Best scenic drive destinations in Asia
Best scenic drive destinations in Asia
High-altitude mountain loops and scenic valley roadway routes across Asia
Road trips are a less obvious tradition in parts of Asia, where trains often do the heavy lifting, but a handful of routes have become classics in their own right.
Vietnam's Ha Giang Loop has become one of the region's most talked about drives, winding through striking limestone mountains in the country's far north. India's high altitude roads to cross some of the highest motorable passes in the world, drawing travelers willing to handle thin air and rough roads for the scenery. Japan's Hokkaido offers a very different experience, with wide open countryside roads better suited to a car than the country's famously efficient trains. Weather and road conditions can shift fast in mountain regions, so timing a trip around the right season matters.
The destinations on our list for Asia reflect that same range, from high mountain passes to wide open countryside drives.
Lists by region
Country
India
Palaces, temples, backwaters and Himalayan peaks
The Leh to Manali Highway runs 266 miles and crosses Baralacha La at 15,910 feet. Tanglang La tops out at about 17,480 feet. The Atal Tunnel has bypassed Rohtang Pass since October 2020. Snow usually closes the route outside a season of roughly May to October.
City in China
Lijiang
Ancient Charm and Mountain Majesty
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reaches about 18,360 feet and lies roughly nine miles from the city. Drivers heading north can reach Baisha village in about nine miles. Baishui Terrace is around 22 miles away. Lashihai Lake lies only five miles from the urban area. The G5611 expressway links Lijiang with Dali.
State/Prefecture in Japan
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
Japan's lowest population density leaves Hokkaido roads wonderfully open. Daisetsuzan National Park covers 875 square miles and rises to Asahidake at 7,510 feet. Shiretoko earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005 and has Japan's largest brown bear population. Volcanic interiors and wetlands reward unhurried driving.
City in Vietnam
Hue
Imperial Vietnam on the Perfume River
Hai Van Pass climbs about 13 miles to 1,627 feet on the border of Hue and Da Nang. It crosses a spur of the Annamite Range that juts into the sea. Jeremy Clarkson called the road a deserted ribbon of perfection on Top Gear in 2008. A tunnel now carries trucks.
Country
Pakistan
Land of ancient heritage
The Karakoram Highway took from 1962 to 1979 to build and opened to the public in 1986. It peaks near Khunjerab Pass at 15,466 feet, among the highest paved roads anywhere. It follows the Hunza River through Gilgit. A 2015 bypass with five tunnels skirts Attabad Lake.
Region in Vietnam
Ha Giang
Vibrant terraced rice fields and misty mountains
The Ha Giang Loop runs about 220 miles through Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac. Riders cross mountain passes often wrapped in clouds. Ma Pi Leng was cut through rock by hand over nearly two years. The route threads Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2010.
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