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Worldwide Golf Safaris - The Best Golf In The World At Your Fingertips

Worldwide Golf Safaris is your full-service golf vacation specialist offering unforgettable trips to the top golf destinations around the world. Whether you are looking to tee it up on the Old Course at St. Andrews, walk the 18th at Pebble Beach, or simply get the group together for an annual golf getaway, we can take care of everything for you. For over twenty years, our staff have been taking care of the needs of thousands of new and repeat clients. Put our expertise to work for you. Give us a call. Tell us your plans, and find out for yourself how easy and enjoyable your golf vacation can be with Worldwide Golf Safaris!

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Whether you're a couple looking to getaway together, a group of friends on your annual golf vacation or a large group looking for your next golf retreat, Worldwide Golf Safaris can take care of your needs and make your vacation truly effortless. With vacations to Ireland, Scotland, Pebble Beach, Scottsdale, Palm Springs, Los Cabos, Vegas, Banff, Whistler and much more the best golf destinations the world has to offer are all right here. Coming soon: Hawaii, Caribbean, and PEI.

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Golf Around the World

Did you know that 82% of countries worldwide have golf courses – from American Samoa to Zambia?

Or that there are more than 38,000 courses globally? Only 7-Eleven and Subway have more physical business locations around the world, although they reach far fewer countries. 1

NGF maintains the official database of golf courses worldwide. A dedicated team verifies the operational status of all golf facilities – on a 12-month cycle within the U.S., and every 24 months globally. 2 New courses in planning and under construction are also tracked.

Every two years, the R&A releases “Golf Around the World,” a publication based on the NGF database. This free report, available for digital download here , looks at the game’s global reach through the lens of worldwide supply — both existing courses and those under development.

In 2020 golf was played in 206 of the 251 countries and dependent territories recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). There’s even a 9-holer on Christmas Island, an Australian outpost in the Indian Ocean that has a local rule regarding “robber” land crabs known to take golf balls.

While golf is widely dispersed, it also remains highly concentrated, with 80% of courses in the top 10 best-supplied countries.

Home to 42% of world supply, the U.S. is far and away the global leader with 16,000+ golf courses. Japan (3,140) and the U.K. (3,101) are neck and neck in second and third place.

There’s much more in the R&A report, including which regions have the most golf courses and golf holes compared to population, the most golf courses compared to land area, and the most golf course projects in development. If you are as consumed by wanderlust as you are by golf, you’ll find it to be inspiring reading.

1 Click  here  to see which businesses have the most physical locations around the world. 2 Verifications are completed by phone, email and online via course websites and satellite imagery.

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Whether you’re the head planner of your upcoming buddies golf trip or simply along for the ride, we’ve gathered a few easy ways to keep everyone in your group happy.

As humans, we see our primary care physician on a regular basis to proactively evaluate our vital signs. Likewise, a superintendent should perform frequent diagnostic testing on their golf course.

We’ve long known that higher launch and lower spin is a powerful combination for generating consistently long and straight tee shots. A key factor in optimizing launch conditions, one often overlooked, is ...

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Delivering exceptional golf travel experiences...every client, every trip, every time, we are one of the leading golf travel companies for the united states, united kingdom & ireland.

Epic Golf Travel's senior leaders have over 75 years of combined experience in the golf and golf travel industries. The company had it’s start in providing personalized golf vacation services dating back over 30 years to 1992.

We have helped thousands of golfers plan their golf vacations throughout the United States, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales, the Caribbean and beyond. We have traveled to every country we serve to learn, play and stay where we ultimately send our clients. Rest assured, we can help you plan the best golf vacation you can imagine.

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Places to Play

The 11 best golf trips that offer the most bang for your buck

Much like weddings or school reunions, buddies trips offer golfers a chance to reconnect with friends away from the stress of day-to-day routines. Play some golf. Have a few drinks. Needle your opponent when the match gets tight. These getaways take on different shapes and sizes, but whether you take them with buddies from college, your weekend foursome or family members, the camaraderie always makes for memorable stories told long after the return home.

Of course, much like weddings, golf trips can be expensive. The most popular golf-trip destinations, though they might include some fantastic courses, can set you back thousands of dollars. If you’re looking to plan your next golf getaway but don’t want to break the bank, we’ve got you covered.

