Romania
ModerateTransfăgărășan Highway — Bâlea Lac to Sibiu via the Southern Carpathian High Crossing
Ceaușescu's mountain scar. Europe's wildest paved pass.
Trail Type: Overland Route
Kenya
ExpertTurkana Jade Sea Road — Loiyangalani to North Horr via the Chalbi Desert Fringe
Jade lake to salt flat — East Africa at its rawest.
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — Lennard River to Adcock Gorge via the Kimberley Ranges Spine
Bulldust, crossings, and gorge-country solitude.
Chad
ExtremePiste du Djourab — N’Djamena to Faya-Largeau via the Djourab Fossil Erg
A thousand clicks of Sahara and zero backup.
Idaho
DifficultGrave Creek to Magruder Corridor — Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Divide via Paradise Guard Station
100 miles of wilderness road. No way out but through.
Gandaki Province
ExpertTatopani to Kagbeni — Mustang Salt Trail via Kali Gandaki Gorge
The world's deepest gorge on four wheels.
China
ExpertSichuan–Tibet Highway — Markam to Zuogong via Dongda La High Pass and Lancang River Canyon
Sea-level canyon to 5,000m pass in one gut-punch climb.
Australia
ExtremeCanning Stock Route — Well 36 to Well 51 via the Great Sandy Desert Northern Core
The CSR's loneliest stretch — no help, no signal, no mercy.
Australia
DifficultGibb River Road — Barnett River Gorge to Pentecost River via Mount Barnett Station and Manning Gorge
Kimberley corrugations, crocs, and cold gorge water.
Canada
ModerateKluane–Haines Junction High Country Road — Dezadeash Lake to Kathleen Lake via the St. Elias Mountain Front
Biggest icefields in North America. Smallest crowds.