowd the road. Expect rough but spectacular driving, alpine viewpoints, and easy access to trailheads and village guesthouses.
IconicFantastic Canyon VoyageA grand Arizona circuit from cowboy-era Wickenburg to the rim of the world at Grand Canyon Village, threading through the Old West centres of Prescott and Jerome, the vortex-energy red rocks of Sedona, and the pine plateau of Williams before the canyon opens in all its terrifying magnificence.
IconicFinnish Lapland Arctic RoadThis Arctic Lapland loop follows Finland’s northern highways from Rovaniemi into the open tundra and forest country of Saariselkä, Inari, and Utsjoki before returning south. Expect reindeer crossings, wide river valleys, quiet Sami landscapes, and long daylight in summer or blue-ice winter drama.
IconicFlores, IndonesiaAcross the extraordinary island of Flores, from the Komodo dragon territory of Labuan Bajo through Portuguese colonial Ruteng and the spider-web rice paddies of Cancar, up to Bajawa's megalithic Ngada villages, the ikat-weaving towns of Maumere, and Kelimutu's three crater lakes that change colour between turquoise, red, and black.
IconicForgotten World HighwayNew Zealand’s Forgotten World Highway follows SH43 through remote hill country between Stratford and Taumarunui. It climbs over the Whangamomona Saddle, threads past lonely farmland and river valleys, and pauses at quirky Whangamomona, a self-declared republic that captures the route’s isolated, frontier character.
IconicFour Corners CruiseSuper-sized Southwest, from Las Vegas through the Valley of Fire into Utah's slot canyons, across the Colorado Plateau to Monument Valley's prehistoric buttes, then south to the Grand Canyon and back through Red Rock Canyon. Five states, every major landscape of the American Southwest, and what may be the best day hike in North America at Zion.
IconicGaspésie LoopQuebec's Gaspésie Peninsula juts into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Route 132 loops around it past fishing villages, the moose-filled Parc de la Gaspésie, Percé Rock rising from the sea, and Forillon's sea-cliff views.
IconicGerman Alpine RoadThe Deutsche Alpenstraße from Lake Constance to Berchtesgaden, through the Allgäu dairy country, Neuschwanstein Castle above its mountain lake, the Zugspitze (Germany's highest peak at 2,962m), the Bavarian alpine lakes of Walchensee and Chiemsee, and the Eagle's Nest above Berchtesgaden. Germany's most spectacular mountain drive.
IconicGran SabanaDrive from Ciudad Guayana southeast along the Troncal 10 into the open savannas of Gran Sabana, ending at Santa Elena de Uairén near the Brazilian frontier. The route rolls past tepui mesas, waterfalls, and vast grasslands, with the best views in the dry season.
IconicGrand Pacific DriveAustralia’s Grand Pacific Drive traces a classic coastal day trip from Sydney’s southern beaches to the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. The route crosses the Sea Cliff Bridge, passes rainforest-fringed headlands and surf towns, and finishes among Kiama’s famous blowholes, lookouts and rolling green coastline.
IconicGrande Terre East Coast and HienghèneThis east-coast Grand Terre drive follows New Caledonia’s lush, less-traveled side from Nouméa toward Hienghène, with jungle-cloaked valleys, coastal lagoons, and traditional Kanak villages. The road winds through tropical foothills, river crossings, and dramatic limestone formations, making it one of the island’s most rewarding overland journeys.
IconicGreater Caucasus HighwayThis mountain drive follows Azerbaijan’s northern flank of the Greater Caucasus from the Caspian lowlands into the dramatic valleys around Quba, Khinalug, and the Shahdag region. Expect orchards, steep gorges, stone villages, and wide Alpine views on a route that feels remote yet stays firmly road-trippable.
IconicGuatemala HighlandsThis highland circuit links Guatemala City with Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and the colonial-and-indigenous heartland around Quetzaltenango. Expect volcanic scenery, market towns, cool mountain air, and long stretches of winding pavement that reward slow travel with lake views, textile villages, and dramatic Pacific-facing ridges.
IconicGuilin Karst CircuitThe mountains of Guilin were so improbable they became the default landscape of Chinese ink painting for a thousand years. This circuit links the Li River, the Dragon's Backbone rice terraces, and the karst hills of Yangshuo into the most visually dramatic drive in southern China.
IconicGuoliang Tunnel RoadA dramatic mountain drive in Henan, Guoliang Tunnel Road cuts through the sheer cliffs of the Taihang Mountains to reach the stone village of Guoliang. The route pairs tight tunnel sections with sweeping canyon views, ending in a remote hamlet famous for its hand-carved roadway and rugged scenery.
IconicGuwahati to TawangIndia's northeast is a wild frontier of remote tribal states on the Chinese and Burmese borders, the testing drive from Guwahati in Assam to the Tawang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh rises from the Brahmaputra floodplain through Himalayan foothills to the 4,170 m Se La pass, then drops into the Tawang Valley's serene Buddhist culture. A Protected Area Permit is required; road crews dynamite fallen rocks as you drive.
IconicHexi CorridorThe narrow land corridor that connected China to Central Asia for 2,000 years of Silk Road trade, from Lanzhou through the Zhangye rainbow mountains and the desert fortress of Jiayuguan to the sacred cave libraries of Dunhuang, where the road meets the Gobi.
IconicHighlights of SloveniaEurope's best-kept secret, Slovenia's tiny, perfectly scaled landscape contains Lake Bled's fairy-tale island church, the Julian Alps' dramatic Triglav National Park, the emerald Soča River valley (the Isonzo of World War I, Hemingway's Farewell to Arms), the UNESCO Škocjan Caves (the largest accessible underground canyon in the world), and the Venetian port of Piran on the Adriatic. An impossible concentration of perfection.
IconicHistoric Columbia River HighwayThis classic Oregon drive follows the restored Historic Columbia River Highway through the Columbia River Gorge, linking waterfalls, stone bridges, and bluff-top viewpoints. Starting near Troutdale and finishing in the Hood River area, it blends early 20th-century engineering with constant river-and-cliff scenery, best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.
IconicHo Chi Minh RoadThe legendary wartime trail reborn as a mountain highway, from Hanoi south through the Annamite highlands, past ethnic minority villages, crumbling imperial citadels, and coastal passes to Ho Chi Minh City.
