Mountain Passes
High alpine roads, switchback passes, and mountain routes through the Alps, Andes, Himalaya, and beyond. 249 curated drives with mapped stops, distance, duration, and route notes — including Blue Ridge Parkway, Icefields Parkway, Sea to Sky Highway.
These 249 routes range from 30 to 7820 km and from 1 to 18 days, across 98 countries. Top picks: Blue Ridge Parkway, Icefields Parkway, Sea to Sky Highway.
LegendaryBlue Ridge ParkwayThe most beautiful drive in the eastern United States, 755 km of ridge-top parkway through the Appalachians from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains, with no commercial traffic, no billboards, and no stoplights. Named overlooks appear every few kilometres above a landscape of unbroken hardwood forest turning gold and crimson each October.
LegendaryIcefields ParkwayOne of the most spectacular mountain drives on Earth. Highway 93 runs through the Canadian Rockies from Banff to Jasper, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and peaks over 3,000 m at every turn.
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.
LegendaryBeartooth HighwayThis iconic alpine drive climbs from Red Lodge, Montana to the Beartooth Plateau and down toward Cooke City, threading past hairpin switchbacks, glacial lakes, and broad tundra views. It is one of the highest paved roads in North America, with nonstop scenery and crisp mountain air.
LegendaryGoing-to-the-Sun RoadThe only road that crosses the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park threads through the most dramatic mountain scenery in the American Rockies, hanging valleys, waterfalls cascading across the road, and grizzly bears roadside.
LegendaryCabot TrailCape Breton's Cabot Trail is one of the most scenic drives in North America, the road climbs over the Cape Breton Highlands, drops to sea-level fishing villages, and traces cliff edges with 300m drops into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
LegendarySouthern Utah LoopThe greatest concentration of red-rock scenery on Earth. Utah's five national parks, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches, connected by highways of surreal painted desert, hoodoos, and slot canyons.
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.
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.
LegendaryMilford Sound DriveFiordland is New Zealand's wildest corner, a frayed landscape of mountains sliced with fjords. The only road into Milford Sound from Te Anau follows Lake Te Anau's inland fjord shores, traverses the Eglinton Valley, passes the Mirror Lakes, climbs to the Divide through the 1.2 km Homer Tunnel, then descends steeply into mountain-rimmed Milford Sound.
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.
LegendaryUluru & The Red CentreTackle this outback circuit from Uluru, the most soulful place in Australia, through Kata Tjuta's domed rocks, Kings Canyon's yawning chasm, the icy waterholes of the West MacDonnell Ranges, Standley Chasm, and Ormiston Gorge: red earth, red rocks, and ghostly ghost gums.
LegendaryNorth Coast 500Scotland's answer to Route 66, the NC500 loops 500 miles through the most spectacular and least-visited landscapes in Europe: the Torridon mountains' Precambrian sandstone, the white-sand beaches of Durness above the Cape Wrath headland, the flow country's peatland wilderness, the castle-dotted Black Isle, and the Bealach na Bà (the steepest road in Britain) above Applecross's seafood bar. The most dramatic drive in Britain.
LegendaryThe DolomitesThe Grande Strada delle Dolomiti, the Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo through the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Alps. Huge cathedrals of rock, the Val di Fassa, the Sella Ronda massif, the Alta Badia, and vertiginous switchbacks between peaks of 3,168m and 3,218m.
LegendaryGrossglockner High Alpine RoadThere's a reason the Grossglockner Road is often cited as the finest drive in the Alps, a 48 km rollercoaster of sheer glacier-encrusted mountains, waterfalls, forested slopes, jewel-coloured lakes, and 4,000 m peaks on almost every distractingly lovely bend. The crown is Grossglockner itself at 3,798 m, Austria's highest peak, and the rapidly retreating Pasterze Glacier below the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe lookout.
LegendaryTrollstigenThe Troll's Path, eleven hairpins on a 10% gradient rising 850m above the Istra valley, with the 180m Stigfossen waterfall cascading alongside the road. Norway's most dramatic single route descends to Geiranger, the country's most celebrated fjord.
LegendaryTransfăgărășan, RomaniaThe road Jeremy Clarkson called the best in the world, the Transfăgărășan Highway slices through the Southern Carpathians from Wallachia to Transylvania with 90 km of hairpin bends, viaducts, and a tunnel through granite. Poenari Castle (Vlad the Impaler's real fortress, 1,480 steps above the Argeș River) guards the route's start; Bâlea Lake sits at the 2,034m summit.