This collection includes our 11 favorite budget golf-trip destinations. We've identified some of the top quality, cheaper golf options that are worth seeking out in each region. Many of these courses have stay-and-play packages available to maximize value even further. 

Click around to learn more about each course and read reviews from our course-ranking panelists. And if you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our new, searchable course database,  Places to Play,  to plan your next trip.

Northern Michigan

Michigan is one of the most underrated public golf destinations in North America—with a ton of great courses in close proximity—it's perfect for planning a trip around. For your next buddies’ trip, consider heading up north for startling elevation changes, stunning scenery and tremendous value.

Though Forest Dunes and Arcadia Bluffs would be at the top of our lists if money was no obstacle, the below options are perfect for the group on a budget.

Bay Harbor Golf Club: Links/Quarry

Bay harbor, mi, united states.

• Best In State

Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club

Marquette, mi.

• 100 Greatest Public

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa: The Bear

Williamsburg, mi, united states.

The other courses at Grand Traverse are also worth playing:

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa: The Wolverine

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa: Spruce Run

Williamsburg, mi.

Treetops Resort: Masterpiece

Gaylord, mi, united states.

Treetops Resort: Premier

Treetops Resort: Signature

Treetops Resort: Tradition

Gaylord, mi.

Shanty Creek Resort: Cedar River

Bellaire, mi.

Shanty Creek Resort: The Legend

Bellaire, mi, united states.

Shanty Creek Resort: Hawk's Eye

Shanty Creek Resort: Schuss Mountain

Mancelona, mi.

Shanty Creek Resort: Summit

More from places to play.

Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail—complete with nearly 500 holes at 11 facilities spread across the state—provides some of the best value in the country. We’ve selected the best courses on the Trail between Birmingham and Montgomery for you to plan your next trip around.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Capitol Hill: The Judge

Prattville, al, united states.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Capitol Hill: Legislator

Prattville, al.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Capitol Hill: Senator

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Cambrian Ridge: Canyon/Loblolly/Sherling

Greenville, al.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge

Birmingham, al, united states.

Towering pines and two large lakes frame many holes on this expansive layout just south of Birmingham. Significant elevation changes dictate a layout that plays up and down the banks that surround the two lakes, which are connected by a stunning waterfall that separates the ninth and 18th greens. With wide landing areas and large greens, there is ample room for wayward shots. The course tips out over 8,000 yards, but there are five sets of tees to accommodate all players.  Note: The course is temporarily closed due to green damage caused by misapplied herbicide.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Oxmoor Valley: Ridge

Birmingham, al.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Oxmoor Valley: Valley

Myrtle beach.

Myrtle Beach has long been a staple on any list of best golf trips. For good reason: The Grand Strand boasts nearly a hundred courses, many of which offer stay-and-play packages that combine value with quality golf. On your next trip to the Palmetto State, consider these multi-course resorts.

Barefoot Resort & Golf: Dye Course

North myrtle beach, sc, united states.

Barefoot Resort & Golf: Fazio Course

Barefoot Resort & Golf: Love Course

North myrtle beach, sc.

Barefoot Resort & Golf: Norman Course

The Legends Golf Resort: Heathland

Myrtle beach, sc.

The Legends Golf Resort: Moorland

Myrtle beach, sc, united states.

From Golf Digest Architecture Editor emeritus Ron Whitten: At the same time in 1989 when Tom Doak was constructing the Heathland Course at Legends Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach, Pete Dye's younger son, P.B. Dye, was on site concocting another 18, the Moorland Course. (I'm pretty sure Doak routed Moorland at the same time he prepared his plans for Heathland, because early press releases stated Doak was do three 18s at the resort. He ended up building just one of the three.) Moorland, like Heathland, opened in 1990, and I played both soon thereafter. For our architecture editor's complete review, click here . 

The Legends Golf Resort: Parkland

Tidewater Golf Club

Colonial Williamsburg

Oftentimes, a buddies’ trip is all about the golf. A 27- or 36-hole day is commonplace for many groups looking to maximize time on the course. Colonial Williamsburg is great for that -- as many resorts offer multiple courses that are all worth playing. But on at least one of the days, make sure you head to the historic center of town, where life looks similar to as it did in the 18 th  century.  

