keybuk
The thrill of the open road - plus the strong sense of place in particularly thrilling locations - is part of the eternal allure of road trips around the world. Here are ten in Asia, Europe, and the United States, that will send your heart soaring!
Hana Highway
The Hana Highway (top) on Maui, Hawaii’s second largest island, is generally considered to be one of the most scenic drives in the world. Connecting the towns of Kahalui and Kaupo, it's has a beautiful mountain range on one side and the deep blue waters of the Pacific on the other. For thrill seekers, the HH's steep and winding curves provide plenty of driving challenges, and you can stop along the way to take in an occasional sight like a beautiful waterfall.
Karakoram Highway
Built through the Karakoram mountain range (an extension of the Himalayas), the KKH connects China to Pakistan. Its mesmerizing scenery is dominated by wild mountain peaks, stony hills, and crystal-clear cold water lakes. The area is great for hitchhiking purposes, and links with the famous K2 and Mount Everest mountain peaks in the northeast. Many travelers prefer to take their own tents and sleeping beds with them when travelling this route.
Guoliang Tunnel Road
Linking the village of Guoliang to the outside world, this tunnel runs one kilometer through and in one stretch alongside the Taihang Mountains of the China's Henan province in the Xinjiang region - bringing in a lot of tourism revenue for villagers. Driving on the highway is tricky (to say the least), and requires a great deal of careful attention. But the views it provides are simply breathtaking!
Arno van den Tillaart
The Atlantic Ocean Road
The Atlanterhavsveien is built on a network of small islands in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Norway's west coast. Chilly high tides regularly smack against vehicles traveling on this road and require expert driving skills to be battled through. Traveling along the road during the full moon is not generally recommended, but nothing beats the experience if you do.
The Romantic Road
The Romantische Strasse in Bavaria, Germany is aptly named because it passes right through some of the country’s most charming medieval towns. Travelers with a particularly deep interest in history and European culture usually find it hard to resist. The road carries a low toll tax, and drivers are even encouraged to speed above the 120 kilometer-per-hour limit in unpopulated stretches.
Patchwork Road
Up on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, through the bucolic countryside around the town of Biei, this road is named for the patchwork appearance from the air of the local farms stretching across gently rolling hills. A charming break from the busy life of Japan's urban centers!
Izu Skyline
Another Japanese wonder, running more that 40 km through the highlands of the Izu Peninsula west of Tokyo, this toll road runs as high as 900 meters above sea level. The summers are a good time to visit.
Valley of Fire Road
Built through the Nevada State Park, the Valley of Fire road is usually crawling with heavy bikers throughout the year. It is surrounded by the red, asphalt hills of the park, which are particularly soothing for spectators.
Milford Road
New Zealand State Highway 94 is a long, winding stretch (four hours to drive) through the South Island's Fiordland region, featuring breathtaking scenery on all sides. Interestingly, it's also home to many marijuana growers!
Baobabs, Madagascar
A system of wild and exotic roads that crisscrosses Madagascar, besides majestic baobab trees they're home to many other of the island country's unique flora and fauna. Prominently featured in the 2005 animated film Madagascar.
(And don't forget to check for teaching jobs while traveling to earn money as well! As I read, students and travelers can earn about $100 per lecture by teaching English in China.)
Comments