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.
LegendaryAdriatic Coastal HighwayThe Jadranska Magistrala hugs Croatia's Dalmatian coast, Venetian-walled cities, island ferries, karst mountains plunging to the sea, the marble streets of Dubrovnik, and the most beautiful archipelago in the Mediterranean.
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.
LegendarySwiss Alpine PassesSwitzerland's greatest road trip connects its most legendary Alpine passes, the Grimsel, Furka, Gotthard, and Susten, through glaciers, electric-blue lakes, and mountain villages where the only sounds are cowbells and wind.
LegendaryRoute des Grandes AlpesA true Alpine spectacular, La Route des Grandes Alpes traverses the French Alps from the shores of Lake Geneva to the French Riviera, ascending and descending 16 mountain passes including some of the highest sealed roads in Europe. The route took almost 30 years to construct and passes through three national parks, Vanoise, Queyras, and Mercantour, with views of Mont Blanc from the opening passes.
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.
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.
LegendaryStelvio PassOne of Europe’s classic alpine drives, the Stelvio Pass links Prato allo Stelvio and Bormio through a dramatic ladder of 48 switchbacks. Expect steep gradients, tight bends, soaring views, and a high-mountain atmosphere that feels especially memorable in clear summer weather.
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.
LegendaryRuta 40Argentina's longest highway traces 5,000 km of the jagged Andes from the shores of the South Atlantic at Punta Loyola through Los Glaciares, Bariloche, Mendoza, Salta, and the Bolivian border at La Quiaca, traversing 20 national parks, crossing 18 major rivers, and climbing over 27 mountain passes. One of the most epic drives on the planet.
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.
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.
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.
LegendaryNamib Desert CircuitThe world's oldest desert, 55 million years, and its most photogenic. Sossusvlei's 300m apricot dunes, the bleached bones of Deadvlei, the Skeleton Coast's shipwrecks, and Fish River Canyon's billion-year-old gorge.
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.
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.
LegendarySani PassA boulder-strewn 4WD track climbing 1332 vertical metres in 9km through the Drakensberg escarpment into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. At the top: the highest pub in Africa, a blanket of stars, and a Basotho world entirely apart.
LegendaryPamir HighwayThe M41, the Roof of the World. From Dushanbe through the Wakhan Corridor to Osh, the Pamir Highway crosses four passes above 4,000m, traces the Afghan border along the Panj River, and reaches the highest navigable plateau on Earth.
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.
LegendaryG318 Sichuan-Tibet HighwayChina's most legendary road climbs from Chengdu's basin through 14 mountain passes above 4,000 m, across four mighty rivers, and into the thin air of Lhasa, the world's highest capital. Called "the most beautiful road on Earth" by Chinese drivers.
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.
LegendaryMongolia: Gobi DesertSouth from Ulaanbaatar into the world's northernmost desert, the Flaming Cliffs where Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the first dinosaur eggs in 1923, the Khongoryn Els singing sand dunes, Yolyn Am's year-round ice canyon, and the nomad ger camps of the Southern Gobi. A 4WD expedition through the emptiest terrain on earth.
LegendaryKarakoram HighwayOriginally part of the ancient Silk Road, the Karakoram Highway crosses the world's three highest mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Pamir, from the Hunza Valley in Pakistan to Kashgar in China, peaking at 4,693 m at the Khunjerab Pass. Chiselled from bare rock and ice over 20 years by Chinese and Pakistani labourers, it remains one of the most extraordinary feats of road engineering ever attempted.
LegendaryLeh-Manali HighwayIndia’s legendary Leh-Manali Highway links the high desert of Ladakh with the Kullu Valley across some of the world’s most dramatic mountain scenery. Expect thin air, river crossings, stark passes, and long empty sections between Leh and Manali, with the best driving window in summer.
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.
LegendaryHa Giang LoopThe Ha Giang Loop is northern Vietnam’s classic mountain drive, winding from Ha Giang through Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac before returning through dramatic limestone peaks and terraced valleys. Expect tight switchbacks, limestone karst scenery, ethnic minority villages, and some of the country’s most memorable highland viewpoints.
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.
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.
