Solo travelling could be the respite many would embrace post pandemic, be it driving or biking the splendour of the land can distract us from all the worries the world has thrown in our direction in the past one and half year. Europe has any places for this kind of adventure, we have all seen and heard of campervans, excursions and weekend road trips, this is also available in our part of the world.
Places like Thailand, Vietnam or Indonesia offer amazing scenery, tree-lined routes dotted with ornate ancient temples, the geography and history of Asia and the islands in the Pacific tempt locals and visitors to hit the asphalt and explore by car or motorbike.
Whether you’re setting out on a day trip or planning a longer, multiday journey, these are some of the best road trips in the region.
Thailand
Whether you are in the urban chaos of Bangkok, the backpacker haven of Chiang Mai or on Thailand’s languid beaches, chances are you’ll get the itch to wander the Land of Smiles.
From Bangkok, make the hour drive via motorbike or car to Ayutthaya. This UNESCO World Heritage Site and former capital of Siam (until the 18th century) is dotted with truly impressive ruins of ornate ancient temples, stupas and monuments.
For a nature fix away from Bangkok’s crowded streets, head to Erawan National Park, home to caves, wildlife and the real winner: a seven-tiered waterfall splashing into turquoise pools of water.
If you’ve settled into Chiang Mai to connect with the digital nomads who like to call the mountain town their (temporary) home, find time for a jaunt to nearby Chiang Rai for chilled-out vibes and sights like the gold-embellished Wat Phra Kaew temple or the mind-bogglingly intricate architecture of the Wat Rong Khun temple.
Vietnam
Taking a journey by motorbike along Vietnam’s coastline, rice paddies and countryside is all but a rite of passage for Vietnamese locals as well as visitors.
Some of the country’s more accessible and scenic routes include the trip from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai, where you’ll see the country’s most exquisitely green and lush rice paddies tumbling in steps down hillsides.
As you wind your way to Vietnam’s highlands, you’ll cross the 32-km (20-mile) Khau Pha Pass, a high-mountain pass that rises 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) above sea level.
If whiling away time on the beach is more your speed, make the drive from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang along relatively quiet roads that weave past beach towns like Mui Ne (the so-called Hawaii of Vietnam), as well as mountains and farmland, before heading back toward the coast in Nha Trang.
Japan
Japan’s neon-lit, modern cities; volcanic mountains; dense forests; and wild coastline make it an ideal country for locals and visitors to explore by car — there’s always a new place worth checking out.
If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, hit up Hokkaido’s Roller Coaster Road, a short route that packs a big punch. The 2.5-km (1.5-mile) road is fairly straight but has so many super-steep hills and slopes, driving it feels very much like riding a roller coaster.
Ride your way up to 1,350 meters (4,429 feet) above sea level on the Bandai-Azuma Skyline drive in Fukushima. The views of the surrounding landscape beyond and below are otherworldly, with exceptional views of the active volcano Mount Azuma-Kofuji rising in the distance.
Valerie Connors written for Marriot Bonvoy Traveller
