Just driving along any road on our list is enough to have an amazing vacation! After all, along the way you can see the most beautiful places on our planet and feel the spirit of life on wheels. You will never be able to forget these places.
Let's explore the most stunningly beautiful roads in the world. And let’s hope that we get to drive through at least one of them. Well, for now, with the help of video, we will go through them virtually.
1. On the edge of the abyss. France: Verdon Gorge
The Grand Canyon, but not in the USA? Rocky gorge, but not in the desert? Whatever the Verdon Gorge is called, the fact remains that today it is the largest canyon in all of Europe: its length is 25 kilometers and its depth reaches 700 meters! Although the Verdon Gorge is inferior in scale to the Arizona canyon, it clearly surpasses it in beauty: in spring and summer, trees and shrubs cover the slopes with a thick layer, grazing only in front of the steepest cliffs. It will take a whole day to go around the gorge, although there are only a hundred kilometers. But they all consist entirely of bends, descents and ascents, man-made tunnels and passages under rocks hanging overhead and hiding the sky.
2. High in the mountains. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan: Pamir Highway
Travelers are always attracted to places marked “the very best”: the northernmost point of Europe, the westernmost point of Russia, the highest mountain, the deepest depression. The Pamir Highway is one of these places. After all, it is the highest mountain road in the territory of the former USSR.
One of the most exciting stops along the way is Lake Karakul, the largest in Tajikistan, located at an altitude of 3914 meters above sea level. From here begins a steep climb to the spurs of the great Pamirs. Rocks, gorges, tunnels, dirt road, dust, lack of vegetation, rare villages and flocks of sheep - this almost Martian landscape stretches all the way down to the valley on the Tajik side.
3. From north to south. USA: Dalton Highway
This is Alaska, gentlemen! A harsh and, at first glance, unfriendly land that will only give a prepared and responsible traveler an unforgettable experience and reveal its riches.
Alaska really has something to share: the largest US state is still almost unspoilt by civilization; on its territory there are 23 (!) national parks and reserves. Through some of them: the White Mountains, the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge, nature reserves on the banks of the Yukon River, the Gates of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge - the Dalton Highway passes through, sometimes getting lost in a flat snow-covered or grass-covered plain, sometimes winding between surrounding on all sides by forested mountains.
4. To the homeland of Dracula. Romania: Transfagarasan Highway
Transfagaras is one of the rare examples of how an object created for military purposes becomes famous throughout the world and attracts many tourists to the country. The 261-kilometer-long highway passes through picturesque valleys and fields of wheat, which Romanians sometimes still reap by hand, past lakes and reservoirs, through cute Romanian villages with identical dark stone houses. Not far from the start of the highway is the pretty town of Sibiu, with classic Romanian architecture and, like the Romanian language, a mixture of Latin, Romanesque and Slavic heritage.
5. The expanses of Altai. Russia: Chuysky tract
This ancient road is the first line that connected Russia and China many centuries ago. Driving along the Chuysky tract is like crossing the whole of Russia. The path begins in Biysk, with birch groves and villages, in one of which the writer Vasily Shukshin was born. And after a hundred kilometers, once you pass Gorno-Altaisk, it seems as if you are in the times of the development of Siberia: the stormy waters of the Katun, rocky gorges and green valleys. The mountain taiga begins.
Turn left - you will get to Lake Teletskoye, right - to the foot of Belukha, where Roerich looked for Shambhala on the way to the Himalayas. And if you drive straight all the time, you will see the Kurai steppe at the foot of the North Chuysky ridge. If you wish, you can drive a few kilometers and walk up to the eternal snow. In the Kurai steppe there are the last islands of the taiga, and already beyond the pass the real steppe begins, where nomadic yurts stand and camel caravans roam.
6. Visit the trolls. Norway: Atlantic Road
The Atlantic Road (No. 64) goes almost along the ocean itself, jumping from island to island with the help of bridges and tunnels. This is a unique technological structure: the route is only 8.5 kilometers long - as many as six bridges! The main one is the Storseisundet Bridge, which is also called the “Bridge to Heaven”. If you approach it from the mainland, it seems as if the road surface breaks off at the highest point and the traveler can only jump straight into the sky.