NotableHummingbird HighwayBelize’s Hummingbird Highway is a lush, low-stress drive from Belmopan to Dangriga, threading through citrus groves, Maya hills, and rainforest-covered valleys. The route is known for roadside fruit stands, mountain views, and easy detours to waterfalls, caves, and small Garifuna communities near the coast.
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.
NotableAbruzzo HighlandsItaly's most underrated region, the SS17 and mountain roads through the Apennine backbone past medieval hill towns, the wolf-and-bear wilderness of Gran Sasso, and a coastline that the Adriatic sun turns an extraordinary turquoise.
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.
NotableAlmaty to Charyn Canyon and Kolsai LakesThis classic Almaty escape combines open steppe, the sculpted red walls of Charyn Canyon, and the pine-backed mountain lakes of Kolsai. The drive is straightforward yet long, rewarding with changing landscapes, short hikes, and overnight stays in guesthouses or simple camps near the lake district.
NotableAlong the Murray RiverThe Murray, Australia's longest river at 2,500 km, rising in the snow-capped Australian Alps and flowing between Victoria and New South Wales. The road from Albury-Wodonga through the renowned Rutherglen wine region, the horse-drawn-cart port of Echuca, and on to Mildura's citrus and wine country.
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.
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.
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.
NotableAsir Mountains and AbhaThis highland loop links Abha with the cool ridges, stone villages, and terraced slopes of the Asir Mountains. Expect switchback descents, juniper-covered peaks, panoramic viewpoints, and roadside fruit markets, with the route best enjoyed as a slow two- to three-day mountain drive.
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.
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.
Hidden GemCairo to Luxor Nile ValleyThis classic Nile Valley drive follows Egypt’s main southbound corridor from Cairo to Luxor, passing fertile river plains, roadside markets, and ancient temple towns. It’s the most practical overland link between two of Egypt’s greatest archaeological hubs, with desert scenery framing the route.
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.
NotableCardamom MountainsThis loop runs from Phnom Penh to the forested edge of the Cardamom Mountains, weaving through Koh Kong, Tatai, and the wild waterways near Chi Phat before returning via Kampot and Takeo. Expect dense jungle scenery, river crossings, and a rare look at one of Southeast Asia’s last great lowland rainforests.
NotableCaspian Coast to Persian Gulf TransectThis north-to-south transect links Iran’s humid Caspian lowlands with the Zagros range and the warm Persian Gulf, showing the country’s dramatic ecological and cultural range in one drive. Expect rice fields, forested passes, historic cities, desert plateaus, and finally palm-lined coastal roads.
NotableCatalan PyreneesA border anomaly drives this mountain loop, from Olot's volcanic Garrotxa region northeast to Castellfollit de la Roca (a town stacked on a basalt cliff), west through Ripoll and the Vall de Ribes to hair-raising Route C-16 along the Freser gorge, then north through the peculiar Catalan exclave of Llívia (technically Spain inside France) to the ski resort of Les Angles.
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.
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.
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.
LegendaryChuya HighwayRussia's most beautiful road descends from the Siberian plains into the Altai Republic's sacred mountains, past petroglyphs, turquoise rivers, Buddhist and shamanic shrines, and the permanent snow of the Chuya steppe, to the Mongolian border plateau where Central Asia begins.
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.
NotableCirque de Combe LavalThe D76 through the Vercors Natural Park cuts a ledge into sheer 400m limestone cliffs above the Lyonne valley, a vertiginous corniche through one of France's least-visited mountain regions, ending on the high Vercors plateau with its dark wartime history.
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 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.
Hidden GemCopan to the Caribbean CoastThis cross-country drive links the Maya ruins of Copán with Honduras’s Caribbean shore, tracing a varied inland-to-coast corridor through green highlands, lakeside scenery, and lowland plantations. It’s a practical road trip for travelers who want archaeology, mountain vistas, and a final stretch to the beach or port towns.
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.
NotableD-Day BeachesThe beaches and bluffs are quiet today, on 6 June 1944 the Normandy shoreline was the destination for more than 6,000 ships and the largest armada ever assembled. This part of the French coast is strewn with memorials, museums, and cemeteries; starting with Caen's Museum for Peace, the route passes Pegasus Bridge, Omaha Beach, the Pointe du Hoc cliff-top battery, and Utah Beach.
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.
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.