IconicHobart to Cradle MountainFrom Hobart's Georgian sandstone waterfront through the Central Highlands to the jagged dolerite spires of Cradle Mountain, Tasmanian devil encounters, Lake St Clair, and the most untouched wilderness in Australia.
IconicInner Mongolia GrasslandsFrom Hohhot's Mongolian temples across the rolling Xilamuren grasslands, past the singing sand dunes above the Yellow River, and to the Russian-flavoured border town of Manzhouli, one of the great emptiness drives of Asia where the sky is wider than the land.
IconicIran Classic RouteA classic cross-country drive from Tehran to Shiraz via the heart of Iran’s historic plateau, linking imperial capitals, desert towns, and some of the country’s finest Islamic architecture. Expect long but rewarding highway stretches, mountain scenery, and city stops rich in museums, bazaars, and courtyards.
IconicIraqi Kurdistan Mountain RouteThis mountain drive showcases the best of Iraqi Kurdistan, linking Erbil’s plains to the limestone canyons, waterfalls, and high valleys around Shaqlawa, Rawanduz, Barzan, and Amadiya. Expect dramatic cliff roads, Kurdish villages, and wide views across the Zagros foothills.
IconicIzu Peninsula LoopA volcanic peninsula south of Tokyo where the Pacific crashes against black-sand beaches, hot springs rise from the ground mid-forest, and the road clings to sea cliffs past fishing villages that time left behind. One of Japan's great onsen drives.
IconicJalapão CircuitThe Jalapão Circuit is a classic cerrado road trip through eastern Tocantins, linking Palmas with sand tracks, orange dunes, blue springs, and river beaches around Mateiros, São Félix do Tocantins, and Ponte Alta do Tocantins. It is remote, scenic, and best tackled at a slow pace.
IconicJava Volcano RouteA classic eastbound Java loop from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi threads together the island’s most dramatic volcano country. Trace the cultural heartland of Java, then climb toward Mount Bromo, Ijen, and the misty highlands of East Java, with crater vistas, rice terraces, and volcanic villages all along the way.
IconicJeju Island CircuitSouth Korea's largest island, a UNESCO triple crown of volcanic crags, lava tube caves, and tuff-cone coastlines, compared favourably with both Bali and Hawaii. The best way to experience Jeju is the coastal ring road, hugging the island clockwise through Jungmun Resort, the Seongsan Ilchulbong sunrise peak, and the famous Haenyeo (sea women) who free-dive for shellfish without oxygen tanks.
IconicJerusalem Dead Sea Negev Galilee CircuitThis loop threads through Jerusalem’s stone streets, the stark cliffs above the Dead Sea, the red desert expanses of the Negev, and the green highlands of the Galilee. It blends major holy sites, desert panoramas, and lake country into one classic Middle East road trip.
IconicJimmy Buffett's Florida KeysThe Florida Keys Scenic Highway, a prestigious All-American Road, is Jimmy Buffett's country. Hemingway lived here, Tennessee Williams wrote here, and Thomas McGuane caroused here. The drive hops one bridge at a time through a magnificent seascape to Key West's Margaritaville.
IconicJohn Muir's Sierra NevadaWhat the canyonlands were to Edward Abbey, the Sierras were to John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club drove 260 miles of road through three national parks from north to south. Big trees, big cliffs, big waterfalls, and the dramatic descent into Kings Canyon on the alpine Scenic Byway.
IconicKancamagus HighwayNew Hampshire's "Kanc", NH-112 through the White Mountain National Forest, is the quintessential New England foliage drive. No traffic lights, no commercial strip, no stops for 56km of blazing maple canopy, covered bridges, and cold mountain streams.
IconicKarelian White NightsThe Finnish-Russian lakeland where 60,000 lakes, ancient pine forests, and wooden Orthodox chapels create Europe's most pristine wilderness drive, from St. Petersburg along the shore of Lake Ladoga to Sortavala's granite skerries and the island monastery of Valaam.
IconicKerala Coast and Western GhatsThis Kerala road trip links the Arabian Sea with the tea-covered Western Ghats, starting in Kochi and winding south through Alleppey, Varkala, and Kollam before climbing to Munnar and descending to Thekkady. Expect backwater views, spice-scented hills, and lush plantations.
IconicKola Peninsula LoopThis Arctic loop starts and ends in Murmansk, tracing the Kola Peninsula through tundra, fjords, fishing villages, and Soviet-era outposts. The drive reaches the Barents Sea coast, the Teriberka area, and inland lake country, with midnight sun in summer and stark, windblown scenery throughout.
IconicKonkan CoastDrive India’s Konkan Coast from Mumbai to Goa, tracing the Arabian Sea past fishing harbors, palm-fringed beaches, and laterite cliffs. The route mixes lively highway stretches with relaxed village roads, plus standout stops for seafood, forts, backwaters, and sunset views over the water.
IconicKyushu Volcano RouteTrace Kyushu’s most dramatic volcanic landscapes from Fukuoka to Kagoshima, linking steaming craters, lava plains, and hot-spring towns. Highlights include Mount Aso’s vast caldera, the scenic Yufuin basin, and the ferry crossing toward Sakurajima, where active volcanic scenery rises directly above Kagoshima Bay.
IconicLa Rioja Wine RegionThe greatest wine region in Spain, La Rioja loops through medieval walled villages above the Ebro River, where Tempranillo ages in oak-scented cave bodegas beneath Haro's streets, Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid have designed wineries for marquee estates, and every bar runs a pintxo culture as serious as San Sebastián.
IconicLake District PassesA classic loop through England’s Lake District, linking narrow mountain passes, mirror-still lakes, and stone-built villages. From Keswick to Ambleside via Honister, Kirkstone, and Hardknott Passes, the drive packs dramatic climbs, sharp bends, and some of the most iconic fell and valley views in the UK.
IconicLake Khövsgöl Northern MongoliaThis northern Mongolia drive traces the approach to Lake Khövsgöl from Mörön into forested taiga, open steppe, and high-clearance dirt roads. The reward is one of Asia’s purest alpine lakes, with blue water, mountains, and nomadic camps around Khatgal and the western shore.
IconicLake Malawi Lakeshore DriveThis classic lakeside road trip follows Malawi’s eastern shore from Mangochi through Monkey Bay, Cape Maclear, Senga Bay, Nkhotakota, Nkhata Bay, and Rumphi to Karonga. Expect a changing ribbon of blue water, fishing villages, palm-lined beaches, limestone headlands, and easy detours to island viewpoints and national park turnoffs.
