Azerbaijan
ModerateTranseca — Tbilisi to Baku via the South Caucasus Military Highway and Ganja Corridor
Silk Road dirt, Soviet ghosts, Caspian finish.
Trail Type: Scenic Drive
Namibia
DifficultSkeleton Coast Ugab River Mouth to Springbokwasser — Damaraland Coastal Desert Drive
Permit-only desert coast where ships come to die.
France
ModerateRallye des Cimes — Col de la Cayolle to Col de Vars via the Ubaye Alpine High Loop
Two high cols, one valley, zero guardrails.
Alaska
ModeratePiste de l’Erg Murzuq — Ubari to Germa via the Fezzan Oasis Lakes and Sand Sea
Alaska's forgotten highway. The real one.
California
ModerateMontaña de Oro Bluff Trail and Islay Creek Road — San Luis Obispo Coast Backcountry via Valencia Peak
Pacific cliffs, creek crossings, zero crowds.
France
ModeratePassage du Gua — Col de la Bonette to Jausiers via the Highest Paved Mountain Road in the Alps
Highest paved road in the Alps. Earn the view.
New Zealand
ModerateMordor Road — Lake Ōhau to Ohau Skifield via the Mackenzie Basin High Terrace
Rohan is real. It's in the Mackenzie Basin.
India
DifficultLeh to Khardung La and Nubra Valley — Northern Ladakh High Desert via Khardung Village
5,359 metres. Camels below. Glaciers above.
China
DifficultSichuan–Tibet Highway — Chengdu to Lhasa via the G318 High Altitude Corridor
The highest overland highway on the planet.
Gilgit-Baltistan
ModerateKarakoram Highway — Gilgit to Sost via Hunza Valley and Passu Glacier
Hunza Valley to the roof — the KKH at its wildest.