China
DifficultFriendship Highway — Lhasa to Kathmandu
The roof of the world, all 900 kilometres of it.
Trail Type: Overland Route
Romania
ModerateTransfăgărășan Highway
Ceaușescu's mountain folly is Europe's best drive.
Arizona
ExpertEl Camino del Diablo — Ajo to Yuma via the Sonoran Desert Borderlands Track
The Devil's Highway still collects its toll.
Hela Province
ExtremeCondom Road — Mount Hagen to Tari via Southern Highlands Highland Highway Spur
The Highlands route that earns every mile.
Kunene Region
DifficultHuab River Conservancy Track — Damaraland Desert Valley Drive via Palmwag to Twyfelfontein
Petroglyphs, elephants, and zero guardrails.
Algeria
ExtremePiste du Tassili n’Ajjer — Djanet to Tamanrasset via the Saharan Plateau Gorge Circuit
Saharan plateau rock art and zero margin for error.
Australia
ModerateSavannah Way — Cairns to Broome via the Gulf Country and Kimberley Outback
Coast to coast on Australia's wild northern corridor.
British Columbia
DifficultTatlow Road to Chilcotin Plateau — Chilcotin Wilderness High Road via Big Creek Provincial Park
Chilcotin canyon country, almost zero company.
Botswana
ExpertTrans-Kalahari Crossing — Ghanzi to Rakops via Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Deep Kalahari sand, lions on the pan, zero backup.
Kunene Region
ExtremeKaokoland Desert Traverse — Opuwo to Purros via the Hartmann Valley
Africa's most unforgiving desert corridor.