Kyrgyzstan
ExpertTian Shan Celestial Mountains — Son-Kul Lake High Plateau Crossing via Kalmak Ashuu Pass
Nomad country at the roof of Kyrgyzstan.
Surface: Rock
Australia
ExpertGibb River Road — El Questro to Mitchell Falls via King Edward River and Drysdale River Station
Kimberley's hardest push — gorges, crossings, falls.
Lesotho
DifficultLesotho Highlands Road — Mokhotlong to Thaba-Tseka via the Roof of Africa High Plateau
Africa's mountain kingdom. No guardrails. No crowds.
Chihuahua
ExpertLienzo Charro to Batopilas Canyon — Copper Canyon Barrancas Track via Creel and Urique Rim
Four times the Grand Canyon. Half the guardrails.
Australia
ModerateGibb River Road — Tunnel Creek to Windjana Gorge via Napier Range Limestone Corridor
Devonian reef, cave outlaws, croc-lined gorges.
Ethiopia
ExpertTransafrica — Cairo to Cape Town via the East African Corridor
UNESCO escarpment edge. Geladas and 1,500m drops.
Afghanistan
ExtremeWakhan Corridor Road — Khargush Pass to Bozai Gumbaz via the Little Pamir Plateau
The roof of Asia. No safety net.
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — Mount House Station to Silent Grove via the Kimberley Ranges Central Heart
Kimberley gorge country without the crowd.
North Carolina
DifficultTrans-America Trail — Tellico Plains to Robbinsville via the Cherohala Skyway Backdoor
Appalachian ridge country the pavement tourists never find.
Namibia
ExpertNaukluft Mountains 4×4 Trail — Büllsport to Tsauchab River Gorge via the Naukluft Plateau High Spine
Dolomite cliff descents with zero room for error.