However, the Atlantic Road is only part of the route along the fjords. Moving along it further towards Oslo, you will come to one of the most famous serpentines in Europe - the “Troll Staircase” climbing the mountainside. Harmful trolls often curtain their stairs with thick fog, but this makes the serpentine even more beautiful: gray stones and bizarrely shaped rocks, densely overgrown with lush bright green grass and moss, appear through the “milk”.
7. Stand above the clouds. China: Great Gate Road
This road is one of the steepest serpentines in the world in every sense. She climbs Tianmen Mountain, which is located 8 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie in southeast China. This asphalt ribbon, only 11 kilometers long, rises to a height of 1300 meters, making 99 turns along the way! For the Chinese, the number 9 is sacred: it is the number of the emperor, as well as the number of palaces that, according to legend, await a person in heaven.
The main attraction of the route is the Heavenly Gate cave. It was formed in the 3rd century, when a huge block broke off from the rock. The 131.5 meter high "Gate" is often completely shrouded in fog. Local residents believe that by passing through them, you can truly go to heaven.
8. Through the pampas. Argentina: Route 40
Route 40 (Ruta 40) crosses almost the entirety of Argentina from north to south and runs along the high Andean ridges. This is one of the longest roads in the world: 5000 kilometers - no joke! Especially if they pass through several climate zones. The landscape around is constantly changing: forests, rocks, lakes, fields, meadows, deserts, almost uninhabited pampas, asphalt and gravel, dust and red sand, sun and knocking wind...
In Los Glaciares Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, which contains the third largest freshwater reserve in the world. Its area is quite comparable to the area of the entire Buenos Aires, while the glacier is in constant motion, changing its location by an average of 2 meters every day. You can admire it both from observation platforms and by going for a walk directly on the ice crumbs, accompanied by a climber.
9. Colorado Plateau. USA: Great Circle
The American Wild West is the territory west of the Rocky Mountains. When the pioneers first began to explore the Indian territories, they came across unique natural attractions that they could not appreciate. Today this area is called the "Great Circle".
The most convenient way to travel from Denver is to first climb to the Rocky Mountain National Park, where the Colorado River begins, and continue through Aspen to the Colorado Plateau. On the way, it is worth seeing Arches Park and the famous Monument Valley in the territory of the Navajo Indians. Near the town of Page, you can't miss the inconspicuous Antelope Canyon - there will be a simple wooden sign on the side of the road with the appropriate inscription. It’s also worth going on a boat trip on Lake Powell; fortunately, you can rent a boat. Just south of Page the famous Grand Canyon begins. If you drive along its southern part, then in addition to views of the canyon you will be able to catch a preserved piece of the first trans-American Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles.
10. Along the edge of the continent. Australia: Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is 243 kilometers long and runs along the Pacific coast of Australia. The road has no practical significance - it was built by soldiers returning from the First World War as a monument to the victims of the battles. After its opening in 1932, the road became the largest war memorial in the world, and thirty years later it was recognized as one of the most picturesque on the planet. And for good reason: the route runs almost along the very coast, offering views of endless expanses of water and quiet, secluded lagoons. Among the main attractions along the way is the mysterious “Shipwreck Coast”, where 638 ships have crashed. And the “Twelve Apostles” is a group of limestone rocks standing separately in the ocean up to 45 meters high. In fact, there are only eight rocks here, and until recently they were called nothing more than “Pig and Pigs.”
Most of the roads and highways are boring and uninteresting, and you'll want to get stuck on them after a few hours of driving. However, there are still unique roads on Earth that do not allow drivers to relax for a minute, which take your breath away and where you want to return again and again. The most interesting things are mainly mountain roads with serpentines or highways going over bridges over the sea. Meet the ten most beautiful roads in the world, which every driver simply must drive.
10. Florida Keys Seven Mile Bridge, USA
This 11.27 kilometer bridge, also known as the Seven Mile Bridge, connects Florida to the Florida Keys. Here you can drive a car between heaven and earth a hundred kilometers per hour over turquoise water along a highway stretched like a string.
9. Dadès Gorges, Morocco
Over the course of several thousand years, the Dades River in the Atlas Mountains carved out a deep, steep gorge, where one of the most beautiful and most dangerous roads in the world was made. The highway winds like a narrow snake along stone ledges, has a bunch of hairpins and 360-degree turns, at which you have to slow down to zero.
