Road trips are well and truly underrated. Not only can they be more convenient then air travel (if properly planned) and offer just as much adventure (if not more), they are also a great way of saving money, which you can then spend on lavish accommodation and thrill-seeking adventures.
For some inspiration, check out our roundup of the top 3 unforgettable road trips to add to your bucket list.
For epic views: Ring Road, Iceland
Duration: 8 -14 days
Distance: 1332km
A driving holiday around Iceland’s Ring Road offers widescreen views of its cinematic landscapes that will have you making comparisons to the Game of Thrones and Lord of Rings. It is recommended that you spend a minimum of eight days to allow enough time to see all the sights and to plan lots of exciting activities.
Highlights:
The popular Golden Circle route will take you to Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.
Moving away from the South to the east, you will be surrounded by nothing but nature and wilderness. You may even drive a few hours without seeing as much as another car.
Along the way you will be enamored by glacial rivers, snow-capped mountain ranges, cascading waterfalls and lush green meadows. Before you have a chance to soak it all in, you will turn a bend and face a landscape of lava fields. Behind every twist and turn, expect the unexpected!
When it comes to road trips, Ring Road is high on the list, filling your quota of breathtaking landscapes and thrilling activities.
For oenophiles: Route 62 South Africa
Distance: 850 km
Duration: 7 days +
Voted the best road trip in the world by CNN in 2017, the scenic route route meanders between Cape Town, Outdshoorn, the Garden Route and Port Elizabeth. Offering wildlife, great food, fine wines and plenty to do, this is one of the road trips that offers something for everyone.
Highlights:
Begin the iconic journey from Chapman’s Peak Drive in Cape Town which provides spectacular views around the mountainside between Hout Bay and Noordhoek.
Highlights include the hotel mineral springs and private Roman baths at the Warmwaterberg spa that are perfect for relaxing aching muscles after long hours of driving.
To get your blood pumping, enjoy a hike on the classic Donkey Trail, which takes you on an extraordinary journey over the Swartberg Mountains.
Route 62 makes up part of the world’s longest wine route with over 65 wineries situated along the way. From small, up-and-coming winemakers to larger, more established wine farms and cellars, this road trip is sure to please the finest of wine aficionados.
For the nature lover: Great Ocean Road, Australia
Duration: 3 to 4 nights
Length: 243 km
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most famous road trips in the world. It comes as no surprise then that road trippers can expect to witness mountains, oceans, rainforests, dramatic cliffs, lighthouses and national parks, of which are home to kangaroos, penguins, koalas and more!
Highlights:
Among the top highlights is Bells Beach which rose to fame after the famous surf movie, Point Break. While it wasn’t actually filmed here, it still attracts surfers from near and far.
Nature lovers should make a stop at the Great Otway National Park, covering rugged coastland, beaches and the mountains of the Otway Ranges. After taking plenty of pictures at the 3 cascades of Triplet Falls, take a walk through the Boardwalks leading to the rainforest at Maits Rest. For unrivalled views of Australia’s Shipwreck Coast, be sure to add in a visit to the Cape Otway Lighthouse.
Last but not least, travel onwards to the breathtaking Twelve Apostles. Here, you will marvel at the collection of limestone stacks towering 65 metres above water, which were once connected to the mainland cliffs.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a map, book a car and get planning a memorable adventure on one of the world’s most stunning road trips.
Text: Hira Desai