Golden Horseshoe Golf Club: Gold Course

Williamsburg, va, united states.

Golden Horseshoe Golf Club: Green

Kingsmill Resort: The River Course

Kingsmill Resort: The Plantation Course

Williamsburg, va.

Royal New Kent Golf Club

Providence forge, va.

Like Myrtle Beach, Orlando is a fixture on many golf destination lists, with a number of quality public options to plan your next trip around. There are truly an endless amount of solid Orlando golf options, but we've highlighted our favorite ones below.

Mission Inn Resort & Club: El Campeon

Howey in the hills, fl.

Mission Inn Resort & Club: Las Colinas

Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge: Crooked Cat

Winter garden, fl.

Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge: Panther Lake

Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge: Tooth

Reunion Resort & Golf Club: Jack Nicklaus Course

Reunion, fl.

Reunion Resort & Golf Club: Arnold Palmer Course

Reunion Resort & Golf Club: Tom Watson Course

For another getaway to the Sunshine State, consider heading down to the Tampa area, where you’ll find some great public options. Tampa offers the perfect combination of quality nightlife with very good golf. Though Innisbrook Resort or nearby Streamsong might top many traditional lists, we’ve identified some hidden gems for this buddies-trip-on-a-budget list that for solid value.

Also keep in mind that World Woods -- which will be Cabot Citrus Farms when it re-opens (projected to be the end of 2023) -- will become our new favorite option in the area.

RELATED:  A new chapter for World Woods: The acclaimed Florida 36-hole complex will soon become Cabot Citrus Farms

Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club: South Course

Dade city, fl.

Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club: North Course

Fox Hollow Golf Club

Trinity, fl.

The Club at Cheval

It’s only appropriate that these affordable courses in the Land of 10,000 Lakes all play around … lakes. This collection of scenic tracks includes a 100 Greatest Public course and a couple of shorter options sure to inject excitement into your next buddies’ trip match. 

Madden's on Gull Lake: The Classic at Madden's

Brainerd, mn.

Madden's on Gull Lake: Pine Beach East

Legacy Courses At Craguns: Dutch Legacy

The Pines At Grand View Lodge: Lakes/Woods/Marsh

Deacon's Lodge Golf Course

Pequot lakes, mn, united states.

Closer to the Wisconsin side of the state, a very worthwhile trip would be combining two 100 Greatest Public facilities: Giants Ridge and The Wilderness at Fortune Bay.

The Quarry at Giants Ridge

Biwabik, mn, united states.

The Wilderness At Fortune Bay

West point, mississippi.

One of the more underrated destinations in this collection, West Point, Miss. boasts a couple of exceptional layouts—both ranked on our 100 Greatest Public list—that won’t break the bank.

Mossy Oak Golf Club

West point, ms.

From Golf Digest Architecture Editor emeritus Ron Whitten: Back in mid-1980s, George Bryan, who ran Bryan Foods, now part of Sara Lee Corp., created Old Waverly Golf Club in tiny West Point, Miss., a Bob Cupp/Jerry Pate design and former U.S. Women’s Open host that to me is a bit underrated. In the early 2000s, Bryan bought an old dairy farm (Knob Hill Dairy) across the highway and hired Gil Hanse to give him an Old School public golf course. George named it Mossy Oak, after a West Point company of the same name that supplies outdoor camouflage gear. (The company has a 10-percent interest in the course.) He was going to call it Howlin' Wolf after a legendary blues singer born in West Point, but his heirs wanted too much money. Hanse got the job before he was awarded the Rio Olympics design in 2012, and it was the first project he tackled after completing his work in Brazil. For the full review from our architecture editor, click here .

Old Waverly Golf Club

From Golf Digest Architecture Editor emeritus Ron Whitten: I've always admired Jerry Pate's work in golf architecture. He was one of the few PGA Tour pros who really got down and dirty in golf design, and I especially liked the few courses he did with architect Bob Cupp. Their second collaboration was Old Waverly in tiny West Point, Miss., a dream project of West Point native George Bryan. Cupp was just two years removed from his employment as Jack Nicklaus’ chief designer, and Pate was still active on the PGA Tour when they started the project in August 1986. Both spent a lot of time on the site. I remember Pate was as proud of the massive drainage system he successfully persuaded Old Waverly to adopt as he was of the many strategies he helped impart in its holes. The course opened in August 1988 to immediate acclaim, finishing No. 3 among Golf Digest's Best New Private Courses in 1989. For the complete review from our architecture editor, click here .