8. Transfăgărăşan, Romania
Romanian dictator Nicola Ceausescu loved large-scale projects that captured the imagination of ordinary people. One of them is the Transfagarasan Highway, cut through the Carpathians between the regions of Wallachia and Transylvania. The road twists and turns intricately, now rising to the clouds, now descending to the ground, and from the side of the road there are simply bewitching views of the majestic mountains. This highway is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, climbing to 8th place in our ranking, attracting tens of thousands of tourists every year, becoming in some way the hallmark of Romania.
7. Sani Pass, South Africa
From southern Africa, Lesotho can be reached through the Drakensberg Mountains, driving through the Sani Pass at an altitude of over 2800 meters above sea level. Only high-quality drivers in four-wheel drive vehicles can get up here along narrow serpentines, but extreme sports enthusiasts can go down from Lesotho in almost any technically sound car. The length of the dirt road is 9 kilometers.
6. Stelvio Pass, Italy
The Stelvio Pass, also known as the Stelvio road, is a 2-kilometer stretch of narrow cliff-clutching road in the Italian Alps that rises to a height of almost 2,757 meters. The road was built in 1820 by the Austrian Empire, which connected Lombardy with the rest of Austria, since then practically nothing has changed here, except that it was covered with asphalt and bumpers were installed. Extreme drivers will find 60 sharp turns here, with a turn of almost 360 degrees.
5. Atlantic Road, Norway
To entertain tourists, the Norwegians built a two-lane Atlantic road with a length of 8 kilometers. With the help of 7 bridges, some of which have a very strange shape, soaring into the sky and seeming to break there, several islands were connected together not far from the coast. Here you just need to drive, enjoying the local beauties, breathing in deeply the clean sea air. Several panoramic platforms covered with a glass cover were made especially for tourists.
4. Le col de Turini, France
In the French Alps there is a 30 kilometer highway, the Col de Turini, rising to an altitude of 1500 meters. There are practically no straight sections of the road, keeping drivers in constant suspense. But everything is compensated by simply fantastic views of the mountains. Don’t forget the Col de Turini has been included in the mandatory program of the legendary Monte Carlo Rally for several decades in a row.
3. Troll Road (Trollstigen), Norway
The Troll Road, also known as the Troll Staircase, is 106 kilometers long and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Norway. The road simply winds through the rocks in serpentines through the mountains, has a very large height difference and in some places narrows to 3 meters. Daredevils who climb to the highest point, rising to a height of 850 meters above sea level, have the opportunity to see from the side the full scale of the troll ladder and the Stigfossen waterfall. In winter and summer, the authorities close the road to travel, opening it only when the snow melts and it becomes warm (by local standards, of course).
2. Road to Jebel Hafeet, UAE
The United Arab Emirates knows how to turn the simplest things into attractions that attract tourists from all over the world. To the second highest mountain in the country, Jebel Hafeet, rising up to 1249 meters, a 12-kilometer route going up with serpentines was laid. There is an observation deck at every sharp turn. The track looks especially impressive at night with the lights on, a luminous snake going up. View of Abu Dhabi from the top of Jebel Hafeet.
1.GuoliangTunnel, China
The most beautiful and unusual road is made in China. In Henan Province, a 1,500-meter tunnel was cut into the mountains with giant openings for lighting. You need to visit here to feel how epic these couple of kilometers look.
Today it is the largest canyon in all of Europe: its length is 25 kilometers and its depth reaches 700 meters! Although the Verdon Gorge is smaller in scale than the Arizona canyon, it clearly surpasses it in beauty. It will take a whole day to go around the gorge, although there are only a hundred kilometers. But they all consist entirely of bends, descents and ascents, man-made tunnels and passages under rocks hanging overhead and hiding the sky.
The most beautiful views of the gorge open from the old Cretan road, or Cretan loop (Route des Cretes, D23), built in ancient times and passing along the northern edge of the canyon. This narrow winding path comes close to the cliff in places. Along its edges there are observation platforms, each of which offers breathtaking views of the Verdon. The Cretan loop is considered one-way: you need to drive along it clockwise, starting from the town of Castellane towards the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix, which was formed after the construction of a dam in 1975.