NotableDinosaur Diamond Prehistoric HighwayA loop through the greatest concentration of dinosaur fossils on Earth, the Dinosaur National Monument's quarry wall (1,500 bones embedded in exposed sandstone), the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, Arches National Park's red-rock arches, and the Book Cliffs' 160-million-year-old Morrison Formation strata. Where the Jurassic Period meets the American canyon country.
NotableDMZ and Gangwon Mountain RouteThis northbound loop links Seoul with the sobering landscapes of the DMZ fringe and the alpine roads of Gangwon-do. Trace quiet observatories, river valleys and border-adjacent towns before climbing into Seoraksan country, where granite peaks, forested passes and East Sea detours deliver Korea’s most dramatic mountain scenery.
NotableDragon's Spine, WalesThe Cambrian Way from Cardiff through the spine of Wales, the Brecon Beacons' sandstone moorland and waterfalls, the empty Cambrian Mountains that form the water divide of Wales, Snowdonia's rocky summits, and the walled medieval town of Conwy at the northern end. The longest upland route in Wales through the least-visited highland terrain in Britain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LegendaryG219 Xinjiang-Tibet HighwayChina’s G219 is a vast trans-Himalayan frontier drive linking Xinjiang with western Tibet through some of Asia’s most isolated country. Expect high passes, stark desert basins, salt lakes, glacier views, and long stretches of military and mining settlements, all demanding careful planning and acclimatization.
LegendaryGeiranger–TrollstigenNorwegian National Tourist Route 63, one of the world's greatest drives and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Steep inclines averaging 9%, slam-on-the-brakes-and-grab-the-camera hairpin bends, and views of Geirangerfjord's sheer 1,400 m walls make for terrific slow touring. The Trollstigen (Troll's Path) bombards you with mountains named Kongen (the King) and Dronnigen (the Queen), waterfalls spilling down sheer cliff faces, and fjords of the bluest blue.
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.
NotableGerman Castle RoadFrom the Neckar Valley to the Franconian highlands, 507 km and over 370 castles, ruins, and fortresses following the Burgenstrasse from Mannheim through Heidelberg, the Tauber Valley medieval town of Rothenburg, and Wagner's Bayreuth. No road in Europe has a higher concentration of medieval fortifications.
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.
NotableGreat Western TiersThis Tasmanian drive traces the Great Western Tiers from Deloraine through Meander and the limestone caves to the forested plateau of the Central Highlands, finishing near Lake St Clair. Expect rolling farmland, highland viewpoints, cool temperate rainforest, and crisp mountain air with frequent stops for short walks and lookouts.
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.
NotableGuatemala to TikalThis classic Guatemala road trip runs north from Guatemala City through the highlands to the jungle plains of Petén, ending at the ancient Maya city of Tikal. It combines mountain scenery, rural market towns, and a final approach through lowland forest to one of Central America’s most important archaeological sites.
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.
NotableHainan Island LoopChina's tropical island, the complete coastal loop delivers crystalline bays, rainforest national parks, Li and Miao minority villages in the interior highlands, and the resort city of Sanya. The only drive in China where the sea is warm enough to swim year-round.
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.
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.
Hidden GemHurghada to Marsa Alam Red Sea CoastThis Red Sea Coast drive runs south from Hurghada to Marsa Alam on Egypt’s desert highway, pairing blue-water views with long, quiet stretches of tawny mountains and open shore. It is a straightforward road trip with resort stops, dive towns, and a strong sense of remoteness.
NotableIbera Wetlands and EsterosThis gentle Corrientes road trip links the provincial capital with Argentina’s vast Iberá Wetlands, trading city streets for quiet estero country, bird-filled marshes, and ranchland horizons. Base yourself in Colonia Carlos Pellegrini for lagoon boat trips, capybara and caiman sightings, and long sunset drives on sandy access roads.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NotableKlondike HighwayClimbing out of Skagway over the White Pass where pack animals collapsed in their thousands during the Gold Rush, the Klondike Highway follows the prospectors' footsteps through steely lakes and abandoned roadhouses to Dawson City, a boomtown frozen in 1898.
NotableKyrgyzstan South LoopThis southern Kyrgyzstan loop starts and ends in Osh, tracing a dramatic circuit through the Fergana foothills, Jalal-Abad, Toktogul, Naryn, and the high-country lake roads around Song-Kul before returning south. Expect alpine scenery, river valleys, yurt country, and long stretches of empty mountain road.