San Antonio

In terms of affordable public golf, the San Antonio area is tough to beat. Of all the destinations in this collection, these Texas Hill Country courses may provide the most bang for your buck. Of course, Austin is also very doable when headed to the Hill Country, but there's a little more value on and off the course in San Antonio.

The Quarry Golf Course

San antonio, tx.

La Cantera Golf Club

San antonio, tx, united states.

Canyon Springs Golf Club

Brackenridge Park Golf Course

SilverHorn Golf Club of Texas

The Bandit Golf Club

New braunfels, tx.

Cedar Creek Golf Course

Chattanooga

If your typical buddies’ trip usually takes on a laidback vibe, consider centering your next one around Sweetens Cove, just outside Chattanooga. And there are some other quality options in the area to round out your trip for when you’re not whacking it around the Peyton Manning-backed nine-holer with few rules.

Sweetens Cove Golf Club

South pittsburg, tn.

Bear Trace at Harrison Bay

Harrison, tn, united states.

Brainerd Golf Course

Chattanooga, tn, mesquite, nev./st. george, utah.

One of the most scenic destinations in this collection, southern Nevada and Utah provide some of the most dramatic rock formations you’ll find on a course. Several of these affordable tracks just northeast of Las Vegas highlight desert golf in its gentler form, with wider landing areas than are typical of many southwestern layouts. 

Sand Hollow Resort: Championship Course

Hurricane, ut, united states.

The Ledges of St. George

Saint george, ut.

Copper Rock

Wolf Creek Golf Club

Mesquite, nv.

Oasis Golf Club: Palmer

Mesquite, nv, united states.

Oasis Golf Club: Canyons

Coral Canyon Golf Course

Washington, ut.

SunRiver Golf Club

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See the world of golf through different eyes and with itchy feet with Golf Monthly's guide to golf and golf trips around the world.

Golf Monthly's staff members and freelancers regularly travel around the world with our clubs to play popular and undiscovered spots. In our comprehensive travel section, we have guides on a number of destinations across countries including  Portugal ,  Spain ,  France ,  Turkey ,  USA  , UAE  and more. Whether it's a bucket-list destination or a last-minute weekend UK break, the Golf Monthly travel section has you covered.

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Around the Top 100 World Golf Trip

TRIP REPORT

Around the Top 100 World – Home to Augusta

Around the Top 100 World – Day 11 to Day 20 / Pinehurst to Cabo

Around the Top 100 World – Day 21 to Day 30 / Cabo to Kawana

Around the Top 100 World – Day 31 to Day 40 / Tokyo to Adelaide

Around the Top 100 World – Day 41 to Day 50 / Adelaide to Ayrshire

Around the Top 100 World – Day 51 to Day 60 / Ayrshire to Ascot

Around the Top 100 World – Day 61 to Day 70 / London to Long Island

Around the Top 100 World – Day 71 to Day 80 / New York to Ohio

Around the Top 100 World – Day 81 to Day 90 / Ohio to almost home

Around the Top 100 World – Day 91 to Day 100 and reflections

I have long thought that the ultimate travel experience is an around the world vacation…select your favorite and most desired destinations and over an extended period of time visit each of them as you circumnavigate the globe. A recent article reminded me of the sheer luxury of such a trip. While the article did not mention it, an RTW ticket is one of the bargains of luxury air travel if you fly in Business or First Class as the fares charged bare little resemblance to round trip fares. As an example you can secure an RTW Business Class ticket on Star Alliance for approximately $10,000 with multiple stops. First Class is $15,000.

As I was pondering the idea I was reminded of a friend, Bob McCoy who achieved, in many golfers eyes, the ultimate RTW golf trip. He played the Top 100 Golf Courses as selected by GOLF Magazine during 100 consecutive days . Yes, you read correctly. Some other points to consider if any reader wishes to match this journey;

• The journey must start on day 1 from your home…no head start!
• All air travel via commercially scheduled flights…leave the private jet in the hanger!
• All courses must be walked (caddie permitted)…but no carts!