IconicLombok and Sumbawa Overland RouteThis island-hopping road trip starts in Mataram on Lombok, crosses by ferry to Sumbawa, and continues east to Bima for a sweep through volcano-backed coasts, fishing towns, and quiet bays. Expect a mix of smooth highways, scenic mountain bends, and long, lightly trafficked stretches.
IconicLuzon Cordillera LoopThis highland loop links Luzon’s most dramatic mountain scenery, climbing from the rice terraces of Banaue into the cool Cordillera heartland before circling through Sagada, Baguio, and the northern foothills. It blends viewpoints, village culture, and long, scenic switchbacks.
IconicLycian CoastA focused Turkish Riviera drive from Antalya to Fethiye, following the old Lycian shore through Roman harbors, cliff tombs, pine-backed coves, and turquoise water. It turns the broad Turkey loop into a slower coastal route built for travelers who want ruins, beaches, and dramatic Mediterranean roads in one compact trip.
IconicMadagascar Baobab RouteThrough Madagascar's central highlands and western lowlands to the Avenue of the Baobabs, 800-year-old bottle-shaped giants lining a red laterite track near Morondava. Past highland rice terraces, zebu cart markets, sacred forests, and the canal du Pangalanes to one of the most otherworldly landscapes on earth.
IconicMangystau and Ustyurt PlateauThis out-and-back loop from Aktau into Mangystau and across the Ustyurt Plateau showcases Kazakhstan’s most otherworldly desert scenery. Expect chalk cliffs, wind-carved canyons, and vast empty steppe, with highlights including Bozzhyra’s white escarpments, the isolated Tuzbair salt flats, and remote road stops beneath endless skies.
IconicMassawa to Asmara EscarpmentThis classic Eritrean ascent leaves the Red Sea heat of Massawa and climbs more than 2,000 meters to the cool plateau of Asmara. The road threads dramatic escarpments, switchbacks, and rock-cut viewpoints, turning a short drive into one of East Africa’s most striking elevation changes.
IconicMérida Andes and Sierra NevadaA classic Andean loop from Mérida climbs through cloud forest and high páramo to the Sierra Nevada’s dramatic viewpoints, small mountain villages, and the access roads toward Pico Bolívar and Los Nevados. Expect switchbacks, cool weather, big altitude changes, and constant views over deep green valleys.
IconicMinoan CreteCrete's island circuit, the Minoan palace at Knossos (3,500 years old, Europe's first advanced civilization), the 16-km Samaria Gorge (Europe's longest), the Venetian harbour and old town of Chania, the pink-sand beach of Elafonisi, and the Lasithi Plateau's windmills. An island of three mountain ranges, Europe's oldest civilization, and 300 sunny days a year.
IconicMount Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone LoopA classic Tokyo-to-Tokyo loop through the Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone, combining lakefront viewpoints, volcanic landscapes, hot springs, and framed views of Mount Fuji. The drive is straightforward on paved roads, with the best visibility usually in the cooler, clearer months of spring and autumn.
IconicMumbai to Goa Coastal RoadThis west-coast drive links Mumbai with Goa through the Konkan belt, pairing sea views, coconut groves, fishing villages, and quiet temple towns. The most rewarding version follows NH66 and coastal detours through Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, with long, atmospheric stretches between market towns and beaches.
IconicNamaqualand Flower RouteFor two weeks each August, the Namaqualand desert transforms into the greatest wildflower spectacle on Earth, millions of orange, yellow, and white daisies covering the Bokkeveld and Knersvlakte as far as the eye can see.
IconicNapa Valley Wine RoadCalifornia's Silverado Trail and Highway 29 thread through the most celebrated wine valley in the Americas, grand château wineries, Michelin-starred restaurants, mustard flowers in spring, and golden harvest light in fall.
IconicNelson & Marlborough ExplorerThe top of the South Island from Nelson's arts scene and Abel Tasman coast to Marlborough's Wairau River vineyards, World of Wearable Art, the Moutere Valley's pinot noir, the turquoise waters of Abel Tasman National Park, and Blenheim's sauvignon blanc (and Framingham's riesling, which you must also taste).
IconicNepal Mustang and Jomsom RoadA rugged Himalayan drive from Pokhara to Jomsom and up the Kali Gandaki Valley toward Kagbeni and Lo Manthang, this route threads wind-scoured cliffs, deep river gorges, and Tibetan-influenced villages. Expect dramatic mountain scenery, dry high-altitude roads, and some of Nepal’s most remote, unforgettable landscapes.
IconicNorth Caucasus Mountain RoadAlong the northern face of Europe's highest mountain range, from the Cossack mineral spa towns of Stavropol through the medieval tower villages of Ingushetia, Dagestan's Atlantic-deep Sulak Canyon, and the ancient Persian citadel of Derbent where the mountains meet the Caspian Sea.
IconicNorthern Madagascar and Tsingy de BemarahaThis loop links Madagascar’s north coast with the limestone spires of Tsingy de Bemaraha via Diego Suarez, Nosy Be access roads, and the ferry-and-track approach to the park. Expect beaches, baobabs, ferries, unsealed stretches, and long transfer days balanced by some of the island’s most dramatic scenery.
IconicNorthern Thailand Golden Triangle LoopThis classic loop starts in Chiang Mai and winds through Pai, Mae Hong Son, and the forested hills of northern Thailand before reaching the Golden Triangle near Chiang Saen and Chiang Rai. Expect misty mountain passes, teak countryside, river valleys, hill-tribe markets, and temple stops with strong cultural character.
IconicNorthland Pacific Coast HighwayFrom Auckland up the Coromandel Peninsula to the Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean and a Maori legend says the spirits of the dead depart for Hawaiki.
IconicNoto PeninsulaJapan's most remote peninsula juts into the Sea of Japan, its outer Okunoto coast is all cliff-face fishing villages, pounding surf, lacquerwork ateliers, and ancient salt fields that have been harvested by the same families for 1,400 years.
IconicNullarbor Plain and Eyre HighwayCross Australia’s great southern expanse on the Eyre Highway, linking Ceduna to Norseman across the treeless Nullarbor Plain. Expect vast straightaways, salt-lake country, roadhouses, and dramatic coastal detours to the Bunda Cliffs and Head of Bight, where the continent seems to drop into the Southern Ocean.
