Northern Cape
ExpertRichtersveld Transfrontier — Sendelingsdrift to Alexander Bay via the Orange River Desert Canyon Rim (Full Southern Traverse)
Africa's hardest desert meets the Orange River canyon.
Surface: Dirt
Iceland
DifficultLandmannalaugar to Þórsmörk — Laugavegur Highland Track via Hrafntinnusker and Emstrur (Full Classic Traverse)
Volcanoes, obsidian, and glacial fords — no bridges.
California
ModerateMineral King Road — Three Rivers to Mineral King via the Sequoia National Park High Valley (Full Climb)
698 curves, no guardrails, marmots eat your hoses.
Australia
DifficultRica Roca Track — Parachilna to Blinman via the Elder Range and Heysen Range Spine (Flinders Ranges Classic)
Ancient quartzite, zero signal, real outback.
Mali
DifficultPiste du Bandiagara — Bankass to Sangha via the Dogon Escarpment and Falaise de Bandiagara
Cliff villages, 11th-century granaries, red dust.
Australia
ModerateTharwa to Boboyan — Namadgi National Park High Country Track via Corin Dam and Boboyan Road (ACT–NSW Alpine Divide Run)
Alpine wilderness, an hour from the capital.
Mali
ExpertPiste de Gao à Hombori — Niger Bend Desert Piste via Ansongo and the Gourma Elephant Country (Mali Sahel Classic)
Desert elephants, red rock towers, and no safety net.
Namibia
ModerateFish River Canyon Rim Track — Hobas to Ai-Ais via the Canyon Rim Desert (Southern Namibia Full Traverse)
The canyon swallows everything. Drive the edge.
Colorado
DifficultImogene Pass — Ouray to Telluride via the San Juan High Alpine Shelf Road
13,114 feet. No guardrails. No excuses.
Australia
DifficultKellys Camp to Cunnamulla — Bulloo Overflow Channel Track via the Hungerford Dingo Fence
Dingo Fence, clay pans, and nothing else.