Bob has kindly agreed to let me serialize his experience from the planning to the trip and I shall post over the weeks and months ahead. So here is Bob’s unedited story; ( please note this is the first of eleven parts to this posting. You may view the condensed trip schedule with detail here .) You may want to subscribe to our blog to ensure you do not miss any of the installments.

——————-

How did the idea of playing the top 100 courses in the world in 100 consecutive days get started?  In November 1988, while on a trip around the world to complete playing the Top 100, I began to wonder what to do for an encore. After completion of the Top 100 the obvious sense of accomplishment was mixed with a sense of disappointment that there were no more worlds to conquer. The fun of planning and executing the various trips was like a drug; once a high had been reached something more powerful had to be tried to hit an even higher high. Furthermore, I had a group of friends around the world that I wanted to visit again.

During the November 1988 trip, while being interviewed for an article in a Japanese golf magazine, I was asked what I was going to do after completing the Top 100. I casually said I was going to play them in 100 consecutive days. Subsequently I established a relationship with the famous golf writer Herbert Warren Wind. This very articulate and thoughtful man was kind enough to write in February 1994:

“…For all your entertaining accounts of the clubs and courses you visit each year, I find myself musing: This guy is not only a fountain of golf knowledge, he is one of the great travelers of all time. Planes may be cancelled, his precise meetings with old and new friends may need adjustment, and the courses he has arranged to play may be in terrible shape because of freakish weather, but this guy can adjust to any and all conditions. He is one of the great travelers of all time, like the hero of Jules Verne’s Around The World in Eighty Days.”

The other major influence was the evolution of the idea of writing a book. In 1987 I began to publish a brief newsletter called “The Odyssey,” which was sent to my friends as a way to keep them informed of my golf travels. Before 1987 the normal routine was to play a course with one, two, or three interesting members; have some refreshments afterward; quickly travel on to the next course; and then write thank you letters at the conclusion of the trip. However, because many of these people expressed a genuine interest in my travels I thought a brief yearly review might be of some interest.

The first “O” was a simple, crude, and totally candid four-page effort sent to about 100 friends. A much longer version was mailed out at the end of 1988, and a curious thing began to happen. I began to receive letters from strangers thanking me for creating the annual travelogue and saying they had received a photocopy from so and so. Well, I did not know the author of the letter and did not even know so and so.

This phenomenon was both pleasing and a source of concern. Obviously I was flattered that I was creating a document worthy of a written response from total strangers. On the other hand, I was concerned that I had lost control of the distribution. Because I did not want to offend in any way any of the kind people who had afforded me the opportunity to play their courses, I felt I had to be circumspect in what I said. Thus, the totally candid direction of future “O’s” was curtailed, with negative comments kept to a minimum.

The unsolicited letters keep rolling in and their content, plus encouragement from old friends, leads me to believe that I can make a contribution to golf  by writing a book. The book will discuss all the World Top 100 courses, why they deserve to be on the list, and the noteworthy features of each course.

Thus, the reason for the 1997 trip was to create a challenge and to do something no one else has accomplished. However, it also developed into an in-depth field trip to gather information and impressions about each course. I asked the contact at each course to provide someone who was knowledgeable about the architectural evolution of the course. Many responded positively; a few could have cared less.

Creating The Itinerary

In May 1996 I purchased three large magnetic boards on which was written each of the 100 days. Also purchased were 100 magnets with a clip at the end to hold a piece of paper containing each course name. Thus it was easy to move the names around.

The most logical time to start the trip was late April . My business is seasonal, with the heavy work over by late April. Thus I was in the enviable position of being able to tell my clients that the office would be closed for 100 days without upsetting them. In fact, one company sent a gift of balls, gloves, and a hat.

Other considerations were Seminole’s closing for the summer on Mother’s Day (usually the second Sunday in May) and Augusta’s closing in mid-May. Because both hemispheres had to be visited, it was best to find the most temperate winter climate and that certainly was the southern hemisphere (palm trees in Sydney, Australia and Durban, South Africa).