2) Pamir Highway (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan)
The highest mountain road in the territory of the former USSR. This almost entirely dirt road climbs the spurs of the Pamir Mountains and passes through the three main mountain passes of the Pamirs: Taldyk (3615 m), Kyzyl-Art (4280 m) and the closest point to the “Roof of the World” - Akbaital Pass (4655 m). The eastern part of the tract - from the Kyrgyz city of Osh to the Tajik Khorog - was built in 1931-1934, when the USSR was actively developing the territory of the mountain Pamirs. It passes through green foothills where horses graze and lonely yurts and dung-smeared huts stand, and past the Pamir National Park, dominated by Lenin Peak (7134 m).
3) Atlantic Road (Norway)
The Atlantic Road (No. 64) goes almost along the ocean itself, jumping from island to island with the help of bridges and tunnels. This is a unique technological structure: the route is only 8.5 kilometers long - as many as six bridges! The main one is the Storseisundet Bridge, which is also called the “Bridge to Heaven”. If you approach it from the mainland, it seems as if the road surface breaks off at the highest point and the traveler can only jump straight into the sky. The impression is enhanced if you drive along the Atlantic Road in the fall, when the storm season begins: huge waves roll onto small islands, crash with a roar on bridge supports, and sometimes cover the entire road, trying to lick the cars driving along it.
However, the Atlantic Road is only part of the route along the fjords. Moving along it further towards Oslo, you will come to one of the most famous serpentines in Europe - the Trollstigen (Trollstigen) climbing the mountainside.
4) Route 40 (Argentina)
Route No. 40 (Ruta 40) crosses almost the entirety of Argentina from north to south and runs along the high Andean ridges. This is one of the longest roads in the world - 5000 kilometers long! At the same time, they pass through several climatic zones. The landscape around is constantly changing: forests, rocks, lakes, fields, meadows, deserts, almost uninhabited pampas, asphalt and gravel, dust and red sand, sun and knocking wind, 27 mountain passes, 18 large rivers, and finally 20 national parks, in each of which you can spend several days
Every year the number of vehicles in the world increases, so traveling along the dense network of roads that entangles our entire planet is becoming more and more popular. All these roads look completely different, so it is difficult, if not impossible, to choose the most beautiful roads in the world from them. There are also several options on different continents, a trip to which can leave an unforgettable impression.
1. Old Cretan Road, France
The Verdon Gorge is the largest canyon in Europe, it stretches for 25 kilometers, sometimes deepening up to 700 meters. In the warm season, its slopes are densely green with the crowns of trees and shrubs, only in some places the stone of steep rocky ledges can be seen. Particularly beautiful panoramas of the gorge are visible from the old Cretan road, otherwise called the Cretan loop. It was laid in the ancient period along the northern slope of the gorge. The road itself is much longer - about 100 kilometers, but its most beautiful section is connected with the canyon.
Often this narrow, winding road passes dangerously close to a cliff. It has specially equipped observation platforms that offer particularly impressive views of the Verdon. The Cretan Loop is a closed, one-way road that travels clockwise. You can set off from the town of Castellane, heading towards the Sainte-Croix reservoir.
2. Pamir Highway, Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan
The amazingly beautiful Pamir Highway stretches 720 kilometers, connecting the Tajik capital Dushanbe with the city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan. This old road dates back to the times of the Russian Empire, when it was in fierce competition with the British Empire for control of Central Asia. At that time this route was of strategic importance.
It was the highest road in the empire, as it was laid through a series of high-mountain Pamir passes - Kyzyl-Art, Taldyk, Akbaytal, the heights of which are in the range of 3615-4280 meters. And these days, the journey along such a difficult route is very difficult, so only an experienced driver and a reliable car should venture here, only then can one get pleasure from the route, and not a death certificate. By the way, along most of the road there is no asphalt covering.
For those who dare to make such a journey, the majestic Pamir will show its magnificent snow-capped peaks, numerous tunnels, sheer cliffs and bottomless abysses.
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3. Dalton Highway, USA
This road crosses Alaska from south to north, dividing it in half. It is a very remote route - along its entire length there are only a few settlements, in which together about 100 people live. The construction of this road in 1974 was designed by engineer Dalton; it was needed to connect with the Prudhoe area, where oil production began. When preparing to travel along this road, you need to stock up on enough fuel, since there are only two gas stations along the entire route. There will be no one here to provide medical assistance or repair a car or motorcycle. But if the traveler is experienced and well prepared, then he will be able to get a generous portion of emotions from this harsh region.
