Southeast Asia
25 curated road trips
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NotableSarawak Pan-Borneo HighwayThis Sarawak section of the Pan-Borneo Highway runs from the Brunei border near Miri to the Indonesian frontier at Tebedu, linking coastal cities, rainforest interiors, and river towns. It is a practical overland showcase of Borneo’s changing landscapes, with frequent stops for caves, national parks, and local food.
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.
NotableKhao Yai and Isan Heritage LoopThis loop starts in Bangkok, climbs into the cool forested hills of Khao Yai National Park, then continues across the Khorat Plateau through Nakhon Ratchasima, Phimai, and Phanom Rung. Expect smooth highways, temple and Khmer ruin stops, rice-field scenery, and an easy return to the capital.
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.
NotableDili to BaliboNot for the faint-hearted, this trail bike or 4WD-only road winds through small, pretty villages and very green countryside to Maliana (capital of Bobonaro), then a short hike to the old Portuguese fort at Balibo. Falintil used this road extensively in the Indonesian invasion of 1975; the five journalists known as the Balibo Five were killed here. The Australian Defence Forces considered it too dangerous to use.
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.