Eight epic road trips
From iconic journeys like Route 66 and Australia’s Great Ocean Road to less-well travelled paths, Jetsetter presents eight exhilarating road trips
THE ICONIC ONE: ROUTE 66, US
You can’t contemplate a road trip without considering Route 66, established in 1926 as one of America’s original highways. Spanning 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica and taking in eight states ( Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California), you’ll need several weeks to travel its entire length. While you can no longer drive Route 66 from end to end uninterrupted, a large portion (approximately 85 percent) remains paved and drivable, meaning you can travel through tumbleweed towns like Texola in Oklahoma and Cool Springs in Arizona, and pull in for a milk shake at a ‘ 50s diner like Peggy Sue’s between Vegas and LA. Explore Springfield, Missouri, said to be the birthplace of Route 66, before stopping at the nearby Meramec caverns to admire the extensive limestone caves. In Arizona, you’ll pass the Pained Desert and Petrified Forest National Park, and its highly eroded badlands while the Grand Canyon is an hour’s north of Route 66.
Car to drive: The ultimate car along Route 66 would have to be a convertible, and American of course. We suggest a Corvette, Cadillac or Pontiac.
Worth a detour: Join Highway 1 in California and cruise along the coast, stopping off in Monterey and Carmel, where Clint Eastwood was once mayor.
Where to stay en route: While there are many motels on the way, there are plenty of more luxurious experiences to be had along America’s most iconic road: try the Campbell Hotel in Tulsa ( thecampbellhotel. com) housed in a restored 1920s Spanish colonial building; there’s even a Route 66 suite filled with memorabilia. In California where the route ends, check into the Mission Hill Hotel & Spa ( missioninn.com): everyone from President Roosevelt to Tom Hanks has stayed here. national66.org
You’ll need several weeks to travel the entire length of Route 66, which begins in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica
THE COASTAL ONE: GREAT OCEAN ROAD, AUSTRALIA
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, this Australian National Heritage listed road stretches 150 miles along the southeast coast of the country between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. It’s home to craggy cliffs, perfect waves (hello, Bell’s Beach) deserted beaches and plenty of wildlife: you’ll see emus, kangaroos and koalas at the Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve. Its most iconic spot is the 12 Apostles, a dozen dramatic limestone rocks jutting out of the Southern Ocean. Stop off at Great Otway National Park to see waterfalls and stroll through the tops of ancient, mossy trees. Thirsty? The Basalt Vineyard or the Bellbrae Estate deliver some fine vintages. You can also sample bush tucker and learn to appreciate didgeridoo music at the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Geelong.
Car to drive: Try a campervan or any car with good storage – it’ll be perfect for stashing those surfboards should you want to pull over and hang ten during your trip.
Worth a detour: Head up to Cape Otway Lightstation and ascend the spiral staircase for vast, stunning ocean views, or try your luck whale watching at Logans Beach.
Where to stay en route: Try the Great Ocean Road Resort in Anglesea ( greatoceanroadresort.com.au) at the beginning of the road for riverside eats and wellness retreats and Drift House ( drifthouse.com.au) in Port Fairy, an original blue stone with six suites and a solar heated pool. visitgreatoceanroad.org.au
THE HISTORIC ONE: ALPINE ROAD, GERMANY
Germany’s oldest tourist route, the Alpine Road in Bavaria stretches 280 miles from Lindau on Lake Constance in the east to Schönau on Lake Königssee in the East, up towards Salzburg and the Austrian border. Along the way, you’ll encounter the Oberjoch Pass, an exhilarating, testing drive with 106 bends, and the fairtyale castles of King Ludwig II, including Neuschwanstein ( Sleeping Beauty’s castle and Cinderella’s castle were inspired by its dramatic Medieval stylings) and nearby Hohenschwangau, which is a 20- minute walk away. Later on, the route crosses into Tolzer Land, a popular holiday destination thanks to its many lakes including Lake Walchensee and another road, the Kesselberg Pass, is similarly thrilling, with its hairpin bends – the stretch from Kesselberg to Walchensee was a former race track. The route comes to an end at Lake Königssee, where you can take a cruise along the lake of the same name, or enjoy scenic walks through the Weissbach and Wimbach gorges, both of which offer good hiking routes and the chance to see Weissbach waterfalls.
Car to drive: As you’re in Germany, you’ve got your pick of homegrown luxury vehicles, including BMW, Mercedes, Audi or VW. How about a BMW 8 series convertible so you can feel the wind in your hair?
Worth a detour: As you’re so close to Austria, why not pop over the border to Salzburg after arriving at Lake Königssee?
