Travelling down wide-open roads, the wind rushing through your hair and the blaring music creating a fun soundtrack to your drive of a lifetime… a road trip is one of the most epic ways to explore the world.
From a classic America road trip and a scenic drive through the Canadian Rockies, to a journey through Australia’s outback, a trip to both New Zealand islands and a quintessential self-drive through South Africa, here are the top 10 worldwide road trips that every adventurous traveler should embark on.
1. Miami, Naples & Florida Keys, USA
Florida’s south is road trip heaven; think sparkling coastlines with white-sand beaches, wide-open highways, and enough sunshine to have you wondering how you’d ever survive without air-con. With hire car throughout, there’s 3-night stays in Miami, Naples and Key West. But you don’t have to stick to the itinerary; how you divvy it up is your choice. The Art Deco District in Miami’s South Beach for pastel-coloured whimsical buildings, Ocean Drive for day-to-night beach action, Naples for watersports and fresh seafood dinners, and Key West for Ernest Hemingway’s house-turned-museum.
2. Manali-Leh, India
The best time to travel to Leh from Manali is during the summer season or mid-October. The journey may take 15 hours or more. If you are planning the trip after October, you will have to drive through the snow-covered roads. The scenic beauty on this route is one of a kind and you will enjoy the trip thoroughly for sure. If you want to take a break in this journey, you can stop over at the Circuit House in Lahaul Valley.
3. Self-Drive Rocky Mountain Journey, Canada
With towering mountain peaks, sparkling lakes and quaint towns, the Rocky Mountains paint the perfect backdrop to a classic Canadian self-drive, starting in Calgary and ending in Vancouver, with stopovers in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. It’s undeniable that the Rocky Mountains region is one of the greatest areas in Canada, and one of the best ways to take in its unsurpassable views is by driving at your own pace. Take your time exploring Banff’s Sulphur Mountain and aboriginal history, spend an afternoon marvelling at Lake Louise’s beauty, and leisurely walk along the Glacier Skywalk near Jasper.
4. Mumbai-Goa, India
Goa is one of the most exciting places in India, and the road trip from Mumbai to Goa is even more exhilarating. If you want a smooth and safe road, you can take the Pune-Kolhapur Route. And, if you are traveling with your kids, you can take the Chiplun-Ratnagiri Route and take tour of the Karnal Bird Sanctuary. However, the Chiplun-Ratnagiri Route is narrow in some of the areas and a little rocky and tricky.
5. New England, USA
Hitting the Freedom Trail in Boston, wildlife spotting at Blue Mountain State Park, channelling your inner Gatsby at the grandiose Newport mansions, being wowed by the cliffs and seascapes of Arcadia National Park, and visiting Mystic Seaport - the one-time whaling port and clipper shipyard that’s now the USA’s leading maritime museum. Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Lazy River Campsite is a fun-filled paradise on the banks of the Wallkill River. There’s rustic accommodation, swimming pools, playgrounds, kayaking, tubing, fishing, mini golf, gem mining, and much more.
