Northern Cape
DifficultRichtersveld Tatasberg 4×4 Trail — Eksteenfontein to Tatasberg via the Orange River Desert Plateau
Mars terrain above the Orange River — alone and honest.
Surface: Gravel
Colorado
EasyPawnee National Grassland Backcountry — Crow Valley to Pawnee Buttes via the High Plains Desert Edge
Prairie solitude and sandstone sentinels on the High Plains.
Mongolia
DifficultGobi Desert Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs Road — Dalanzadgad to Bayanzag via the Southern Gobi Desert
Dinosaur bones and open Gobi — bring your own compass.
Namibia
ModerateSkeleton Coast Wilderness Drive — Terrace Bay to Cape Cross via the Central Namib Shore
Shipwrecks, seals, and Atlantic fog — no crowds.
Peru
ModerateInca Jungle Road — Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes via the Salkantay Approach Track
Machu Picchu's back door. Earn the view.
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — Bell Gorge to Mornington Wilderness Camp via Beverley Springs Station
Corrugated Kimberley between two wild camps.
Arizona
ModerateCoronado Trail — Alpine to Clifton via the White Mountains and Salt River Canyon Rim (US-191)
400 curves, 8,000 feet of drop, zero guardrails.
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — El Questro to Kununurra via the Ord River and Keep River Corridor
Red pindan, croc water, and the Ord.
India
DifficultLeh to Tso Kar — Rupshu Plateau High Desert Crossing via Puga Valley Hot Springs
Salt lakes and sulphur vents at 15,000 feet.
Australia
ExpertGibb River Road — Kalumburu Road to Drysdale River Station via Mitchell Plateau Track Junction
Real Kimberley. No net. No crowds.