The most incredible road trips in Asia

Spanning roughly 660 kilometers, this loop takes travellers from the temple-dotted city of Chiang Mai through the northern Mae Hong Son province and back. Sure, you can do it in 12 hours flat, but what’s the fun in that? Traversing its hairpin mountain roads will take between four to seven days while stopping at golden pagodas, visiting hill tribes and hiking to waterfalls. And if you choose to rent a motorbike, opt for one with at least 155cc to make it up those steep, winding roads.

Referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world,” The Karakoram Highway (KKH) guarantees one epic road trip. It was once an important Silk Road route, covering over 1,300 kilometers connecting Hasan Abdal, Pakistan, with Kashgar, China. Today, it’s known as the world’s highest paved road, an architectural feat that snakes some of the planet’s most spectacular rock formations and highest altitudes. If you’re brave enough to white-knuckle the wheel here, you’re rewarded with views of some of the world’s tallest mountain ranges, including the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush.

On the tropical island of Jeju, you’ll find lots of curiosities, from an erotic art park to a teddy bear museum, but you’ll also find endless natural beauty. Known as “Korea’s Hawaii,” rent a car and circle this volcanic island on Route 1132 or the Jeju Loop. This coastal route is less than 200 kilometers, but we recommend adapting to island life and taking it slow. Detour to tour the Manjanggul Lava Tube, climb the Seongsan Ilchulbong peak and swim at Baksugijeong Beach. When hunger pangs start, pull over and try the island’s famous black pork and sizzling abalone plucked from the sea by the island’s beloved elderly women divers.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, known as the American War locally. While most travellers choose a railway route through coastal Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh Trail follows the infamous inland supply route used during the war. Part history lesson, part road trip; due to narrow, off-track roads, this war-relic road trip is best done by motorbike. Local companies like Onyabike Adventures can arrange everything for you and lead you as you journey roughly 1,800 kilometers from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City or part way if you don’t have two weeks to complete the entire journey.

Also known as National Highway 318, this is the longest route in China, crossing 5,400 kilometres through numerous provinces and countless biomes. Starting in Shanghai and ending just shy of the Nepal border in the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Chuanzang (sometimes spelt Xuanzang) Highway crosses through the Hengduan mountain range, past glacial lakes and Tibetan monasteries. It’s also known for its high elevation and temperamental weather, so heed our warnings, proceed with caution and pack those motion sickness pills.

Also called the Coastal Wakayama Road, this short road trip gets you away from the camera-crazed crowds and into a less-trodden part of Japan. Located in the rural Kii Peninsula, the trail starts south of Osaka in Wakayama City and ends in Kumano after three-and-a-half hours of straight driving. But this scenic route is packed with pit stops that could take days to truly explore. Plan to pull over at the stunning 16th-century Wakayama Castle, the famous Shirahama Onsen, the white sands of Shirarahama Beach and the numerous historic shrines that dot Japan’s largest peninsula.

By the end of this road trip, you’re going to stan the Stans. Pamir Highway, also known as M41, starts in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and ends in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, spanning over 1,200 kilometers. Traveling the ultra-remote roads can take seven days or up to two weeks if you stop for various yak treks. This famous Silk Road trading route is the second-highest road trip in the world, so beware of altitude sickness. Once you’ve acclimatized, enjoy the uber-remote nomadic villages, moon-like landscapes and off-the-grid experience in one of the world’s most adventurous road trips.