Asia is a diverse continent packed with exciting adventures and cultural wonders. Exploring the roads in Asia is a must in your hire car. Here are our top 3 picks.
Kandy to Mahiyangana – Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, the cliché of the journey being better than the destination more often than not rings true and the road from Kandy to Mahiyangana in Sri Lanka does not disappoint. There are in fact two routes that you can take. The shorter route of the two leads you high up into the mountains past forest and waterfalls before dropping dramatically round 18 steep hairpin bends with fabulous views of the paddy fields of the Ampara District below you. The alternate route is more maintained and takes you through the reservoir with peeks of the water through the dense trees. Once you escape the trees you are rewarded with a mountain vista. Which route you choose is down to personal preference but in our eyes, the shorter route is second to none.
Osado Skyline Drive – Japan
There is a whopping 155 miles of coastal road to enjoy on Sado Island in Japan but the tarmac that really tops it off has to be the Osado Skyline Drive. Cutting through the island via Mount Kinpoku, and the Osado Mountains, the route starts at Chigusa in the centre of the island and ends at the Sado Gold Mine. Enjoy the exquisite panoramic views of the surrounding landscape with seem to stretch on forever and be sure to stop at the several vantage points and capture the memories. Be aware that the road closes during the winter months and no tours buses or public buses travel this route so the only way you will get to see it is driving it yourself; for that reason, it is a journey well worth taking.
The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road – UAE
Arguably one of the finest driving roads in the world, The Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road in the UAE cuts dramatically into the largest mountain in the country. The road snakes for 8 miles through the rusty coloured terrain packing in an epic 60 bends and rising nearly 4,000ft. With smooth tarmac, sweeping bends intermingled with swift straights the Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road may trick you into believing you’re on a racetrack. It is probably a good thing as there isn’t much scenery to distract you and you will benefit from your accuracy and precision to take this one on.
Have you driven any of these roads or think there’s a route more worthy of featuring here? Let us know in the comments below.