IconicOahu's Windward CoastThe Ko'olau pali throws a wall of fluted green peaks above Oahu's windward shore. H3 and the Kamehameha Highway trace the coast through taro fields, ancient heiau, sacred valleys, and turquoise bays where Hawaiians surfed a thousand years before tourists arrived.
IconicOld Telegraph TrackThe mettle-testing trip from Cairns to the northernmost point of Australia, the Old Telegraph Track is only passable in the dry season, requires a 4WD, and demands fording saltwater-crocodile-infested rivers. The Bloomfield Track through Daintree rainforest provides basic training before the empty country begins at Cooktown, where the crude one-koala hamlets end and the real wilderness starts.
IconicOrkhon Valley Heartland LoopThis classic central Mongolia loop links the open steppe around Kharkhorin with the Orkhon Valley’s basalt canyons, waterfalls, and nomadic camps. It’s a rewarding drive for wide horizons and cultural stops, with rough roads that become most manageable in the short summer season.
IconicPapua New Guinea Highlands HighwayPapua New Guinea’s Highlands Highway threads through steep valleys and highland towns from Lae to Mount Hagen and on toward the lower highlands, linking coffee country, market centers, and dramatic mountain scenery. Expect a rugged, slow journey with vivid village life, misty ridges, and frequent weather-related delays.
IconicPeninsula Valdes and Atlantic PatagoniaThis Atlantic Patagonia drive links Puerto Madryn with Península Valdés, Punta Tombo, and the long empty coast toward Rawson and Comodoro Rivadavia. Expect whale cliffs, sea lion colonies, penguin rookeries, and big-sky steppe scenery on paved roads with long, rewarding detours.
IconicPicos de EuropaThe Picos de Europa are where the Atlantic meets the Alps, limestone massifs rising 2,600m from a green Asturian coast. The Cares Gorge, Covadonga, and mountain passes through silent medieval villages make this Spain's finest mountain drive.
IconicPortland to Bar HarborMaine's rocky Downeaster coast from the peninsula city of Portland north to Bar Harbor, through Bath's shipyards, Rockland's lobster wharves, Camden's perfect harbour, and the spruce-forested headlands of Acadia National Park. The US Northeast's finest short coastal drive.
IconicPuerto Princesa to El Nido via the Underground RiverThis Palawan road trip links Puerto Princesa with the limestone coast of El Nido, detouring to the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. The drive is scenic and practical, with coastal villages, jungle hills, and frequent photo stops before ending among El Nido’s bays, karst cliffs, and island-hopping departure points.
IconicQinghai Lake CircuitChina's largest lake sits at 3,200 m on the Tibetan Plateau, a turquoise inland sea rimmed by snow peaks, yellow rapeseed fields, and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The complete circuit is one of the most purely beautiful drives in East Asia.
IconicQuilotoa LoopThe Quilotoa Loop is a high-Andean circuit west of Quito that links market towns, canyon viewpoints, and the brilliant crater lake of Laguna Quilotoa. Expect winding paved and gravel roads, big altitude swings, and stop-start driving through Indigenous communities, farmland, and dramatic volcanic scenery.
IconicReunion Island LoopCircle Réunion on its coastal roads for a compact but dramatic island drive, linking volcanic cliffs, black-sand beaches, sugarcane fields, and Creole seaside towns. The loop pairs the palm-lined east coast with the wilder south and the dramatic western lava coast, with mountain access spurs inland.
IconicRila and Rhodope MountainsThis loop links Sofia with Bulgaria’s grand mountain country, climbing to the Rila Monastery, circling the Seven Rila Lakes area, and continuing south into the quieter Rhodopes. Expect forested passes, alpine viewpoints, traditional villages, and excellent roadside taverns before returning via Plovdiv and the foothills west of the capital.
IconicRwanda Congo Nile TrailThe Congo Nile Trail follows Rwanda’s lush western shore of Lake Kivu from Rubavu to Rusizi, winding through tea hills, lakeside villages, and ridge-top viewpoints. It is one of East Africa’s most scenic overland drives, with frequent stops for hiking, kayaking, and local guesthouses.
IconicSacred Valley and Cusco RegionThis highland loop links Cusco with the Sacred Valley’s most iconic Inca sites, weaving through terraced slopes, river gorges, and market towns beneath snowcapped Andes peaks. It combines easy day drives with rewarding stops at Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Maras for a vivid cultural road trip.
IconicSantiago to San Pedro de AtacamaFrom the Pacific Coast to the world's highest and driest desert, north from Santiago via Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, La Serena, and Copiapó to the Atacama. Parts haven't felt rain in 400 years (possibly ever), yet snowflakes occasionally fall. The Salar de Atacama, Valle de la Luna, and El Tatio geyser field are the rewards.
IconicSanto Antão Island CrossingThis island crossing follows Santo Antão’s dramatic north-to-south mountain roads from the ferry port at Porto Novo up through the cratered highlands to the lush valley country around Ribeira Grande. Expect plunging views, terraced slopes, and some of Cape Verde’s most memorable switchbacks.
IconicSarajevo to Mostar and SutjeskaThis Bosnian road trip links Sarajevo’s Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian streets with the turquoise Neretva canyon, the stone beauty of Mostar, and the wild alpine landscapes of Sutjeska National Park. It balances history, mountain driving, and river scenery, with enough flexibility for short hikes and viewpoint stops.
IconicSardinia Island LoopThe most rugged and authentic Mediterranean island, Cagliari's Phoenician quarter, the Barbagia highlands where banditry and ancient dialects survive, the nuraghe tower civilization's 7,000 bronze-age fortresses, Costa Smeralda's turquoise water, and Alghero's Catalan-speaking old town. Sardinia rewards the driver who leaves the coast for the interior.
IconicSavannah WayThe Savannah Way links tropical northern Australia from Cairns to Broome through some of the country’s most remote country. Expect long sealed stretches mixed with isolated highways, red-dirt detours, stock country, gulf wetlands, gorge country, and classic outback towns along one of Australia’s great cross-continent drives.
IconicScandi ExplorerThe great Scandinavian road trip through three kingdoms, from Copenhagen's design-forward capital across the Øresund Bridge into Sweden, north through Gothenburg's West Coast seafood, ferry to Oslo's fjord-city glamour, west to Bergen's painted Bryggen wharf and the UNESCO Nærøyfjord, and the dramatic Flåm Railway descent into the world's most spectacular fjord landscape. Northern Europe at its most spectacular.