At that point the question was the order of play . It was desirable to do as many as possible of the U.S. courses during their optimum weather season. This meant the southern part first and the northern part last. I also wanted to drive my own car as much as possible to avoid short-haul airplane flights and rental-car expense, including drop-off charges. As you can see, the schedule started with the southeastern part of the U.S. (including the Dominican Republic), followed by the rest of the southern and western parts of the country (including Mexico). San Francisco was a good overseas jumping off point to Japan, New Zealand,Australia,  and South Africa.

Then it was on to the British Isles and Ireland, followed by Portugal, Spain, and France, and finally back in the U.S. to do the northern part of the country as well as Canada. Doing this part of the U.S. in July had the added benefit of missing the complications created by the many three- and four-day member-guest tournaments, which traditionally are held in June.

The next stage in creating the itinerary was to consult with Gordon Dalgleish (1992*) of PerryGolf (travel agent based in Atlanta, GA specializing in golf trips to Scotland and Ireland). Many hours were spent on the phone with Gordon consulting his travel-agency computer to locate airline flights that would link all the courses. With his help a viable program based on a British Airways round-the-world special business class fare was created. The cost of this ticket was $10,800. (The actual international ticket had so many pages with so many countries that the agent in Wellington New Zealand asked me where I was not going.) The domestic flights cost an additional $3,500. I was able to keep the airline cost down by using my own car for three major U.S sections of the trip.

In creating the schedule I programmed buffer days in anticipation of possible delays due to bad weather, late flights, or even missed flights. If these buffer days turned out not to be needed then there was also alternative flights picked out to get me to the next destination one day early. Obviously to play 100 courses in 100 days and travel around the world meant that two courses would have to be played in one day on several occasions. Geographically, there were plenty of possible opportunities. In the end 16 doubleheaders became part of the program.

Having already been to each course at least once, I knew how to get there and move on to the next course in the speediest manner possible. For instance, I knew the fastest way from San Lorenzo (near Faro, Portugal) to Valderrama (at Sotogrande, Spain) was to rent a car in Faro, drive five hours to Sotogrande, and finally leave the car at the Malaga airport, paying a substantial drop-off charge.

By late July 1996 the ideal schedule from my standpoint was developed.

The next stage was to determine how well my ideal schedule would fit with the 1997 schedule of the 100 courses involved. A personalized letter was written to my contact at each club. In most cases this was a friend of many years; in a few cases the letter went directly to the club. This was Plan A. Also enclosed were a standardized form and a reply envelope. Everyone was asked to check the 1996 club schedule and try to guess if the 1997 schedule might produce a significant conflict. An early starting time was also requested (preferably the first one of the day).

Over the next two months 92 specific and positive responses were received. For the eight no or too vague responses, Plan B was activated. That meant calling on friends who might know someone at the problem club or writing the club direct.

When moving my base of operation from New Jersey to Florida in late October I debated whether to bring the three bulky magnetic boards because the schedule seemed to be in good shape. Bringing the boards South proved to be a very wise decision.

In February 1997 reconfirming letters were sent to all concerned. At that point the schedule looked firm. However, as you will read, the deck had to be reshuffled twice more before lift-off day, and further revisions had to be made as the trip progressed. It was obvious at the outset of the project that flexibility was the magic word in planning and executing the trip. At this point the single most valuable piece of equipment was the fax.

I am a firm believer in spending as much time as possible on the planning stage of a trip. I have learned the hard way that no matter how much you try to anticipate every eventuality there will always be some unexpected hurdle or hurdles. The goal is to keep the unexpected to the absolute minimum. The final itinerary for the trip was a single-spaced seven-page document containing 150 names of individuals along with 250 phone and fax numbers. PerryGolf, used as the contact point, was extremely helpful in coping with the changes that came up during the trip.

Course Access

As most of you know, just getting on some of the Top 100 courses is almost impossible, to say nothing about trying for a specific day and a specific hour. Having friends all over the world made my trip a possibility. Unless otherwise noted in the blow-by-blow account of the trip, all the course played are private. On 45 courses you must play with a member. On another 30 private courses you can play at certain times without a member (mostly in the U.K. and Australia) but need a proper introduction, such as being a member of a private club. On modern-day real-estate related courses you have to play with a member. There also are eight resort courses and three public-access courses. Finally, there is one course (Shadow Creek) that falls into the “other” category (basically you must be a high roller or friend of  the owner) (subsequently available for $1,000 greens fee).