NotableLake Assal and Goda MountainsThis compact Djibouti road trip leaves the capital for the Gulf of Tadjoura, then climbs into the cool highlands of the Goda Mountains before dropping to the dazzling salt basin of Lake Assal, one of Africa’s lowest points. Expect volcanic scenery, acacia hills, and stark desert contrast.
LegendaryLake Baikal CircuitThe world's deepest and oldest lake holds one-fifth of Earth's unfrozen fresh water, the circuit around its shores passes through taiga wilderness, shamanic sacred sites on Olkhon Island, the Buryat Buddhist capital of Ulan-Ude, and in winter, a road on the ice itself.
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.
NotableLake Ohrid RouteThis relaxed loop traces Lake Ohrid from North Macedonia into Albania, linking Ohrid’s UNESCO-listed old town with cliffside monasteries, clear swimming coves, and the quieter south shore near Pogradec. Expect mountain-and-water views, historic villages, and an easy pace with frequent photo stops.
LegendaryLake Tahoe to Death Valley via YosemiteCalifornia's greatest single road trip, from the alpine clarity of Lake Tahoe through Yosemite's granite cathedral valley, over the 3,031m Tioga Pass into the Eastern Sierra's high desert, past the tufa towers of Mono Lake, and down through the Alabama Hills below Whitney to Death Valley's salt pan 86 metres below sea level. The full geological range of the American West in one drive.
NotableLisbon to PortoPortugal's essential north-south drive, from Lisbon's sea-facing hilltop capital through the medieval walled town of Óbidos, the cliff-top surf town of Nazaré (where the underwater canyon channels the world's biggest rideable waves), the university city of Coimbra (where students still wear black capes), Aveiro's lagoon canals plied by painted moliceiro boats, and into Porto's azulejo-tiled city of port wine lodges and the world's most beautiful bookshop. A Portugal of extraordinary depth.
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.
Hidden GemLonesome Pine TrailThrough the Virginia Coalfields and Big Stone Gap, a forgotten Appalachian landscape of mountain music, coal country heritage, and ancient forest along the winding back roads of southwest Virginia.
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.
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.
Hidden GemMalolotja and Ezulwini Eswatini LoopThis compact Eswatini loop links the cool highlands of Malolotja Nature Reserve with the Ezulwini Valley’s rolling hills, craft markets, and royal-adjacent cultural stops. It’s a rewarding mix of mountain scenery, viewpoints, and easy day-trip driving on good paved roads.
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.
NotableMediterranean MeanderFrom the Costa Daurada to the Costa del Sol, from Catalan pride in Sitges to Andalucian passion in Almería, from the Roman ruins of Tarragona to the Modernisme buildings of Barcelona, proving that not all of southern Spain's Mediterranean coast is tourist clichés. Follow the A7 northeast from Málaga through four regions, two languages, the buzzing urban centres of Barcelona, Valencia, and Málaga.
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.
NotableMindanao Highlands Davao to BukidnonThis highland drive links Davao’s coastal gateway with the cool uplands of Bukidnon, climbing through pineapple country, forested ridges, and mountain towns. It is a practical Mindanao road trip with broad views, farm stops, and a steady change from humid lowlands to crisp highland air.
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.
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.
LegendaryNorth Yungas RoadBolivia’s North Yungas Road drops from the high Andes near La Paz into the humid Yungas valleys on a dramatic, tightly winding descent. Expect cliffside curves, changing weather, and sweeping mountain-to-jungle scenery on a historic route once notorious for its extreme exposure.
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.
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.
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.
NotableOld West, ArizonaFrom desert cattle ranches to mile-high mountain towns, this Sonoran Desert drive climbs from the cowboy capital of Wickenburg through a former copper boomtown hanging on a cliff to the red-rock vortexes of Sedona and Flagstaff's ponderosa pines.
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.
Hidden GemPanama Pan-American HighwayPanama’s Pan-American Highway is the country’s main road spine, running from Panama City across fertile lowlands and rolling cattle country to the border at Paso Canoas. It’s a straightforward long-distance drive with steady traffic near the capital and a more relaxed pace west of the interior highlands.
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.
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.
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.
