Antofagasta Region
DifficultSalar de Atacama Desert Circuit — San Pedro de Atacama to Paso Sico via the Atacama Salt Flat and Puna Volcanoes
Salt, flamingos, and 6,000-metre volcanoes.
Surface: Gravel
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — Derby to Kununurra via the Kimberley Gorge Country (Classic Full Traverse, Wet Season Closed, Eastern Approach)
The Kimberley's 700 km red dirt masterpiece.
Namibia
EasyNamib Desert Welwitschia Drive — Swakopmund to Welwitschia Washplain via Moon Landscape and Swakop River Gorge
Alien terrain, ancient plants, zero crowds.
Australia
ModerateOodnadatta Track — Marree to Oodnadatta via the Old Ghan Railway Corridor and Lake Eyre Basin
The old Ghan's ghost, in the red heart.
Namibia
DifficultSossusvlei to Bullsport via Naukluft Desert Spine — Solitaire and Tsaris Pass
Dunes to gorges. Full Namib. No safety net.
British Columbia
DifficultStikine River Road — Dease Lake to Telegraph Creek via the Grand Canyon of the Stikine
John Muir's 100-mile Yosemite. No tourists.
Colorado
DifficultColorado BDR Southern Segment — Silverton to Chama via the San Juan Backcountry
San Juan high country, raw and unfiltered.
Mexico
ModerateConzatti Road — Hierve el Agua to Tlacolula via the Sierra Juárez Descent
Oaxaca's back door nobody takes.
China
ModerateTibetan Friendship Highway — Lhasa to Shigatse via Yamdrok Lake and Karo La Glacier
Glacier at the roadside. Turquoise lake below. 5,000 m up.
USA
DifficultTrans-America Trail — Addison to Waterville via the Monongahela Backcountry and Cranberry Wilderness Edge
Appalachian mud, ridgelines, and no signal.