IconicSerra da Leba and Tundavala EscarpmentThis southern Angola road trip links the dramatic switchbacks of Serra da Leba with the high rim views of the Tundavala Escarpment. Starting in Lubango and looping through highland villages and eucalyptus-clad slopes, it delivers some of the country’s most iconic mountain scenery and dramatic roadside viewpoints.
IconicSierra Nevada de Santa Marta and TayronaThis Caribbean-road trip links Santa Marta’s laid-back waterfront with the jungle-cloaked foothills of the Sierra Nevada and the palm-fringed coast of Tayrona National Natural Park. Drive through banana country, stop at Minca’s cool mountain cafés, then finish with turquoise bays, white sand, and dramatic granite headlands.
IconicSkyline DriveSkyline Drive is the classic ridge-top route through Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, tracing 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mountains. The road links mountain overlooks, short hikes, and forested valleys between Front Royal and Rockfish Gap, with especially vivid color in spring bloom and autumn foliage.
IconicSouth West ExplorerThe classic English road trip, from London through the Wiltshire plain to Stonehenge's mystery, Bath's Georgian perfection, Glastonbury's myths, Exmoor's wild ponies, Dartmoor's granite tors, and finally Cornwall's surfer beaches and the granite edge of Land's End. The full cross-section of England's most beautiful and historically dense corner, from the capital to the Atlantic.
IconicSouth-East Arabia, OmanMuscat's eastern loop through the dramatic landscapes of south-east Oman, the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands, the dhow-building port of Sur, the world's most important nesting beach for green turtles at Ras al Jinz, and the luminous blue pools of Wadi Bani Khalid hidden in the Hajar Mountains. Oman's quietest and most rewarding road trip.
IconicSouthern Scenic RouteThe long U-shaped journey around New Zealand's deep south, from Dunedin's Scottish history through the Catlins' wild surf beaches, coastal cliffs, and waterfalls, past Invercargill to the remote Fiordland and the sea-kayaking wilderness of Doubtful Sound. The South Island's least-driven great road.
IconicStephen King's MaineStephen King has two homes in Maine, and many of his gritty stories are set here. US Route 1 runs "downeast" past the LL Bean flagship, the Bath Iron Works, the 1827 Pemaquid lighthouse, and the spectacular Penobscot Narrows Bridge, with Acadia's pink granite coast as the centrepiece.
IconicStewart-Cassiar HighwayCut from dense forest in the 1970s through the wildest and most isolated territory in British Columbia, following trails used by gold prospectors, loggers, and miners. Grizzly bears, ghost towns, ancient totem poles, lava fields, and the staggering Salmon Glacier await.
IconicStuart HighwayAustralia’s legendary north-south spine, the Stuart Highway runs from Adelaide’s fringe to Darwin through red desert, relentless highway horizons, and iconic outback stops. It links Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, and Katherine, delivering a practical road trip through the country’s most expansive inland landscapes.
IconicSulawesi Highlands Tana Toraja to BunakenThis cross-island Sulawesi drive links the cultural heart of Tana Toraja with the coral-rich waters of Bunaken via mountain roads, lakes, and busy provincial highways. Expect dramatic limestone valleys, traditional Torajan villages, and a finish near Manado’s coastal gateways to some of Indonesia’s best diving.
IconicSumatra Trans-Highway Bukittinggi to Lake TobaA classic cross-Sumatran drive linking the Minangkabau highlands to the volcanic lakeside of North Sumatra. The route rolls past tea estates, forested ridges, market towns, and inland valleys before finishing at Lake Toba’s dramatic caldera rim, with mountain scenery and culturally rich stops throughout.
IconicTamanrasset to Assekrem in the HoggarThis short Saharan climb leaves Tamanrasset and heads into the volcanic granite peaks of the Hoggar, ending at the Assekrem plateau. The drive is all about stark desert scenery, remote hamadas, and a dramatic high-altitude lookout famous for vast sunrise and sunset views over the central Sahara.
IconicTanzania Northern Safari CircuitThis classic northern Tanzania circuit links the country’s best-known wildlife country on a practical overland loop from Arusha through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro highlands, and the Serengeti, then back via Mto wa Mbu or Karatu. Expect dramatic crater rim views, big herds, and long game-drive days.
IconicTasmania East CoastThe Tasman Highway from Hobart up Tasmania's beach-lined east coast, through dry hills, Freycinet Peninsula's geometrically perfect Wineglass Bay, the Bay of Fires' white sands and orange lichen-stained rocks, and the Pyengana Dairy Company to Launceston. The gentle counterpoint to the wild west coast.
IconicTasmania West CoastThe wild side of Australia's island state, from Hobart west through Queenstown's moonscape to Strahan, the fishing town once described as "the best little town in the world", then north past the Henty Dunes, Cradle Mountain, and Mt Roland to Launceston. Tasmania's west coast keeps giving long after you think it's done.
IconicThe Atlantic HighwayEngland's wildest coast, the A39 Atlantic Highway from Barnstaple through the cliffs of Cornwall to the A30's end at Fraddon. King Arthur's Tintagel above the churning Celtic Sea, the fishing village of Boscastle, Newquay's surf beaches, St Ives' Tate gallery above the harbour, and Land's End's granite edge where England runs out. The Atlantic shore of Britain at its most dramatic and most mythological.
IconicThe Basque CircuitThe circuit of one of Europe's most distinct cultures, Bilbao's Frank Gehry Guggenheim, San Sebastián's pintxos bars (more Michelin stars per capita than any city except Kyoto), the fishing ports of Getaria and Bermeo, prehistoric cave art at Santimamiñe, and the dramatic Costa Vasca. The best food per capita in Europe, concentrated into 480 km.
IconicThe Graceful Italian LakesFormed at the end of the ice age and a holiday destination since Roman times. Lake Maggiore's Borromean Island palaces, the cross-lake ferry to Laveno, then Lake Como, the siren call of Hollywood stars, traced from the silk capital of Como to Bellagio's perfect promontory and beyond to Bergamo.
IconicThe Great Siberian RoadThe road that nobody drives but everybody dreams about, the eastern segment of Russia's Federal Highway from Chita to the Pacific at Vladivostok traverses the Amur taiga, the Chinese border, and Russia's extraordinary Far East, ending at the city where Russia finally meets the sea.
