Into the Arctic: driving Norway’s Kystriksveien
When it comes to imagined destinations, few can rival the Arctic. It is a place of deep and abiding longing, and has been for centuries; a land so utterly different from our own that entering it calls for some grand rite of passage, for a journey of such beauty as to prove worthy of these longings.N
Thailand’s Mae Hong Son loop by motorbike
Tucked into Thailand’s northwest corner, Mae Hong Son province is one of the nation’s last frontiers for off-the-beaten-track exploration. There’s no better way to take in its mountainous, mist covered passes and steamy jungles than tackling the 600km Mae Hong Son Loop by motorbike.Begin the trip in
‘The full Monte’ road trip: Montenegro’s best drives
With a beautiful coastline backed by a whole heap of craggy mountains, Montenegro has an abundance of scenic driving routes. Whether on the main highways or on single-lane back roads, expect ‘wow’ and white-knuckle moments in equal measure, with breathtaking views over every precipitous drop. Drivin
The Heartland’s best hits: top Kansas sights along I
This is the stuff road trips through Middle America are made of: slurping milkshakes at a Formica countertop in a diner that hasn’t changed since 1950, cruising by fields of sunflowers and amber waves of grain that stretch as far as the eye can see, and stopping at the quirky, always-superlative roa
The Pan
Ask your friends what their idea of a cool road trip is and you’ll get some great suggestions. South of France in summer in a convertible. Safari in Africa in a jeep. Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. But you can trump them all and laugh in the face of their puny routes by answering with the Mot
Arabian sights: road
Oman is hot right now. Not as in boiling (although it can be at the height of summer when the mercury touches 40C); hot as in of the moment. Its star has risen steadily thanks to a carefully nurtured tourism industry and a growing appreciation for its natural and cultural riches.After all, where els
Driving Egnatia Odos, Greece’s modern ancient highway
One of the most fascinating drives across Greece is the 670km journey from the Turkish border crossing of Kipi in Thrace to Igoumenitsa on the Ionian Sea. Known as the ‘Egnatia Odos’, after the ancient Roman Via Egnatia which conveyed tradesmen, armies and regular travellers across part of its lengt
The Golden Ring: a road trip through the heart of Russia
East of Moscow lies the land of small historical towns, ancient onion-domed churches, gingerbread cottages and largely unspoilt countryside, all in sharp contrast with the imperial megalomania of Moscow and St Petersburg. When the USSR started opening up for foreign tourists in the 1960s, the author
Strap yourself in: the worlds most extreme road trips
Travelling these routes inspires wonder and awe in those willing to shrug off the discomforts and heart-in-mouth moments that they entail.Whether youre gazing through a dirt-smudged window on a clapped-out bus, its engine revving desperately to clear a narrow pass, or grinding through an endless exp
A road trip in the Peloponnese
No other part of Greece combines stupendous mountain scenery and scenic hikes with deserted, pristine beaches and an incredible wealth of ancient sites like the Peloponnese. After all, this is where gods and heroes were said to walk the earth and the world’s greatest sporting event was born.Add to t
Keep on truckin: a guide to overlanding
Overland trips can offer a good balance of offbeat exploration and independence, guaranteeing transport but leaving you free to decide what to do once youve rolled into town. A typical dayLife on a truck requires plenty of community spirit. Youll be split into cook groups and take turns shopping
Beyond the dunes: road
Giant sand dunes fringed by sun-scorched valleys. Primordial fossils hidden within flaming-red cliffs. The sun setting pink and purple over a Mongolian yurt. Few experiences bring together offbeat adventure and epic road-tripping quite like bouncing through Mongolias Gobi Desert in the rear-facing s
From highway to high waves: five offbeat coastal road trips
Californias Big Sur and Australias Great Ocean Road may get all the headlines when it comes to coastal driving but theyre not the only places where you can lose yourself in spectacular scenery, glowing sunsets and glistening surf.The following routes are equally impressive and also offer quirky cult
Botswana: the rewards of self
Botswana may have a reputation as the most exclusive safari destination in Africa, but it does offer an incredibly tempting alternative to the fly-in, upmarket-tented-camp experience: the more budget-friendly self-drive safari. Botswana is made for road (and road-less) trips – it is big-sky country,
Picking the right set of wheels for a classic road trip
Theres nothing quite like the freedom of the open road – but, whether its a Sunday drive through the timeless back roads of the English countryside or a continent-spanning overland epic, you’ll need to pick the perfect motor to get the most out of the trip.Jump in the back seat, strap yourself in, a
South Dakotas best scenic drives
With jaw-dropping scenery and hundreds of miles of winding roads, western South Dakota is a driver’s playground. These top routes make up some of the state’s best scenic drives. The region is rife with iconic national parks and top attractions, with some history, whimsy, buffalo and badlands thrown
Albanian road trip: history behind the bunkers
Having spent nearly half of the 20th century isolated from the rest of the world, Albania remains somewhat a land of mystery, only recently making its way onto European travel itineraries as an offbeat and budget-friendly destination. While ‘the land of eagles’ may be better known for its stormy com
Highs and lows of the 395: road tripping down Californias highway of superlatives
US highway 395 is Californias backbone. Running east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, its also a road of superlatives: highest, lowest, hottest, deepest, oldest – the 395 passes close by a whole host of -ests. And then there are the ghost towns, living towns, ski resorts, tufa formations (youll
Hokkaidō road trip: exploring Japans wild north
With its wide-open spaces, national parks, active volcanoes, forests of silvery beech, forlorn coastlines and remote fishing towns, Hokkaidō is ideal for road trips. Japan is famous for its efficient rail system and doesnt exactly scream road trip. But when most people think of Japan, they usuall
On the road in remote Chile: ways to conquer the Carretera Austral
Whether by foot, two wheels, or four-wheel drive, the Carretera Austral is an iconic challenge and a journey through South America’s most sublime end-of-the-world landscapes.Among the worlds finest road trips, the Carretera Austral – or Southern Highway – is a 1240km route through Chile that’s mostl