NotableRiviera Nayarit and Sierra Madre CoastThis Riviera Nayarit road trip links Puerto Vallarta with the Pacific beaches and jungle-backed fishing towns of Nayarit, then climbs into the Sierra Madre for a cooler inland finish. Expect whale-watching bays, surf breaks, cobbled village streets, and dramatic ocean-to-mountain scenery throughout.
LegendaryRN7 Antananarivo to ToliaraMadagascar’s RN7 is the country’s classic overland journey, linking the highland capital to the southwest coast through rice terraces, red-earth villages, and dramatic sandstone massifs. The route passes Antsirabe, Ambositra, Ranomafana, Fianarantsoa, and Isalo before descending to the dry thorny plains around Toliara.
LegendaryRoad of BonesBuilt by Gulag prisoners between 1932 and 1953 through the most extreme landscape on Earth, the Kolyma Highway from Magadan to Yakutsk passes through permafrost wilderness, gold-mining ghost towns, and the Pole of Cold at Oymyakon, where temperatures have reached −71°C.
NotableRoute 62The longest wine route in the world winds through the Breede River Valley and Little Karoo, past fruit farms, ostrich ranches, and the Swartberg Mountains, connecting Cape winelands to the edge of the great Karoo.
LegendaryRoute of the Seven LakesThe most beautiful short drive in South America, Ruta Nacional 40 and Ruta Provincial 234 through the Andes foothills between Bariloche and San Martín de los Andes, threading through seven glacier-fed Andean lakes of extraordinary blue-green clarity: Nahuel Huapi, Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner, and Machónico. The Swiss Alps transplanted to Patagonia.
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.
LegendarySan Juan SkywayColorado's Million Dollar Highway, the San Juan Skyway loops through Ouray's "Switzerland of America" canyon town, the 3,358m Red Mountain Pass above collapsed mine workings, Silverton's Victorian mining town, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and Mesa Verde's Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. The most dramatic mountain circuit in the Rocky Mountains.
LegendarySani Pass and Roof of AfricaClimb from the Himeville area up the legendary Sani Pass into Lesotho, following one of southern Africa’s most dramatic mountain roads. The gravel switchbacks rise to the high plateau and the iconic Sani Mountain Lodge, with sweeping views over the Drakensberg and a true sense of reaching the Roof of Africa.
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.
NotableScotland, Highlands & HistoryA separatist sentiment and an assertion of independence has long been the hallmark of Scotland vis-à-vis its southern neighbours, this highland drive from the Wallace Monument at Stirling (where the Scots earned their first decisive victory over England in 1297) through Glencoe's massacre landscape and Jacobite country to Culloden, site of Scotland's last battle, and Inverness.
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.
NotableSerra da Mantiqueira Loop Campos do Jordao to ItatiaiaThis mountain loop follows the Serra da Mantiqueira between Campos do Jordão and Itatiaia, linking cool pine-covered highlands, small historic towns, and sweeping escarpment views. The drive is best in the dry season, when clear days reveal the peaks, valleys, and parkland landscapes that define this part of southeastern Brazil.
NotableShaki and Lahij Scenic RoadThis loop through northwestern Azerbaijan links the silk-city heritage of Shaki with the cobbled mountain village of Lahij, threading walnut orchards, forested slopes, and classic Caucasus viewpoints. It is a rewarding short road trip for travelers who want culture, scenery, and memorable villages in one drive.
NotableShikoku Pilgrimage Road TripThis circular road trip follows Shikoku’s famed 88-temple pilgrimage from Tokushima through Kochi, Ehime, and Kagawa, linking sacred sites, coastal scenery, and mountain passes. Expect quiet country roads, historic temple towns, rugged capes, and a deeply cultural drive shaped by centuries of devotion.
NotableSierra Gorda de QueretaroThis highland circuit threads through Querétaro’s Sierra Gorda, climbing from the colonial streets of Jalpan into pine-oak forests, deep canyons, and cloud-forest viewpoints. It links Franciscan missions, mountain villages, and dramatic lookouts along one of central Mexico’s most rewarding road trips.
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-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.
LegendarySrinagar–Manali HighwayOne of the world's highest motorable roads, from Kashmir's lakes and Mughal gardens over three mountain passes above 4,000m, through the moonscapes of Ladakh, to the green Kullu Valley. Staggering altitude, staggering beauty.
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.