4. Transfagarasan Highway, Romania
This road passes through the territory of Transylvania and the Wallachia region. This mountain road, crossing the Fagaras massif, began to be built in 1970. The all-powerful President of Romania N. Ceausescu then decided to unite Transylvania and Wallachia with the help of this project. The construction was also facilitated by the recent political conflicts of 1968 in Czechoslovakia with the threat of military invasion, without which this picturesque mountain road would hardly have appeared. Therefore, Transfagaras was built as an important military road, but now it attracts tourists.
The road is just over 260 kilometers long, winding through picturesque fields and valleys where peasants still reap golden ears of wheat by hand. Then she runs past deep reservoirs and clear lakes, ancient villages with rows of gray stone houses lined up along the road as if to welcome travelers. At the beginning of the route there is the architecturally interesting town of Sibiu, where features of the Roman, Romanesque and Slavic styles are visible.
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5. Atlantic Road, Norway
The unusual thing about the Atlantic Road, laid in the Møre og Romsdal region, is that it jumps from island to island, hovering over the depths of the fiords and periodically turns into tunnels and bridges. The length of this miracle of technical thought is quite small - 8.5 kilometers, but there was enough space for 6 bridges. Particularly impressive is the crossing, called the “bridge to heaven”: approaching it from the mainland, it seems that at the top of the rise the path ends, and the traveler will fly straight into the sky. Autumn trips, when storms are raging below, leave completely different, but no less poignant impressions.
6. Grand Gate Road, China
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The Chinese are not only diligent and diligent workers, but have also had a weakness for numerology and symbolism since ancient times. Considered the steepest serpentine road in the world, the Grand Gate Road in Hunan Province is also about numbers: with a modest length of just 11 kilometers, it makes 99 turns, climbing to a height of 1,300 meters. For the Chinese, the number 9 is sacred, it was the sign of the emperor, and according to beliefs, 9 palaces awaited each person who died in the afterlife. For this reason, the road was given such a sonorous name - “the road to heaven.”
Particularly noteworthy is the “Heavenly Gate” cave, which was formed once upon a time after a huge piece broke off from the rock. The height of the cave arches exceeds 130 meters; they are simply not visible in the cloud of fog. There is a legend that a traveler who passes through the gate will find himself in heaven, but first he will have a difficult path to the top.
7. Route 40, Argentina
Highway 40 crosses almost all of Argentina from north to south, along the eastern slopes of the Andes. Its length exceeds 5,000 kilometers, so on its way it passes through several climatic zones. Driving along it, you can see different things: mountains, lakes, fields, forests, deserts, meadows, arid pampas, sand, dust and gravel. Here the strongest winds blow, knocking you down, and the scorching South American sun shines serenely from above.
The road crosses 18 major rivers, 27 mountain passes, and two dozen national parks - excellent places to stop. For example, in Los Glaciares Park there is a large Perito Moreno glacier, which contains huge reserves of fresh water. Its area is roughly comparable to the size of Buenos Aires, and it crawls at a speed of 2 meters per day. There are even observation platforms for observing the glacier. Another interesting place is the “Cave of Hands”, in which primitive people covered the walls with scenes of hunting, and modern people left handprints everywhere.
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8. Great Circle of the Colorado Plateau, USA
The American Wild West begins west of the Rocky Mountains. The pioneers who began to colonize the territories of the Indians discovered unique natural objects, but then they had no time for them. Nowadays, a bus route has been organized here, which is called the “Great Circle Tour”.
It is most convenient to start your journey from Denver, from which you first ascend to the Rocky Mountain National Park, where the source of the Colorado River is located, and then, after passing the resort town of Aspen, the path heads to the Colorado Plateau. During your trip, you can admire the famous Monument Valley, located on Navajo lands, and Arches Park. Near the town of Page there is an inconspicuous sign on the side of the road indicating the direction of Antelope Canyon, which is worth a look. The Grand Canyon begins south of Page. If you drive along its southern side, then along with the panorama of the canyon you will see a preserved section of the old Route 66, which crossed the entire United States from Los Angeles to Chicago.
Not far from the Grand Canyon, you can stay overnight in a real ranch. The next day you can drive along the Hoover Dam - a technological landmark of the 30s of the last century, and from there the road to Las Vegas begins. Driving around the Great Circle clockwise, you can alternately visit the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
9. Great Ocean Road, Australia
The Great Ocean Road stretches 243 kilometers along the Australian Pacific coast in Victoria. It was built by soldiers returning from the battlefields of World War I, who so honored the memory of their fallen comrades. This largest and most unique memorial was opened in 1932, and 30 years later it was recognized as one of the most beautiful roads on the planet.