IconicThe Gunbarrel HighwayThe original Gunbarrel, built in the 1950s by Len Beadell with a handful of road builders and a bulldozer so rockets could be launched from Woomera and British atomic bombs tested at Maralinga. Made deliberately straight "to keep Australia looking tidy and neat." From Wiluna through Carnegie Homestead and the Giles Meteorological Station to Uluru.
IconicThe Long Way Round, IrelandIreland's jagged, spectacular edges, this two-week circuit explores the island's coastline from Dublin through Belfast and the Causeway Coast, west to the dramatic cliffs and mountains of Connacht, south through the Aran Islands and Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, Kerry's Ring, and Cork to the final destination of Ardmore, one of the southeast coast's loveliest seaside villages.
IconicThe Simpson DesertAustralia's most remote drive, from Birdsville across 1,100 sand dunes via Big Red to Dalhousie Springs. In 1963 the Page family ran out of fuel and died of thirst before help came. These days a lot more vehicles travel the outback, but not many. 4WD, satellite phone, and extra fuel are essential.
IconicThe Two PassesA four-day loop from Christchurch through the Southern Alps via Lewis Pass and Arthur's Pass, two of New Zealand's great mountain crossings through forests, lakes, rivers, and the West Coast Wilderness Trail. Hanmer Springs thermal pools at the overnight waypoint; Kumara's gold-rush history on the return via State Highway 73.
IconicThermal Hot SpotsThrough the North Island's geothermal heart, spectacular geysers, steaming hot pools, Māori culture, and Tolkien's Middle-earth at Hobbiton. From Hamilton through Matamata's Shire to Rotorua's boiling mud and Hell's Gate, and south to Lake Taupo, a caldera formed after one of history's greatest ever volcanic eruptions.
IconicTierra del Fuego and Ushuaia LoopThis southernmost Argentina loop traces the paved and gravel roads around Ushuaia, the Beagle Channel, and Tierra del Fuego National Park, with alpine bays, peat bogs, lenga forests, and big-open steppe. It’s a compact road trip with classic end-of-the-world scenery and frequent wildlife stops.
IconicTop of the World HighwayClimb out of Dawson City onto a high alpine ridge where gravel pavement traces the Yukon–Alaska divide for miles above treeline. The drive delivers vast 360-degree views, gold-rush history, and a dramatic descent to the remote border crossing at Poker Creek and then into Chicken, Alaska.
IconicTrans-Andean HighwayThis classic Andean crossing links Santiago with Mendoza through one of South America’s most dramatic mountain corridors. Expect sweeping switchbacks, high desert valleys, vineyard foothills, and the iconic Cristo Redentor pass area, with changing conditions from coastal Chile to the dry Argentine side.
IconicTrans-Canada HighwayCanada’s classic coast-to-coast drive follows the Trans-Canada Highway from St. John’s, Newfoundland, across rugged Atlantic coastlines, Quebec’s river valleys, the vast Canadian Shield, the prairie heartland, and the dramatic mountains of British Columbia before ending at Victoria. It’s a true national road trip with huge scenery shifts and long, open stretches.
IconicTroodos Mountains and Akamas PeninsulaThis Cyprus road trip links the pine-clad ridges of the Troodos Mountains with the wild limestone coast of the Akamas Peninsula. Start in Limassol, climb through wine villages and Byzantine monasteries to Omodos and Troodos, then descend west to Paphos and finish with sunset cliffs, bays, and hiking stops near Latchi and Cape Arnaoutis.
IconicTunnel du Mont-BlancFrance with extras, hop two borders and drive through a mountain on this riveting route between Switzerland and Italy. From Geneva across the French border to Chamonix (with a cable car ride to the Aiguille du Midi at 3,842 m), then through the 11.6 km Tunnel du Mont-Blanc directly beneath Europe's highest peak to Courmayeur and the Roman aqueduct town of Aosta.
IconicTurkish Black Sea HighlandsA lush northern Turkey route from Samsun to the tea slopes of Rize and the valleys beyond Trabzon. It trades the familiar Mediterranean coast for misty mountains, wooden highland villages, monasteries on cliffs, and winding roads above the Black Sea.
IconicTyrol & VorarlbergFrom opera-festival Bregenz on Lake Constance east through the Alpine valleys of Vorarlberg and Tyrol to Salzburg, past 50 schnapps distilleries in Stanz, the cheese-making secrets of the Bergkäserei Schoppernau, the monumental abbey at Stift Stams, and the treasures of Innsbruck. Austria's great mountain transect.
IconicUltimate Turkish DelightThe great Anatolian loop from Istanbul, Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and hot air balloons at dawn, Ephesus's Roman ruins (the best-preserved in the world outside of Rome), the Aegean coast's gulet harbours, Pamukkale's calcium-white terraces above ancient Hierapolis, and the return via Ankara's Atatürk mausoleum. A drive through five millennia of history.
IconicVal d'OrciaThe World Heritage-listed landscapes of Val d'Orcia have featured in Gladiator, The English Patient, and countless Renaissance paintings. Patchwork hills of cypress and wheat, walled medieval cities, Brunello di Montalcino paired with chestnuts and truffles, and the fortress of Radicofani at the end.
IconicVancouver IslandThe island that out-British-Columbias BC, Victoria's Empress Hotel and Butchart Gardens, the Pacific Rim National Park's Long Beach surfing, Tofino's temperate rainforest and whale-watching, Campbell River's wild salmon, and Telegraph Cove's orca colony in Johnstone Strait. The most accessible wild coastline in Canada.
IconicViking TrailTracing one of the most remote corners of Canada, the Viking Trail links 5000-year-old burial grounds, UNESCO fjords, and icebergs drifting past monumental sea stacks, ending at L'Anse aux Meadows, a Norse settlement established five centuries before Columbus.
IconicVildmarksvägen Wilderness RoadSweden’s Vildmarksvägen is a classic northern loop through Lapland, linking forests, lakes, and high-country fells between Strömsund, Gäddede, and Vilhelmina. The drive mixes salmon rivers, Sami landscapes, and wide-open mountain views, with easy access to hikes, waterfalls, and summer wildlife.
IconicWestfjords Ring RoadThis loop through Iceland’s remote Westfjords follows cliff-hugging roads past deep fjords, fishing villages, bird cliffs, and hot springs, with constant sea views and minimal traffic. Highlights include Ísafjörður, Dynjandi waterfall, Látrabjarg puffin cliffs, and the golden sand at Rauðisandur.