LegendarySusten–Grimsel–Furka LoopThe most concentrated Alpine pass loop on Earth, three legendary roads in a single circuit. The Susten crosses a granite wilderness, the Grimsel skirts black glacial reservoirs, and the Furka passes the Rhône Glacier, where Bond once drove an Aston Martin.
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.
NotableTarga Florio CircuitThe circuit of the Madonie mountains in Sicily was the world's oldest motor race, hairpins over sea views, Norman castles on hilltops, towns carved from golden limestone, and the most atmospheric mountain roads in Italy.
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.
NotableTatacoa Desert and San AgustínThis south Huila loop links the rust-red badlands of the Tatacoa Desert with the misty archaeology of San Agustín. Start in Neiva, cross the Magdalena River valley, explore the labyrinth of eroded canyons and starry night skies, then continue south to colonial villages and the monumental stone statues and tombs near San Agustín.
NotableThe American SouthFrom Charleston's antebellum grandeur north through the Civil War's bloodiest battlefields, Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, this drive traces the fault line of American history through plantation country, mountain gaps, and the cities that shaped the nation's most conflicted century.
Hidden GemThe Crooked RoadVirginia's Heritage Music Trail threads through the Blue Ridge hollows where American roots music was born, fiddle tunes, bluegrass flatpicking, gospel harmonies, and old-time mountain ballads played in courthouses, country stores, and dance halls along 531 km of winding Appalachian road.
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 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.
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.
NotableTohoku Coast and MountainsThis loop links the rugged Sanriku coast with the forested mountains of inland Tohoku, pairing sea cliffs, fishing ports, hot-spring valleys, and deep cedar groves. It’s a classic self-drive through one of Japan’s most rewarding regions, with calm highways, excellent food stops, and striking natural contrast.
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.
NotableUganda Fort Portal to BwindiThis western Uganda drive links Fort Portal’s crater lakes and tea country with Bwindi Impenetrable Forest’s gorilla valleys. The route passes through rolling highlands, busy market towns, and Rift Valley edges before climbing into misty forest. It is a rewarding overland approach to one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations.
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.
LegendaryWakhan Corridor RouteFollow the legendary Pamir highway east from Khorog into the narrow Wakhan Corridor, where the road threads between the Panj River and stark Afghan peaks. The drive passes fortress ruins, hot springs, stone villages, and broad high-altitude valleys before ending near Ishkashim, with constant views into one of Central Asia’s most isolated landscapes.
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.
NotableWine & Whales Electric HighwayAustralia's first dedicated electric highway follows the beautiful southwest coast from Perth to Augusta, 12 RAC fast-charging stations spaced along a route that passes Margaret River's world-class wineries and Busselton's heritage jetty, timed June to August for humpback whale season in Geographe Bay.
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.
NotableBieszczady Mountains Polish WildernessA winding loop through Poland’s wild southeastern corner, this drive links mountain villages, forested passes, and lookout points in the Bieszczady range. Expect quiet roads, grazing meadows, and access to short hikes around Solina, Wetlina, Ustrzyki Górne, and the high-country edges of Bieszczadzki National Park.
NotableDebed Canyon and Northern MonasteriesThis northern Armenia road trip follows the scenic Debed Canyon from Vanadzor to Alaverdi and onward to the Georgian border zone, linking hillside villages with some of the country’s finest monasteries. Expect winding but paved roads, river views, and memorable stops at Haghpat, Sanahin, and Odzun.
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.
Hidden GemJarabacoa and Constanza Mountain LoopThis highland loop links the Dominican Republic’s two classic mountain towns, climbing from Jarabacoa into the cool Valle Nuevo plateau and down to Constanza’s vegetable fields. Expect steep switchbacks, pine forests, waterfalls, and broad views of the Cordillera Central, with the best driving in the dry season.
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.
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.
Hidden GemSt Catherine to DahabThis short Sinai drive links the granite monasteries and mountain basins of St Catherine with the Red Sea town of Dahab. The road drops from stark high desert into wide wadis and open coastal plains, with rugged peaks behind and clear water ahead.
Hidden GemSuriname Coastal Highway Paramaribo to Nieuw NickerieThis straight, low-key coastal drive follows Suriname’s main westbound highway from Paramaribo to Nieuw Nickerie, crossing wide rivers, rice-country plains, and sleepy villages. It is a practical one-day road trip with river ferries and long stretches of flat, tropical scenery rather than dramatic mountain views.