Where to stay en route: Check in at Das Tegernsee ( dastegernsee. de), which offers everything from alpine chalets to modern suites over five distinct accommodation options and overlooks Tegernsee Lake. deutsche-alpenstrasse.de
Along the Alpine Road, you’ll encounter the exhilarating Oberjoch Pass and its 106 bends, and the fairtyale castles of King Ludwig II
THE FLORAL ONE: PATCHWORK, PANORAMA AND ROLLERCOASTER ROADS, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
Want to explore Japan beyond Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka? Then head to Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido and get lost in its quiet, picturesque landscapes not always reachable by public transport. Indeed, self-drive is popular in this furthest corner of Japan for that very reason. If you drive north from Sapporo to Biei, you’ll get to see – and smell – the heady aromas from the lavender fields in the Summer. While it’s called Patchwork Road due to its gorgeous patchwork of rural landscapes, it actually refers to Biei and the surrounding area rather than a specific road. Some of the flower farms are open to the public, like Farm Tomita, if you want to stop for an Insta selfie (and sample its famous soft-scoop lavender ice cream). Panorama Road (an area, not a road) is similarly scenic: drop by flower farms Shikisai Hill or Kanno Hill. Don’t forget to coast along the Rollercoaster Road, a 2.5km long, steep, straight road in Kamifurano near Biei.
Car to drive: Japan has plenty of car rental companies dedicated to certain brands, including Toyota Rentacar and Nissan Rentacar.
Worth a detour: Visit the Shirogane Blue Pond in Biei, which gets its colour from aluminium that’s seeped into the water. Back in Sapporo, you can keep with the floral theme by visiting the Hill of the Buddha, a lavendercovered rotunda by Pritzker-winning architect Tadao Ando.
Where to stay en route: Check into upscale ryokan Mori no Royotei Biei ( biei-hotel.com), a 17-room hideaway in the forest with hot springs. jnto.gov.jp
THE HIGH ONE: KATHMANDU TO LHASA, NEPAL & TIBET
One of the most popular overland trips to Lhasa, the Friendship Highway from Kathmandu eastwards towards Tibet takes you across the mighty Himalayas to the world’s highest capital city, Lhasa, and encounters snowy mountains, glaciers and sacred lakes along 808 miles. After crossing the Nepalese border, you’ll arrive in Gyirong before driving along the Sino-Nepal Highway to Tingri. But first, it’s Everest Base Camp to admire the world’s highest mountain (8,849m tall in case you’d forgotten). There’s also the chance to spot four other mountains over 8,000m high: Mount Lhotse (8,516m), Mount Mayalu (8,463m) and Mount Qowowuyag (8,210m). Travelling further east, it’s worth stopping off to admire the vivid murals and Buddhist scriptures at Sakya Monastery. At Shigatse, meanwhile, you’ll find the Tashilhunpo monastery, which was founded in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama. The journey to Lhasa continues by crossing the Karo La Pass, which is more than 5,000m above sea level, the Karo La glacier, and nearby Yamdrok Lake, which is more than 45 miles long. Lakes are considered sacred by Tibetans and many locals make pilgrimages here.
Car to drive: While many of the tours that traverse this route are four wheel drive, most of the Friendship Highway is well-paved so a sedan should do. Chinese passport holders can visit Tibet without a permit, others will need to do this journey with a guide.
Worth a detour: Stop off at Shigatse, Tibet’s second-largest city, to visit the Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second most important spiritual figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama.
Where to stay en route: While the scenery is stunning, the hotels along this journey are admittedly pretty run-of-the mill. If you have time to stop in Lhasa, there’s a St. Regis in the ancient Barkhor area overlooking the Potala Palace. welcomenepal.com; china.org.cn
After crossing the Nepalese border, you’ll arrive in Gyirong before driving along the Sino-Nepal Highway to Everest Base Camp
THE SUPER REMOTE ONE: ENNEDI PLATEAU, CHAD
If you’re feeling adventurous and Route 66 or the Great Ocean Road seem just too cliched, then why not take a trip to the Ennedi in Chad and get up close to the glorious Ennedi Plateau, a sublime collection of sandstone mountains sculpted by wind and sand into breathtaking rock formations. A journey that only a select few tourists have ever made, this remote corner of the Sahara will admittedly involve booking with a travel agency ( try nativeyetravel.com), but it’s still an amazing road trip to take. The trip starts in N’Djamena, travelling through the Sahel, passing small settlements, including Keraida nomad families with their camels. There’s the opportunity to look for rock dating back thousands of years, or spot one of the last populations of Saharan crocodiles, before crossing the vast dunes of the Mourdi Depression. Next up on this epic journey is the Ounianga Lakes, where the desert opens up to reveal a series of multihued lakes. Expect to see camel caravans on their way to the settlement of Ouaddai before travelling through the Bahr el Ghazal region, which is a great place to do a bit of African wildlife spotting. Keep an eye out for the fennec fox, bustards and gazelles.
Car to drive: It’s got to be a Land Rover to navigate those testing desert roads.
Worth a detour: Stop off at Demi, a small, isolated settlement on the edge of a salt pan to see its residents digging the red earth for salt to be exchanged for goods like millet and sorghum.
Where to stay en route: Given the remote location, the trip involves overnight camping – but there’s a Radisson Blu and a Hotel Radisson in N’Djamena. africantourismboard.com