Top 9 best road trips in the world

While there are limitless ways to experience the full force of a country or continent, there's nothing quite like buckling up, hitting the open road and embarking on an epic road trip across a country (or two). Behind the wheel, you're in full control of the agenda, steering the trip wherever your heart or mind takes you. Put simply, it's all about the journey.

Our list of the 10 best road trips in the world covers everything from Alpine mountain passes and arid desert drives in western America, to lush forests in Japan and India, to highest motorable roads in India and the rugged coastlines of Norway and Scotland. With that, indulge in some route planning and prepare to be inspired.

1. Blue Ridge Parkway, USA (755km)

Just over three hours southwest of Washington DC is the start of the most phenomenal scenic byway that carves its way through the lush, mountainous forests of Virginia and North Carolina. Named the Blue Ridge Parkway – due to the surrounding mountains having a bluish colour when seen from a distance – the route starts in Afton, Virginia, and runs for 469 miles (755km) down the spine of the Blue Ridge, before finishing up in Cherokee. Driving along here at any time of year is a treat but prepare to be blown away in autumn, when the forests turn to iridescent shades of brown, orange and red. Linking the Shenandoah National Park to the beautifully named Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this route down the eastern states of the USA is one to savour.

2. Khardung La Pass, India (40km)

Khardung La Pass is roughly the same height as Everest base camp, at a staggering altitude of 5,359 meters (17,582 feet) above sea level. Impressive? Not impressive enough apparently. The local signs all insist that the pass is actually 5,602 meters! Situated at a distance of around 40 km from the city of Leh, the feel that one gets while traversing on this route is in itself as exciting as it gets.The road is the only way Khardungla top is connected to the outside world and you can easily use this precious means for your journey. Cars, bikes are available for rent around Leh, Buses are available too. They start from Leh and go all the way up to Nubra Valley, passing through Khardungla pass. It takes about one and half hours in a car, a little faster if you can hop on a bike whilst also enjoying the world’s highest motorable pass.

3. Great St Bernard Pass, Italy (230km)

For movie fans, this road is a must-drive after it was immortalised in the iconic opening scene of the original Italian Job, starring Michael Caine. The film opens with a Lamborghini Muria dancing its way over the Great St Bernard Pass, which, aside from a few safety improvements, is still as unspoilt and spectacular as it was back in 1969. Its blend of sheer drops, hairpin bends and tunnels give way to vistas across the Alps, making it the model Alpine mountain pass. Added to that, the starting point in the charming Italian city of Turin is only topped by finishing up on the shores of Lake Geneva in the jazz town of Montreux.

4. Wayanad Ghat Road, India (86km)

Clinging on for dear life as you negotiate the twists and turns of the Wayanad Ghat Road in Kerala is an exhilarating experience. Cutting through the lush forest of the Western Ghats, the road snakes its way past waterfalls, misty mountains and vast tea plantations that date back centuries. Driving the Thamarassery Churam mountain pass, which sits 800m above sea level, it's worth stopping along the route to take in some of the spectacular scenery, or hiking to explore the waterfalls and trails – just watch out for wild elephants who occasionally stray across the road!

5. The Japanese Alps (740km)

Getting off the train and into a car in Japan is one of the best things you can do. While the Shinkansen – or Bullet Train – is a marvellous feat of engineering, exploring Japan by car is how to access the country's best-kept secrets. Taking the long way round from Kyoto to Tokyo, head north from the historic city and up to Kanazawa. From here, the route heads east across the Japanese Alps, taking in the onsen – hot spring – spa towns high in the mountains. With some epic and well-kept driving roads that twist their way through the mountains, the route is a must for any keen drivers. After navigating your way through the hills, the route takes in some historic sights, like the Samurai city of Matsumoto, before it heads towards the hill resort town of Karuizawa and south, to the bright neon lights of Tokyo.

6. Atlantic Road, Norway (111km)

Navigating Norway's extensive road network, which is punctuated by bridges, tunnels and ferries, is one of the best ways to take in its mighty landscape. With towering, sheer-faced and snow-capped peaks rising from the depths of its icy fjords and glacial lakes, inspiration isn’t hard to find. One particular route, the Atlantic Road, is perhaps the best example of Norway's sightseeing routes as it sweeps its way from the city of Molde and over to the island of Averøy, giving way to some spectacular views across the Atlantic. If you tackle this stretch on a calm summer's day, it's possible to soak up the stillness as you breeze across the sparkling water, but head there as a blustery northwest storm rolls in and be prepared to feel the full force of the Atlantic's awesomeness.

7. The North Coast 500, Scotland (830km)

One of the best road trips the United Kingdom has to offer is the North Coast 500. As the name suggests, the 500-mile route loops its way around Scotland's rugged northern coastline, taking in everything from white sandy beaches to mountains and remote fishing villages. Heading north from Inverness, the route takes in the Black Isle, Easter Ross and Caithness around the top of the British Isles, including the most northerly point, John O'Groats. After that, the route heads back down the western coast and south through Sutherland, Wester Ross and back to Inverness.

8. Switzerland’s Furka Pass: (35km)

Lying 2,431 metres above sea level, the Furka Pass is one of the most famous Alpine roads of Switzerland. It links Andermatt in the Canton of Uri with Gletsch in the Canton of Valais and is part of the popular Three-Pass-Ride over the Furka, Grimsel and Susten Pass. The pass was immortalised by the Aston DB5 / Ford Mustang car chase in James Bond's Goldfinger.

9. Route 66, USA: (3,940Km)

Established on November 11, 1926, U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. The highway winds from the shores of Lake Michigan across Illinois, to the hills of the Missouri Ozarks, through Kansas, across Oklahoma, to the open lands of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, to the Mojave Desert, and finally to the metropolis of Los Angeles and the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Jack Kerouac’s immortal classic On the Road and John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath have immortalized this route.