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.
NotableTequila and Jalisco HighlandsA relaxed loop through the blue-agave hills and colonial towns west and north of Guadalajara, this drive links the tequila heartland with the cool highlands of Jalisco. Expect distillery visits, hacienda views, and stone-plaza towns set against volcanic landscapes and broad ranch country.
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.
NotableBran Pass, RomaniaThrough Romania's medieval Transylvania from Brasov to Rucar, past Râșnov's maze-like citadel on a high hill, Bran Castle's Gothic towers (forever linked with Dracula), and along hairpin bends above forlorn country villages to the Bucegi Mountains. Best driven between May and October; the Bran–Rucar stretch can be perilous in winter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NotableGlasgow to Fort WilliamThe perfect introduction to the Scottish Highlands, from Glasgow's urban grit north through Loch Lomond's pastoral shoreline, the Trossachs National Park villages of Tarbet and Crianlarich, and along the great loch itself before the landscape shifts into the imposing drama of Glen Coe and Ben Nevis.
NotableHighway 500The Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve rising above Kota Kinabalu, where truck drivers rig plastic pipes to drip cooling water onto their brake drums on the descent, and the road passes through vibrant jungle villages to the Rafflesia Information Centre, home of the world's most pungent flower.
LegendaryJourney to the CaucasusGeorgia's compact masterpiece, from the ancient capital Tbilisi through Mtskheta's living-museum monasteries, north on the Georgian Military Highway through the Dariali Gorge to the Kazbegi plateau (Gergeti Trinity Church floating above the clouds on a 2,170m promontory, with Mount Kazbek's 5,047m cone behind), and east through the Alazani Valley's vineyards to Sighnaghi's medieval wine town. The birthplace of wine, Christianity, and Georgian polyphony.
LegendaryKaikoura CoastSH1 north of Christchurch is one of the world's great coastal drives, the Seaward Kaikoura Range falls sheer into the Pacific, sperm whales feed in the canyon just offshore, and New Zealand fur seals laze on every rock shelf.
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.
NotableLoess Plateau & Yellow RiverThe cradle of Chinese civilisation, drive through the ochre loess plateau of Shaanxi and Shanxi along the Yellow River's great bend, past cave-dwelling communities, Taoist mountain shrines, and the mythological origins of the Han people from the Terracotta Army to Pingyao's walled Ming city.
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.
NotableMansfield to MarysvilleVictoria's High Country gravel road from Mansfield through Woods Point to Marysville, through remote forest and mountain ranges on unsealed roads that venture into country where 4WD clearance is an advantage. The section between Mansfield and Woods Point feels further from civilisation than its distance from Melbourne suggests.
NotableRoman ProvenceProvence preserves the densest concentration of Roman monuments outside Italy, in 205 km from Nîmes to Vaison-la-Romaine, this drive passes a complete Roman amphitheatre, a three-storey aqueduct bridge older than the Colosseum, a perfectly preserved triumphal arch, and an entire excavated Roman town still visible under a medieval village.
NotableRoute 59 Košice–Banská BystricaSlovakia's most scenic mountain route connects two great historical cities through the volcanic Slovak Ore Mountains, medieval mining towns, thermal lakes, cave systems, and an absence of tourists that feels like discovering Europe in 1985.
NotableRoute de TuriniThe most celebrated stage of the Monte Carlo Rally, a sinuous mountain road climbing from the Ligurian coast through chestnut forest to the Col de Turini at 1607m. Every hairpin is banked, every view cinematic.
NotableSnaefell Mountain CourseThe world's oldest motorcycle race circuit, since 1911 the TT course has looped from Douglas up through mountain villages to the 422-metre Snaefell summit road and back. Outside TT week you can drive the full circuit at your own pace through stone walls, coastal hedgerows, and moorland; during TT the roads close and 250 riders race at an average of 216 km/h.
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.
LegendaryThe Faroe IslandsEighteen volcanic islands in the North Atlantic where sheep outnumber people 2-to-1, connected by sub-sea tunnels and mountain roads above sheer Atlantic cliffs. The sea-stacks of Drangarnir, the turf-roofed villages of Gjógv and Saksun, Gásadalur's waterfall plunging into the ocean, and Tórshavn's coloured wooden capital. A drive that feels like the edge of the world.
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.
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.