10 Most Epic Road Trips Around the World

PUBLISHED August 17th, 2016 07:00 am

The journey is always better than the destination, or so the saying goes. If you’re looking to take a road trip somewhere round the world under your own steam, we’ve picked out the most epic and beautiful journeys on the face of the earth – from seasonal foliage and breathtaking mountains to old buildings and amazing views of the sea. Just pack your bags, rent a car, and go.

Australia – Great Ocean Road

When it comes to coastal drives, Australia’s Great Ocean Road is pretty hard to beat. Tracing the south-eastern coastline of Victoria between Torquay and Allansford, the journey offers a diverse array of things to see and do. Aside from cliff-hugging curves, witness the glorious Twelve Apostles – a collection of limestone stacks (it looks much more impressive than it sounds) – lovely seascapes, and the majestic rainforest full of life. Surf, scuba dive, enjoy fine dining, local wines and fresh produce along the way.

Distance: 244km

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Canada – Icefields Parkway

Winding its way through two national parks between Lake Louise and Jasper, traversing the Icefields Parkway is to experience one of Canada’s national treasures, right in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Expect grand mountains, pristine lakes, ancient glaciers, sweeping waterfalls, and broad valleys with lots of rocky peaks. Plus, you may get to see some grizzly bears, bighorn sheep, wolves, and caribou in this world-class landscape.

Distance: 232km

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USA – Route 66

Route 66 is perhaps one of the most famous trips in the world. Once the main route from Chicago to California (and a new life for many people), take a retro journey through small town America across eight states and three time zones. You’ll see ancient petrol stations, old-school diners, and of course kitschy tourist shops through this nostalgic road – Don’t miss quintessential American scenes from the good ol’ days like the cornfield of Illinois, the gritty streets of St. Louis, the golden sunshine of Los Angeles or the sands of the Grand Canyon.

Distance: 3800km

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Romania – Transfagarasan Highway

Always wanted to see Dracula’s castle? Hype yourself up first by tackling the twists and drops of Romania’s Transfagarasan Highway, considered by Top Gear as the world’s best road to drive on. Up more than a mile high, the road winds around the Arges River, goes past the crescent-shaped Vidraru Dam and then past Capatenii Pamantului, home to the ruins of the 700 year-old Poenari Castle – where Vlad Dracul lived for a period of time. The highway is only open from June till mid-October due to weather conditions, so you’ll want to plan your trip around that.

Distance: 90km

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Iceland – Ring Road

Did you know that Iceland only has one main road? The Ring Road, or Route 1 is one of the most desolate drives in the world – going round the island past glacier lagoons, waterfalls, geo-thermal pools, geysers, snowy mountains, and active volcanoes. The best part is that there’s hardly any trees blocking your endless view towards picturesque villages, farms, beaches, hot springs and a great number of natural formations. Main attractions along the Ring Road include the town of Höfn, the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Hallormsstaður Forest, and Mývatn Lake.

Distance: 1332km

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Italy – Almafi Coast

Green mountains and pastel-coloured coastal villages await you along Costiera Amalfitana, or Amalfi Coast – one of the best scenic routes in Italy. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the road runs from Sorrento to Salerno and covers incredibly charming towns like Amalfi, Positano, and the mountaintop Ravello. The Mediterranean landscape won’t be the easiest of drives as the roads are narrow and the twists winding, but you’ll be rewarded with great beauty: mountains plunging in the sea, lush forests, grandiose houses and general mind-blowing coastal glamour.

Distance: 61km

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South Africa – The Garden Route

Named for the region’s ubiquitous array of wild flowers and plant life, The Garden Route hugs the lush coast along the southernmost tip of Africa from Mossel Bay to Port Elizabeth, traversing past white sandy beaches, rocky shores, mountains, established vineyards, plenty of wildlife, and the majestic forest with centuries-old trees. The best part of the coast is at Storms River Mouth – where we suggest getting out of your car to walk the trails.

Distance: 800km

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New Zealand – South Island Circuit

Heading to Middle Earth New Zealand’s South Island feels like a dream – this is where the country’s most remarkable landscapes can be found. There’s no fixed point to start, but we suggest starting in Christchurch, where most airlines fly into. From there, venture to Mount Cook National Park and the Southern Lakes, on to Otago Peninsula for the wildlife, and through Fiordland National Park to view the glaciers along the West Coast – or some variation of the above. Whatever you do, don’t miss Milford Sound!

Distance: Varies

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Mongolia – Gobi Desert

If mile after mile of nothingness sounds like your kind of thing, the Gobi Desert sounds about right for you. Here in this remote region, desert and sand formations stretch out infinitely around you, offering a rugged beauty that’s unexpectedly enchanting. Once you tire of driving, get on a camel to continue your journey or have a night’s stay at a traditional Ger camp. For the more adventurous, take part in the Mongol Rally, a charity event that starts in Europe and ends in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

Distance: Varies

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China – Karakoram Highway

Considered the highest paved road in the world, Karakoram Highway (also known as the Friendship Highway) follows one of the paths of the ancient Silk Road, linking the Chinese city of Kashgar to the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. The highway, built over 20 years in the 1960s takes you through some stunning scenery, from rocky gorges -where you’ll find ancient petroglyphs dating back to 1000BC – to glaciers, pale blue lakes, and gargantuan snow-capped mountains like K2 and Nanga Parbat (second and ninth tallest in the world respectively).

Distance: 1303km

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Top Image: Moyan Brenn