IconicWhite Mountains KancamagusNew Hampshire's Kancamagus Highway cuts through the White Mountain National Forest without a single traffic light. In fall, the hardwoods burn crimson and gold, one of the great foliage drives in the world.
IconicWhite Rim RoadThe otherworldly terrain of Canyonlands National Park is intimidating enough from the hard-top, once you leave the tarmac for the White Rim Road, it feels like driving on Mars. A 4WD-only loop around the Island in the Sky mesa, sneaking along sheer cliff walls above two deep river canyons. Built by Cold War uranium miners; no potable water anywhere on the route.
IconicWonders of Ancient SicilyThe most complete collection of Greek temples outside Greece, a UNESCO Roman villa of unrivalled mosaic floors, Baroque cities rebuilt after a 1693 earthquake, a Greek theatre overlooking an active volcano, and Mount Etna, all on the island that was the most fought-over piece of land in the ancient Mediterranean.
IconicXinjiang Silk RoadThrough the heart of ancient Central Asia, from Ürümqi across the Turpan Depression (the world's second-lowest point) and along the Silk Road to Kashgar's jade-domed bazaar, where traders from China, Persia, and Rome once converged for two thousand years.
IconicYorkshire Moors and DalesEngland's great northern landscape circuit, the North York Moors' purple heather, the Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey where Bram Stoker set Dracula, the Dales' dry-stone-walled valleys, the market town of Hawes (Wensleydale cheese capital), and Swaledale's remote fell farms. The setting of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small.
IconicYukon Golden CircleA compact Yukon circuit crossing into Alaska via the White Pass, Whitehorse through Carcross (and the world's smallest desert), over the White Pass summit to gold-rush Skagway, back via Haines with a ferry crossing of the Lynn Canal. A loop of glacier-fed rivers, Klondike history, and the most dramatic mountain scenery in the northern Rockies.
IconicZagorohoria, GreeceInto the slate-and-stone villages of the Zagori in the Pindos Mountains of Epirus, one of Greece's most untouched regions where roads are steep and narrow, stone bridges arch over rushing rivers, and village squares are shaded by centuries-old plane trees. The antidote to the Greek islands.
IconicZhangye Danxia to DunhuangThis Gansu road trip links Zhangye’s rainbow-striped Danxia landforms with the oasis city of Dunhuang along the historic Hexi Corridor. Expect wide desert plains, distant Qilian Mountain views, Silk Road relics, and long, open highway sections between oasis stops and service towns.
IconicIstria and Plitvice LakesThis Croatia road trip links Istria’s hill towns and Adriatic coastline with the turquoise pools and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes. Start in Pula, loop through Rovinj, Motovun, and Poreč, then head inland via Opatija and Karlovac to Plitvice for a classic mix of sea views, stone villages, and forested canyon scenery.
IconicKrabi and Phang Nga Andaman CoastA relaxed Andaman Coast loop from Krabi Town through limestone karst country, turquoise bays, mangrove inlets, and beach viewpoints. Follow the shoreline to Ao Nang, Railay access points, Than Bok Khorani, and Phang Nga Bay viewpoints for island-studded scenery, with easy paved roads and short scenic detours throughout.
IconicMendoza Wine Region and Uco ValleyA relaxed wine-country loop from Mendoza city through Maipú, Luján de Cuyo, and the wide-open Uco Valley. Drive between olive groves, vineyard estates, and snow-backed Andes views, stopping for Malbec tastings, winery lunches, and sunset light over Tunuyán and Tupungato.
IconicPeloponnese Coastal LoopThis loop traces the Peloponnese’s best coastal roads, from the Corinth Canal and Nafplio down through the Mani and around Cape Maleas before returning via Monemvasia and the Argolic Gulf. Expect cliffside views, fishing harbors, beaches, and easy access to classic Greek ruins and seaside towns.
IconicQuebrada de HumahuacaThis classic northwestern Argentina drive follows Ruta 9 through the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a narrow Andean valley of multicolored cliffs, adobe villages, and high-desert light. Start in San Salvador de Jujuy and end in Humahuaca, stopping at Purmamarca, Tilcara, and dramatic viewpoints along the UNESCO-listed corridor.
IconicRuta Panorámica Puerto RicoPuerto Rico’s Ruta Panorámica is a mountain-to-coast drive across the island’s interior, linking forested ridges, coffee towns, and panoramic overlooks. The classic road-trip stretch runs from the western highlands near Mayagüez to the eastern side around Maunabo, with switchbacks, cool cloud-forest air, and views that change with every climb.
IconicSoufrière and the Pitons DriveA compact south-west coast loop from Castries to Soufrière, this drive follows winding shoreline roads past fishing villages, rainforest hills, and black-sand coves, with constant views of the UNESCO-listed Pitons. It is best enjoyed slowly, with stops for viewpoints, waterfalls, and the sulphur springs around town.
IconicTahiti Island Circle RoadThis relaxed loop follows Tahiti’s coastal roads around both Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti, linking black-sand beaches, surf breaks, waterfalls, and volcanic headlands. Expect lush mountain backdrops, lagoon viewpoints, and easy stops in Papeete, Taravao, and Teahupo’o on a classic island-drive day.
IconicAbergwesyn Mountain PassWales's finest mountain road, the Abergwesyn Pass climbs from Tregaron through hairpin bends known as the Devil's Staircase to staggering views over the Cambrian Mountains. Short but intense: forest, valley, lake, and moorland in a route that rewards anyone willing to leave the A-roads behind.
IconicAlgarve Coastal DrivePortugal's golden south, the Algarve runs from the white-cube towns of the eastern barrier islands to the wind-battered sea stacks of Sagres, with the most dramatic sandstone cliff scenery in Western Europe between.
IconicAthens to AntiquityThrough the heart of ancient Greece from Athens to Thessaloniki, the Acropolis, the oracle sanctuary of Delphi above the Gulf of Corinth, Meteora's Byzantine monasteries on vertical rock pillars, the ancient sanctuary of Olympia, and the Mycenaean ruins of the Peloponnese. The most historically dense road trip in Europe.
