Japan Travel Information

Archive for the ‘destinations’ Category

65% of motorists have been forced to change their driving habits due to rising fuel prices according to MoneySupermarket.com. This is a problem which is only going to be exacerbated in the coming years as fuel prices continue to increase.

This may therefore be your only opportunity to explore the ten most technical, challenging and spectacular roads which the world has to offer in a vehicle which isn’t hideously underpowered or reliant on a multiple hour charge every 100 miles.

The following are the ten greatest driving roads, in the world:

1. Col de Turini- France

If you are going to explore one road, then the Col De Turini in Southern France is the one which you must pick.

The stunning mountain pass is steeped in motoring history, being located just 30 miles from Monte Carlo and having actually formed part of the route in the Monte Carlo Rally.

It also featured in the James Bond movie Goldeneye when Pierce Brosnan was involved in a car chase in his Aston Martin DB5.

The road is tight, technical and challenging; but not for the faint hearted. The ultimate driving challenge which will appeal to petrol heads around the world.

2. Grimsel Pass- Switzerland

Switzerland is actually a wonderful choice for anyone who is considering a road trip holiday thanks to its breathtaking landscape and equally as impressive road layouts.

The finest example of which is the Grimsel Pass located near Gletsch which goes up to a height of 2165m up the French Alps near the source of the Rhone River.

It is usually open between June and October due to the extreme weather which tends to hit the region at other times of the year. It is hard to believe that this was narrow and life-threateningly dangerous road was once used by Swiss traders to transport animals and Cheese to Italy.

3. Nordschleife- Germany

The Nordschleife was originally constructed as a racing circuit around a medieval castle in the village of Nurburg in Germany. The circuit played host to the German round of the newly formed Formula One World Championship during the 1950s and quickly became recognised as one of the most challenging and dangerous circuits on the calendar.

However, it was this reputation which led to the boycott of the 1970 race when drivers refused to race due to inadequate safety measures being taken. The circuit was dropped once and for all following Niki Lauda terrifying accident in 1976 which left him with life threaten injuries and permanent fire induced scaring.

A new circuit was constructed for F1 in 1984 but the old track continues to be used by almost all vehicle manufacturers to develop their new models prior to launch due to the fact that it is deemed to challenge every aspect of a cars design. However, it is just as challenging for the driver as it is for the car, and is a must visit for all motor racing fans.

4. Stelvio Pass- Italy

Italy is well known for its beautiful motor cars, but it also boasts some of the world’s most beautiful roads with the Stevlio Pass in the Italian Alps being a prime example.

Spanning 15 miles and with 48 hairpins, the road is a test of both driver concentrate and vehicle performance.

It is also the highest paved mountain pass in the Alps, placing massive strain on vehicle reliability. You wouldn’t want to set off up here without having a car breakdown cover policy in place.

5. Autobahn- Germany

The Autobahn is a collection of connected motorways through Germany which were built during the 1920s and 1930s and span almost 8,000 miles. The layout of the roads are not particularly challenging and you may therefore wonder why they are featured on this list at all, let alone at number five.

The reason for this is that there is not actually any speed limit on the autobahns, meaning that you can theoretically go as quickly as you like. It is recommended that you do no exceed 80mph, but who is really going to listen to that?

6. Transfăgărăsan Highway- Romania
Actually pronouncing the name of the road in Romania is difficult enough, let alone driving it. Built between 1970 and 1974, this dynamite forged road linking Transylvania and Walachia is actually the highest paved road in Romania and was originally used as a route for strategic gain by the military.

With its connection to the military, its construction via dynamite and the loss of 40 soliders in its construction; the Transfagarasan Highway seems drawn to the dark side. This viewpoint is reinforced by the fact that the road passes by the Poienari Fortress which once served as residence to Vlad the Impalar; a military leader who famously drank the blood of his victim and inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. What ever you do, don’t go down there at night!

7. Guoliang Tunnel Road- China

The ¾ mile Guoliang Tunnel road located within the Taihana Moutains in the Hunan Province of China was constructed by local villagers in order to make access to the neighbouring Guoliana village less restrictive.

It was finally opened in 1977 after five years of work which included the death of many construction workers.

It was perhaps therefore fitting that the road should have been nicknamed ‘the road of death’ by visitors; but this was just as much to do with the inherent dangers involved in traversing the path as the loss of life during the construction.

It truly is a stunning piece of road to see, but only a brave person would be willing to try it.

8. Khardung La Pass- India

At a height of 17,582 feet, built in 1976 this is one of the highest altitude roads that cars can be driven on. It is famously one of the tightest roads in the world; filled with twists and turns with death just meters away at all times thanks to its lack of safety barriers.

Remarkably, the Khardung La Pass was originally constructed as a caravan route for horses and camels. The routes narrow nature would therefore appear to be a quite serious inherent design flaw.

9. North Yungas- Bolivia

We have already had the ‘the road of death’ and now we have the imaginably titled ‘death road’. Built in the 1930s, this 43 mile stretch of road leading to Corocio from La Paz in Bolivia has commonly been identified as the world’s most dangerous road despite the apparent best efforts of the developing world in China and India. Indeed, 100 bus passengers lost their lives in 1983 on this road when their vehicle plunged off the edge of the cliff and suffered a 800m sheer drop.

However, it is this inherent danger which has actually resulted in North Yungas popularity; with thrill seekers flocking to the site to quench their thirst for excitement. There tends to be at least one fatal road accident every two weeks on average on the path.

10. Great Ocean Road- Australia

If danger and almost certain death is not your kind of thing, then you might be interested in enjoying some spectacular scenery instead. This would be provided by a 151 mile trip along the South-eastern coast of Australia between the cities of Torquay and Warrnambool.

Unlike the Transfăgărăsan Highway, rather than being built to aid military exhibitions; the Great Ocean Road was built as a memorial for solider lost during the First World War and was actually built by returning soldiers between 1919 and 1932.