The road runs almost along the coast, so from it you can admire the sea surf and the bright glare of light reflected by the waters of the bays. Along the way there are many attractions, for example, the “Shipwreck Coast”, where the wrecks of 638 ships of various types rest. The single limestone rocks, rising 45 meters above the water, look interesting and were called “Pig and Pigs”, but then renamed to the more decent and boring “12 Apostles” (despite the fact that there are only 8 of them). The story is similar at the London Arch rock, which was long called the “London Bridge” because it resembled the silhouette of the Tower Bridge. However, in 1990, waves washed away the span adjacent to the mainland, and instead of a bridge, an arch turned out. In general, rapid and unexpected changes are a feature of the Great Ocean Road, since the coastline, like a living organism, is constantly changing.
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10. Chuysky tract, Russia
The Chuysky tract stretches from Novosibirsk to the Mongolian border and is part of the large Asian route AN4, which ends in the Pakistani city of Karachi. The length of the tract itself is 953 kilometers, which can be divided into flat, elevated and mountainous sections.
In the first two sections, the Chuysky tract is not particularly diverse, but, climbing high into the mountains, it can cause genuine delight in the traveler. When driving from Novosibirsk, the beauty of the road gradually intensifies. After the Novosibirsk region, the Altai region begins; here, still on the plain, it passes Biysk and then heads deeper into Altai. Before entering the Altai Republic, you come across the first important attraction - the village of Srostki, where the wonderful actor and writer Vasily Shukshin was born. After a hundred kilometers, the most attractive mountain section of the route begins, when the fast Katun River with magnificent rapids becomes the right neighbor of the road. From here you can see mountain peaks with dense vegetation and steep cliffs.
Sometimes the charm and delight of a journey arises not from contemplating the sights at the final destination, but during the journey itself. This review presents the most beautiful roads in the world, a trip along which is already an exciting, unforgettable adventure. The aesthetics of the trails lie directly in the natural surroundings. Many paths are laid in mountainous areas, surrounded by a ring of mountain ranges. Here beauty is closely associated with danger, and speed with recklessness. However, the moments spent on the road will not make you regret the chosen route. So, 10 of the most beautiful roads in the world.
1. Route 163
You can cross the desert in Arizona and end up at one of the most famous landmarks in the territory of the Navajo Indians along this route. The surrounding landscapes amaze with their colors and spaciousness, just like a huge deserted perimeter, covered with sand and rare plants, fanned by dry winds and heated by the merciless sun, can do. Monument Valley is a concentration of bizarrely shaped rocky boulders. These natural sculptures are named according to their shape (Mitten, Mother Superior, Mother Hen). The formations arose over time, when the seas dried up, hills arose, and sand deposits were sharpened by winds. Everyone will agree that Route 163 is one of the most beautiful roads in the world.
The Great Ocean Road is located in Australia, in the state of Victoria, and was conceived as a monument to the soldiers who did not return from the battlefields of the First World War. The route, which frames the waters of the Pacific Ocean on the continental side, has a purely aesthetic meaning. This is one of Australia's most picturesque attractions, emphasizing its vastness and seclusion. The length of 243 km covers many mysterious places, for example, a stretch of coastline where over 600 ships sank. During the trip along this road you can also see the famous limestone cliffs that grow directly from the depths of the ocean 40 meters above its surface.
The Atlantic Road is a true Norwegian landmark and one of the most scenic roads on the planet. The path, just 8 km long, runs between the islands, bypassing tunnels, fjords and dams. The bridge that attracts the attention of many tourists is called Storsezandet. This is one of six bridges, but the most popular among tourists. There are different versions of the interpretation of the translation: “bridge to nowhere”, “bridge to heaven”, “drunken bridge”. The Atlantic Road rises 23 meters above water level and, when viewed or driven from the mainland, ends at the peak. The striking view and original idea contributed to the name of Route 64 as the most exciting road in the world according to authoritative publications.
