The car cutting through the asphalt and the beauty of the landscape. Seriously, who doesn’t love a road trip? We dream of the day we will take a trip like this across North America or Europe and we have already been lucky enough to enjoy the beauty of New Zealand through the car window.
If when it comes to traveling by car, any beautiful road can be quite an attraction, some highways make the adventure even more impressive. We selected 10 of the most incredible roads in the world – on three of them we even had the opportunity to travel a section.
Are you going to hit the road? Don’t forget to also see our selection of 15 songs for traveling.
Furka Pass – Switzerland
Mountains and lots of green. This is what the traveler who crosses the Furka Pass, or Furka Pass, in plain English, encounters. The road is at around 2500 meters above sea level, in the Swiss Alps – yes, we are talking about the image that opens this post. But to really understand the beauty of this road, you need to watch the video below.
The Atlantic Road – Norway
Or, if you prefer, Atlantic Ocean Road, the full name of this road in Norway. And what a road! The stretch is short, not even 9 kilometers, and connects an island to the mainland. The scenery of bridges and sea has already earned the highway the reputation of being the most beautiful in the world. It’s difficult to describe the beauty of this road, so solve the problem and press play.
White Rim Road – United States
This is not a road for any car or inexperienced drivers. White Rim Road is 160 kilometers long and is in the Canyonlands National Park, one of the most incredible places in the United States. The reward for the traveler who takes this road is the fantastic view shown in the video.
Chapman’s Peak Drive – África do Sul
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Chapman’s Peak Drive, a route south of the city, helps maintain this reputation. Of the highways listed here, this is one that the 360 team saw up close – we were in South Africa right after the 2010 World Cup. The video below starts to get really interesting after two minutes, so be sure to check it out. see at least this point.
Stelvio Pass – Italy
Another mountain pass, this one in northern Italy. The road reaches 2700 meters high, one of the highest sections of the Alps. In addition to being an important route for travelers, between June and September the Stelvio Pass is very popular with cyclists, as the place hosts one of the most important competitions in Europe.
Manali / Leh – India
The highway that connects Manali, in northern India, to the state of Kashmir, has a double reputation: it is said to be one of the most beautiful and dangerous roads in the world. We were in Manali in 2012 and traveled a few kilometers along this highway, but only to the nearest ski resort. Even so, we saw that the road is really beautiful. Those who travel the 479 kilometers of the Leh–Manali Highway face average altitudes of 4,000 meters – and 5,328 meters at the highest point!
Guoliang Tunnel Road – China
Another extremely famous stretch, both for its beauty and its ability to kill drivers’ hearts. This tunnel excavated in the rock is 1.2 kilometers and four meters wide. It was built in the 70s to serve as a link between the town of Guoliang and the rest of the world. The route soon became a tourist attraction.
Going to the Sun Road – United States
This is the highway that cuts through the Glacier National Park, in Montana, United States. With just over 80 kilometers, this road is so photogenic that it has appeared in a ton of movies. You know that opening scene from “The Shining”? It was filmed there, as were some scenes from “Forrest Gump”.
Tongariro National Park Highways – New Zealand
Our entire road trip through New Zealand was marked by spectacular landscapes, the kind that would humble any Windows desktop wallpaper. Even so, car trips within Tongariro National Park – where many of the scenes from the “Lord of the Rings” films were filmed – are practically unbeatable in terms of beauty.
Milford Road – New Zealand
If the north island of New Zealand is already fantastic, it is the south that has the reputation of being paradise on Earth. Unfortunately we weren’t there, but Milford Road, at 119 kilometers, is one of the most beautiful in the country, a place full of postcards. Just like the previous highway, you may know some of the scenarios shown in the video because of the series “The Lord of the Rings”, which was filmed in New Zealand.
Did you miss any roads? Just leave a comment – who knows, perhaps the missing highways will be included in our next selections (and trip plans).
Featured image: Cooper.ch, Wikimedia Commons