Great road trips

South Bali/Ubud - Jatiluwih - Bedugul - Munduk - Lovina - Kubutambahan - Mt. Batur - Bangli - Pura Besakih - Rengan - Amlapura.

With this semi-loop, you will see a lot of great temples, get incredible views of rice terraces, pass rumbling volcanoes and just drive some darn nice winding roads from the hot lowland in the south to the wet and misty mountainous inland back down to humid north coast just to return to the chilled mountains. The first leg to Jatiluwih can even be done on potholed back roads if you really want to experience the calm and tranquil life of the ordinary Balinese people in the countryside. Rent a scooter and off you go, but keep in mind that accommodation outside the tourist areas can be scarce.

As always, the best way to explore any place is with your own set of wheels, and Lombok is no exception. Rent a scooter in Sengigi and take off on the Lombok Loop, that circles the majestic volcano cone of Gunung Rinjani (3726 m). Stop at deserted beaches, hidden waterfalls, small villages and ancient tombs, while driving through an ever changing landscape that passes rice paddy fields, palm groves, jungle and even a mountain pass. You can cut across the island and only do the northern half, or continue south to include the whole of Lombok. The full circuit can be rushed in four days, but deserves more, and can be done like this: Sengigi – Senaru – Pusuk pass (1600 m) – Sapit – Labuhan Haji – Kuta Lombok – Sengigi.

In an effort to make travel easier in the Kurdistan region in early 20th century, the local government wanted a road built. The problem is, the area stretching from the regional capital of Erbil north to the Iranian border is rather remote and very mountainous. The locals simply did not have the expertise to take on such a project themselves. Enter New Zealander A. M. Hamilton. While the techniques and statistics associated with the road (built between 1928 and 1932) are somewhat interesting, it is instead the setting of the road that is of interest to modern day travellers. To use words like spectacular or breathtaking simply do not do it justice. Carving its way through valleys and ravines with the backdrop of waterfalls and snowcapped mountains, the road (known as the Hamilton Road) is without question the most beautiful journey, not only in Iraq, but in the entire region.

Any road to Dingle Peninsula is pretty, but the one that leads over Connor Pass is a league of its own. From the coast the winding road leads into the mountains, passing corrie lakes, as you slowly climbs toward the pass. At some point the already narrow road becomes an one lane road carved into the mountain side. However, oncoming traffic is still there, in addition to the occasional sheep, so beware. Dense fog often roll in over the pass and obscure the otherwise spectacular view over Dingle Peninsula. The drive over Connor Pass is so extraordinary, that it's worth doing it from both sides.

Ring of Kerry is a very pretty 200 km long road trip which starts and ends in Killarney. It follows the N71, then N70 along the coast on Inveragh Peninsula, and then N72 back to Killarney. It can be done in both directions, but most people, including the big tour buses, do it counter clockwise. Usual it takes about five hours to do the full circuit, but of course it depends on the numbers of stops and side trips, for there are plenty to see, like villages, castles, ring forts, waterfalls, beaches, bays...
Though Ring of Kerry is probably the most famous road trip in Ireland, it's getting hard competition from the Slea Head Drive on Dingle Peninsula if measured by prettiness.

There are plenty of great road trips on Ireland, but two stands out: The famous Ring of Kerry and the little less famous Slea Head Drive. We will not get into which one is best, just do both. The Slea Head Drive takes the route along the rugged coast of Dingle Peninsula. It's a circular route which starts and ends in the cute, but a bit touristic, town of Dingle and can be done in both directions (the big tour buses do it counter clockwise). There are several historical sites along the drive, like beehive huts, but the best bits are the amazing views of the wild coast and green hills. The road is narrow with lots of twists and turns. The loop is just 47 km, but as you probably going to have photo stop every five minutes and shorter walks to reach view points, plan at least four hours for the full circuit.

The roads on mountainous Central Shikoku are, in general, in good condition, but they can be winding and narrow. The north part of the road in Iya Valley is one of the more extreme. Sections of the zigzagging two-way road are so narrow that cars can't pass each other. When they meet, one has to reverse to a wider part. Roadside mirrors are placed at many bends, but alertness and low speed is still essential to omit collision. Thankfully, Japanese are known to be courteous drivers.
Another spectacular roadtrip is the section of route 439, which connects Iya Valley with Oboke Gorge through the Kyobashira Pass (1133 m). This road is not in good condition, but it can be made in a regular car.

Travelling the road from Vientiane to Luang Prabang by motorbike is not for the faint of heart. Potholes, landslides in the wet season, vertical drops with no barriers, narrow roads with endless blind corners and drivers happy to go around those blind corners on the wrong side of the road! Despite all the danger, the vivid green rice fields, stunning valleys and friendly locals along the way make it all worth it.
Many of the villages you pass along the way are found way up in the hillside. So the best way to experience the incredible panoramas and people, is to stop off for a warm beer or Pepsi and wait for the village to come out greet their newest guests.

The best way to explore the beautiful countryside of southern Laos is with your own set of wheels. Rent a scooter in Pakse and take a road trip around and through the cool and coffee growing heaven of Bolaven plateau and see some of the best waterfalls in the country. There are so many waterfalls along this way with small villages that you will have to pick out the best ones and give the rest a miss. The saved energy can then be used for waving at all the kids along the way. The round trip can even be extended with a return trip to the trader town of Attapeu and even further east passing Pa-am village, heading into the jungle for a crazy attempt to reach the mythical crater lake of Nong Fa (as of 2010 we couldn't find any road all the way to Nong Pa, but it should be possible).

Any traveller who enjoys challenges and hardship will find a prime location in Liberia's interior. Especially the south-east of the country, which finds itself cut off from the rest of Liberia for months at a time during the rains. Dense rainforest cover the region only broken by isolated villages and some very, very muddy roads. Here inhabitants and their strong traditional beliefs are mostly left to their own devices. With a good local guide and pair of sturdy hiking boots, it's possible to explore the rudiments of rural Africa to its fullest. Travellers with more sadomasochistic tendencies could simply have a go at the public transportation in these parts of the woods.