IconicBaeksu Coastal RoadOne of the most famous short drives in Korea, National Highway 77 explores the lush rural province of Jeollanam-do through dramatically changing landscapes from rolling green hills to precipitous coastal cliffs. Hundreds of off-shore islands are visible from the road, with Dombaeseom Island (fishing) and Chilsando Island (extraordinary hiking) the most rewarding short detours.
IconicBaltic Road TripThe three Baltic capitals and everything between, Tallinn's perfectly preserved Hanseatic old town (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the Art Nouveau boulevards of Riga (more Art Nouveau than any other city on earth), the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania, and Vilnius's extraordinary Baroque old town. A drive from the medieval to the Baroque through three of Europe's most underrated capitals.
IconicCentral Otago Wine TrailThe world's southernmost wine region hugs valley roads between Queenstown and Wanaka, vineyards fighting for space between rugged schist mountains and the Kawarau River gorge. Central Otago Pinot Noir and Riesling rival anything from Burgundy or Alsace.
IconicCity to Desert: Dubai to LiwaFrom the hypermodern towers of Dubai across the Abu Dhabi desert to the Liwa Oasis on the edge of the Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted sand desert on Earth. The Moreeb Dune (300m, one of the world's highest natural dunes), the ancient falaj irrigation system of the oasis, and the vast silence of the Rub' al Khali beyond the date palms are the rewards.
IconicCopper Canyon DriveDeeper than the Grand Canyon in four separate gorges, the Barranca del Cobre is Mexico's greatest natural spectacle, a highland-to-canyon plunge through Rarámuri pine forests, mission ruins, and 1,800 m vertical walls of copper-tinted rock.
IconicCrossing the Khardung LaLadakh has more tricks up its sleeve than the drive in from Srinagar or Manali, a highway seemingly built from rock and ice struggles north across the 5,359 m Khardung La, said to be the world's highest motorable pass (at a similar elevation to Everest Base Camp). On the far side the Nubra Valley is a piece of suspended animation: a sandy basin dotted with Buddhist monasteries, sea buckthorn thickets, and occasional dromedary camels.
IconicCuronian SpitFrom the Hill of Crosses through the Baltic coast to the Curonian Spit, a 98 km slip of dunes and pine forest shared between Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The route ends in Nida, a village of painted fishing cottages and Thomas Mann's summer house above the world's tallest moving sand dunes.
IconicDublin to the Wicklow MountainsFrom Dublin's Georgian streets into the granite mountains of the Wicklow interior, through Sally Gap's bare moorland, the oak forest of Glenealo Valley, mirror lakes, and stone ruins. The Emerald Isle's most accessible wilderness drive, returning via the coast at Bray.
IconicEstrada da GraciosaThe historic colonial road carved through the Serra do Mar Atlantic Forest in 1872, PR-410 descends 900m from the Paraná plateau to the coast through dense rainforest, roadside waterfalls, and the colonial riverside town of Morretes, the home of barreado.
IconicFurka PassSomething of a rite of passage for hardcore Alpine cyclists, Switzerland's Furka Pass is enshrined in motoring legend through its starring role in the Aston Martin/Ford Mustang car chase in James Bond's Goldfinger (1964). An Alpine pass and a half, with hairy switchbacks to an otherworldly 2,431 m plateau, the Rhône Glacier visible from the Hotel Belvédère, and deeply fissured blue ice grotto.
IconicGreat Glen WayThe A82 follows the Great Glen fault line from Fort William to Inverness, a geological crack splitting Scotland in two, now filled by Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, and the most famous stretch of water in the world: Loch Ness.
IconicKathmandu–Pokhara HighwayThe Prithvi Highway connects Nepal's two great cities through the Trisuli River gorge, Himalayan foothills, and the Pokhara Valley, with Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu towering impossibly close above the road.
IconicMálaga to SevilleThrough the history of Andalucia, from Málaga's airport hub west through the pueblos blancos (white villages), Arcos de la Frontera's clifftop drama, the mountaintop city of Ronda, and the Moorish legacy of Córdoba's mosques and Granada's palaces to the Alcázar of Seville. Spain's most culturally dense short drive.
IconicMexico's Colonial HeartlandThe silver cities of the Bajío, a UNESCO-saturated circuit through Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, and Guanajuato where 16th-century grandeur, painted alleyways, and cantina culture reach their Mexican peak.
IconicOaxaca to the PacificFrom 2,500-year-old Zapotec temples on cloud-wrapped peaks to mezcal villages in high pine valleys and world-class surf breaks, Oaxaca's mountain-to-coast road is Mexico's most culinarily and culturally intense drive.
IconicShadow of VesuviusIn the shadow of the volcano that buried two cities in 79 CE, 90 km through Herculaneum's intact Roman houses, Pompeii's extraordinary preserved streets, the crater rim of Vesuvius itself, and Sorrento's clifftop lemon groves with the Amalfi Coast visible across the bay.
IconicSintra to Arrábida LoopA compact loop around the Lisbon peninsula, from the fairy-tale UNESCO palaces of Sintra on the Atlantic clifftops to the westernmost point of continental Europe at Cabo da Roca, then south through Cascais to the impossibly turquoise bays of the Arrábida Natural Park.
IconicThe Black SpurVictoria's finest short drive, the Black Spur between Healesville and Marysville weaves through stands of colossal Mountain Ash eucalypts and giant ferns, with corner after sweeping corner on a twisty section of tarmac that raises pulses whether you're on a motorbike or in a sports car. Best experienced on a weekday away from weekend traffic.
IconicThe Hogback, UtahRoute 12 south from Torrey climbs to a 2,750 m pass through Dixie National Forest pine trees before reaching the narrow spine of The Hogback, a tarred road balanced on a razor ridge with near-vertical drops into canyon on both sides. One of the most dramatic stretches of road in America, ending in the frontier town of Escalante with Cowboy Blues' legendary local trout.
IconicWaimea Canyon DriveThe "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", HI-550 climbs from Kauaʻi's red-dirt lowlands to a 1200m lookout above a canyon 16km long and 900m deep, its walls stripped in ochre, violet, and jungle green by five million years of erosion.
IconicYucatan Peninsula LoopA circular odyssey through the greatest concentration of living Maya culture, cenotes, Caribbean sea cliffs, fortified colonial ports, and jungle pyramids in a single loop from Mérida.
IconicZhangjiajie to FenghuangFrom the quartzite sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains, south through the rice terraces and stilted villages of western Hunan, to Fenghuang, the most beautifully preserved ancient town in China. A great short drive through the interior.