Sandwiched between the majestic Outeniqua Mountain on one side
and whale-watching beaches on the other, South Africa’s Garden
Route offers up an enchanting road trip. Worthwhile excursions
inland to the Garden Route National Park, overflowing with mystical
lagoons, glassy lakes and bird-filled forests compete with the
secluded bays and wild beaches of the coast. Start your trip in
Cape
Town before quenching your thirst at Bramon wine estate near Plettenberg Bay, where you
can stay at the impressive
clifftop

This loop along the British Isles’ most northerly points is
billed as Scotland’s Route 66, where sweeping scenery is
accompanied by bracing Scottish winds. Start in Inverness and weave
your way among crumbling castle ruins, towering mountain ranges and
deserted beaches. Stop for a mandatory dram at Old
Pulteney Distillery and swat up on the tourist board’s advice
on what to do should you encounter a herd of highland cattle on the
road. This is remote, rugged
Scotland at its best. Pack plenty of woolly jumpers, an
appetite for adventure and a thirst for whisky.

Iceland trumps the standard mountain/beach offering of most road
trips with volcanoes, icebergs and, of course, the Northern Lights.
Provided you’re comfortable driving in sub-zero icy conditions with
minimal daylight hours, you’ll be rewarded with unparalleled
scenery. Endless snow-covered horizons reveal craggy mountains,
wild horses and crashing waterfalls. Allow at least a week for your
travels, bring a wide-angle lens camera and be sure to include
stops along the Golden Circle in the west, the waterfalls and
lagoons of the south and fjords and mountain passes of the east.
For an unbeatable overnight view of the Northern Lights head to the
remote Ion Adventure Hotel.

One of the most famous road trips in the world, little beats
driving south through Steinbeck country along Route 1. Hugging the
Pacific Coast you’ll be spoilt by uninterrupted sunsets, rolling
vineyards and world-class hotels, including the vertigo-inducing
Post Ranch Inn. Rent a Mustang
and download the Beach Boys’ travelogue album, Holland. Must-visit
stops along the way include the aquarium and seafood shacks in
Monterey, the picture-perfect Carmel and, of course, Big
Sur.

If you’re less about the journey and all about the ride then
Italy’s hairpin-bend-filled Stelvio Pass is the place to bring your
sports car and really let loose. Straddling the Swiss-Italian
boarder, this winding highway will push your nerves to the limit.
Open only in summer months, it’s a mere 42km long; drive it in its
entirety and be rewarded with satisfying adrenaline rushes and a
heady dose of vertigo. Stay at the alpine
Albergo Bellavista in Trafoi, tackling the 48 switchback turns
at the crack of dawn before the traffic clogs up. Spend the rest of
your trip indulging in Tyrolean pastimes such as hiking, cycling
the region’s mountainous terrain and tucking into the local
cuisine.

A road trip for gastronomes, the pastel-hued drive along Italy’s
stylish coastline is the stuff of summer fairytales,
picturesque at every turn and with ample opportunity for deserted
beach stops and clifftop walks.
Channel your favourite character from The Talented Mr Ripley
and embark on the leisurely 50km drive through Amalfi, Positano and
Ravello, stopping off at local trattorias to indulge in hearty
plates of pasta and seafood. Stay at Casa Angelina for easy access to
Positano’s restaurants along with breath-taking views.

Swap the coast for Canada‘s deserted inland area
for a road trip through resplendent mountainous roads and vast
glaciers. You’d be a fool to complete the trip in its achievable
three hours when there is ample opportunity for picnics,
photographs and glacier hikes as you wind your way through epic
mountain ranges between Banff and Jasper National Parks. Surrounded
by snow-capped peaks and endless blue skies, luxury hotels are best
shunned in favour of camping under sweeping starry skies. Possibly
the world’s best mountain drive, the only traffic you are likely to
encounter comes in the form of bears, elk and deer. Finish your
trip by warming your toes by a crackling log fire at the cabins of
Simpson’s Num-ti-Jah Lodge.