The Chuysky tract is the most beautiful road in Russia. Traveling along such a route (starting in Novosibirsk and ending at the border with Mongolia) will allow you to see the beauty of Siberia and once again admire the territorial scale and diversity of the country’s natural landscape. Walking for kilometers (963 in total), you can see how mountain ranges give way to valleys, and the taiga reluctantly gives way to steppe regions. Running through the Altai lands, the path is of great importance not only from an aesthetic, but also from a practical point of view. The Chuysky tract is the main transport line of the Altai region. There is not a single tunnel and only two passes (Chike-Taman and Seminsky). In the city of Biysk there is a museum whose exhibition is entirely dedicated to the stages of construction and development of this federal highway.
In the picturesque Alps, in close proximity to the border between Italy and Switzerland, there is an incredibly beautiful track that attracts a huge number of high-speed enthusiasts. The reason: the complexity of the route (there are 60 sharp turns along the way) and bright opportunities to demonstrate the rider’s skills. Only 2.7 kilometers separate the pass from sea level, but when you find yourself on a narrow serpentine road in the middle of rocky cliffs and snow-covered peaks, everyone recognizes the driving conditions as dangerous. Overcoming a 44 km journey is like fighting your own fear and often involves more than one attempt.
The most mystical, mysterious, legend-shrouded areas of Romania are connected by a track that until recently was called “the most driving” by the permanent host of the Top Gear program. 261 km among the Carpathian peaks, ridges, gorges - all this is the Transfagarasan Highway. The length of the longest tunnel is 900 meters. To build the road, it was necessary to clear and level the space in the mountains; explosive devices were used for this. Even at the construction stage, about 40 people died on the road. The path along the highway will allow you to observe pastoral pictures of the life of local residents. Nearby is the epic castle of Count Dracula. A huge number of turns while being on a narrow serpentine road requires extreme concentration, confidence and a developed ability to quickly react and make decisions. This is a real test for a racer, and for a simple tourist - a true challenge to personal capabilities. And the Transfagarasan Highway deservedly takes its place in the list of the top 10 most beautiful roads in the world.
In an effort to see the most beautiful roads on the planet, one cannot ignore, literally and figuratively, the treacherous serpentine Col de Turini, in a mountainous region in the south of France. This road was noted by many testers of high-speed sports cars and participants in the Monte Carlo Rally. This is a kind of connecting link, bypassing which you can get from Nice to Monaco. Serpentine is literally carved into the rock. The 30 km route is covered in forests. Traffic participants prefer to move one after another, every turn is a risk of getting into an accident, because on one side there is a sheer wall, on the other there is a steep cliff.
This picturesque road received such a poetic and orientally sophisticated name as a result of the collapse of a rocky block, which formed a cave on the way. Fogs often descend on this area from the Tian Men mountain range, making visibility difficult and creating the illusion of a transition to another reality. The Chinese themselves believe that the portal to the heavenly palaces is located here, having built this extremely steep track on their territory in Hunan Province in 2006. The length is about 10 km, at the highest point the serpentine goes 1.3 km from the absolute mark. The number 9, sacred to local residents, is marked here in the number of sharp turns. There are exactly 99 of them, as well as the chances to experience the thrill of driving.
The Pamir Highway is a 1,100 km paved highway connecting Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. This road was built along the border with Afghanistan in the 19th century. The need for construction was due to the importance of communication between remote regions of the Russian Empire. Today it is foreign territory. The route is divided into two sections: from Dushanbe to the city of Khorog and further to the village of Osh. The danger on the road lies not so much in difficult geographical conditions, but in the condition of the road surface. On many sections it is damaged due to the constant movement of loaded trucks from China. It is not recommended to go on a trip alone, especially if your driving experience is short. For many kilometers there are no service stations or gas stations, and you can wait several hours for help from those passing by! But, despite the danger, this road is very beautiful and deserves to be on the list of the best.
One of the most difficult and picturesque routes in the Alps is located within Switzerland. At the highest point, the distance to sea level is 2.1 km. The road is actively used by motorists and cyclists. There is a separate lane for the latter. There is also a railway tunnel of the same name, 15 km long. The tunnel for cars exceeded this figure only by 1000 meters. The total length of the pass does not exceed 48 km. For Russian citizens, the pass has historical significance; it was the pass that was overcome by commander Suvorov in 1799.
Winding directions, unexpected turns, steep descents and ascents, stunning landscapes - this is what awaits travelers whose path runs through the most beautiful roads in the world. Here the natural perfection of nature and the triumph of human engineering are combined.
