The World’s Most Interesting Roads
Posted on: 24/09/2014This is obviously extremely subjective, touching upon anyone’s interpretation of the term ‘interesting’ and what that might encompass.
For instance, to some, this may mean out-and out-dangerous with the potential for loss of life. For others, the most astonishing view. Yet others, that the road in question isn’t just a straight line for hundreds of miles, regardless of the amazing view, but takes in a few twists and turns, a few ups and downs to spice up the actual driving experience.
There were some that came close to making this the list and from some stunning parts of the world: from Pakistan to Hawaii, the Alps in Austria and France, to the UAE and over to California. But you have to make the cut somewhere and this is where we did. If you don’t like it, make your own list.
So, with without further ado, here it is: our list of the world’s most interesting roads.
Great Ocean Road, Australia
A most beautiful drive through the unique Australian bush, with the wind in your hair and the ocean spread out before you, from Torquay to Warrnambool incorporating the Great Otway National Park. Further west, the magnificent limestone cliffs of Port Campbell National Park there are so many things to stop and do, from diving to surfing, walking to meeting koalas.
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Red Rock Scenic Road, Sedona, USA
The Red Rock Scenic Road winds through Sedona’s Red Rock Country, called locally the ‘museum without walls’, it passes through the Montezuma Castle National Monument and the Coconino National Forest.
Oberalp Pass
In the high Swiss mountains, this links Central Switzerland and the Graubunden Oberland, but is open only during summer months. All together now- the hills are alive…
Iroha-Zaka, Japan
Perhaps the most unique in its name, the Iroha-Zaka connects central Nikko and Oku-Nikko. Starting in alphabetical order from I-ro-ha, Iroha-Zaka actually consists two roads, one to go down and the other up. They both have 48 curves matching the 48 letters of the Japanese alphabet. All that said, it’s also stunning.
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Leh Manali Highway, India
The Leh-Manali Highway crosses some of the highest mountain passes in the world, Tanglang La (5,325 m), Lachulung La (5,059 m), Baralacha La (4,892 m) and Rohtang La (3,978 m) and is open between June and mid-September, when the copious snow is shoveled clear. The route is narrow, windy and treacherous, with few places to pass traffic and precipitous cliff drops littered with the skeletons of past disasters. Lovely views though.
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North Yungas ‘Road of Death’, Bolivia
A 43-mile long road, connecting La Paz and Coroico, in the Andes mountain range. Fog and rain can make visibility poor and the road surface muddy on this, another cliffhanging drive, which only adds to the danger. Known locally as ‘El Camino de la Muerte’, the Road of Death, it was awarded the title of world’s most dangerous road in 1995. That’s next summer sorted then.
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Lysebotn Road, Norway
Lysebotn climbs up the steep walls of the Lysefjord, Norway. 1.1km long tunnel at the bottom, hiding three switchbacks inside and 27 hairpins up to the top. At least the surface is metalled, unlike the last couple of destinations. Generally viewed as one of the most breathtaking roads in Europe.
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Guoliang Tunnel Road, China
The tunnel, literally carved into the Taihang mountains, Hunan province, is 1,200meters long and considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world, being so narrow and twisty. It’s a top draw on the Chinese tourism map.
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Ruta 40, Argentina
At over 3,200 miles long, travelling through 11 provinces, 12 National Parks and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Argentina's National Highway ‘Ruta 40’, spans the country running along the foothills of the Andes Mountains, reaching heights of over 4,900m, all the way to the northernmost border. Truly amazing.
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Overseas Highway, Florida Keys, USA
The Overseas Highway island hops across 42 bridges through the Florida Keys, offering world beating views of the sea and, if you time it right, incredible sunrises/sunsets.
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Icefields Parkway, Rockies, Canada
144miles, through the truly vast wilderness of ancient lakes, valleys and glaciers that make up the ‘Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site’. If you want the epic natural beauty of forest and mountains, this is the one.
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Stelvio Pass, Italy
Connects Valtellina with Merano and the upper Adige valley. The Stelvio Pass oddly also has 48 hairpin bends, steep inclines and very narrow passes, but it’s the incomparable Alpine views along the way that set it apart.
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Chaloos Road, Iran
From Chaloos on the Caspian Sea to the capital, Tehran, covering desert, through the Kandevan Tunnel to the lush green of the Albors mountain range, it’s one of the (little known) most scenic routes in the world.
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Transfagarasan, Romania
North-South across the tallest Carpathian Mountains, The 90km Transfăgărășan was originally conceived in the Seventies as a strategic military route, by Communist leader Ceausescu. It connects the wild, historic regions of Transylvania and Wallachia, with the cities of Pitesti and Sibiu.
