Are you looking for scenic road trips? Do you like the intoxicating feeling of fresh mountain air? Or are you looking for mountain bends that show off your drifting skills? Whatever your interests, this article has rounded up 9 of the most beautiful winding roads in the world, including some of the most beautiful yet incredible terrain and breathtaking engineering marvels.
1. Great Ocean Road – Australia
The Great Ocean Road is located in the southwest of Melbourne, Australia, with a total length of nearly 300 kilometers. It surrounds the mountains and follows the coastline, and a considerable part of the route goes deep into the rainforest and deep mountains. There are countless views along the way that will make you want to stop, and it is one of the most incredible driving routes in the world.
2. Sea-To-Sky Highway - Canada
The road is located in British Columbia, Canada, with the lowest point from sea level near Vancouver to the highest point at 670 meters above sea level in the mountains. If you're just driving through here, the entire road trip takes about two hours. Along the way, you'll pass beaches and rainforests, and you'll want to stop and take in the views.
3. Million Dollar Highway – Colorado, USA
America's Million Dollar Highway will take you through much of Colorado all the way to New Mexico. It spans three mountain roads about 3,000 meters above sea level, through steep cliffs and U-shaped bends, and there are no guardrails throughout. More than a century ago, the deep mountains of Colorado were home to important iron and silver deposits. People who built the road at the time said that every mile of the gravel used to pave the road contained millions of dollars worth of ore, hence the name of the road.
4. Tateyama Snow Canyon Road – Japan
Mount Tateyama is one of the three sacred mountains in the Japanese Alps. Part of the road includes the Snow Mountain Canyon, which is only allowed on foot, and is lined with snow walls up to 20 meters high. Trams and trolleybuses can also take you along the route to minimize the impact on the natural environment.
5. Transfagarasan Highway - Romania
Transfagarasan is a 90-kilometer highway that cuts through the mountains and connects the northwestern and southern regions of Romania. It has an average elevation of 2042 meters and includes S-curves, sharp U-turns, five tunnels, viaducts, and some very steep downhill sections along the way!
6. Stelvio Pass - Italy
The Stelvio Pass is located in South Tyrol in northeastern Italy, just 200 meters from the Swiss border. This is the highest road in the region at 2757 meters. If you are a cycling enthusiast, this is the holy place you yearn for. The mountain bike event is held once a year. All traffic will be closed except for the participants. You can experience the thrilling experience of 48 sharp 180-degree turns!
7. San Bernardino Pass – Switzerland
The San Bernardino Pass in the southern Swiss Alps was once a favorite for vintage car rallying. One end of this road is Switzerland and the other in Italy. Driving here can experience the incomparable fun of cross-country self-driving travel.
8. Route de Gentelly - France
Located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the south of France, the scenery along the way is spectacular and is an experience you will never forget. In some of these sections, the road cuts through carved rock, with cascading waterfalls on one side and sheer cliffs on the other. During the 50 km drive, you have to pay full attention at all times.
9. Irohazaka Winding Roads - Japan
This is a winding mountain road in Nikko and Oku-Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. There are 48 sharp turns on this winding road, and most of them are sharp turns of 180 degrees, so they are named after the 48 pseudonyms of Japanese Iroha and are called the hardest mountain road in Japan. At the same time, it is also a scenic spot for viewing red maple leaves.