Possible Publicity

In the early stages of planning the trip I envisioned all sorts of possible related activities. To defray the expense of the trip I thought of corporate sponsorship such as Titleist/Foot Joy/Cobra Golf (clubs, balls, gloves, shoes, socks, and bag), AT&T (demonstration of worldwide communication capability, including nightly updates on the Internet), and an airline such as British Air.  Other possibilities were a fund-raising program for the Multiple Sclerosis Society (with donors paying so much per mile traveled) or a contest to guess the actual itinerary.

All these ideas quickly evaporated because of the need to respect the privacy of all the clubs involved. A few of them wanted absolutely no publicity. Sports Illustrated contacted me in February expressing a desire to run a three-page article (including a map) to be published in April. Golf magazine also thought about running articles during each month of the trip. I had to ask both to hold off until the trip was concluded. Thus the trip was conducted in an inconspicuous fashion. The privacy issue also meant the trip could not be mentioned in the 1996 “O.”

Going on one airline exclusively made no sense; the optimum flight had to be chosen in all instances because of the need for speed. I had to take the most direct flight possible and not be tied down to a hub-city connection just to stay on one airline.

Traveling Companion

I have learned over the years that traveling alone on an extended trip is the only way to go because problems rise exponentially with the addition of each person. However, because the book was such an integral part of the trip I asked someone to join me. I wanted this person to act as another set of eyes and help write up the key aspects of the course played that day as we traveled to the next site. I thought I had such a person (63-year-old gentleman from overseas), and he did accompany me on the early part of the trip. Unfortunately, the pace was too fast and my friend retired from the fray after the first 20 courses.

Actually my first choice for a traveling companion had been Dan Turner (1992) who had been doing yeomen service as a researcher for the book. Dan is the head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Alabama. In December 1996 Dan’s new boss decided he was indispensable at work and thus was not free to spend 100 consecutive days away from the campus. Dan did join my traveling companion and me on the first few days of the trip. Then he joined me on the Monterey Peninsula, in Ireland and Scotland, and during the concluding 10 days. During these periods we accomplished a great deal of work, and it is a shame that Dan was not along for the entire trip.

A few years ago I decided to simplify my life by traveling only with white golf shirts. This eliminates all agonizing color-coordination decisions while packing and on the morning of each golf day. With the need to do my own laundry without having conquered the iron, I have discovered all-cotton golf shirts do not come out of the dryer wrinkle-free. To supplement my current supply of white golf shirts for the trip I purchased a dozen Pickering 60% cotton/40% polyester white shirts. Following the trip my closet now contains a lifetime supply of white golf shirts.

I also purchased four drip-dry dress shirts, as well as two pairs of blue long pants and two pairs of blue short pants made of a new type of microfiber that was light in weight, washable, permanent-press, and wrinkle-free.

I also packed two pairs of middle weight blue golf slacks; one pair of blue corduroy slacks; one pair of gray dress slacks; one blue blazer; four ties; two blue cashmere sweaters; one gray Gortex-lined sweater; a 14-day supply of socks and underwear; and normal toiletry items supplemented by vitamins, Kaopectate, and Lomotal.

How do you pack to circumnavigate the globe starting in Atlanta, Georgia, and ending in New Jersey 55 days later and encountering both spring, summer, and moderate early-winter weather? It meant one heavy central piece of luggage on rollers. How heavy would this suitcase become? At check-in an attendant attached an extra tag that said “HEAVY-Bend your knees”; the weight was listed at 28 kg (61.7 lb.).

Gordon produced a reasonably light and sturdy golf travel bag, also with rollers. Because the bag was not tall enough for my standard long putter one with a collapsible shaft had to be purchased. The putter head was ugly, but the collapsible shaft made it worthwhile.

My carry-on bag was bulky and heavy. To record as many thoughts as possible during the trip I purchased a Toshiba laptop computer that operated on all electrical systems. Because the battery is only good for 90 minutes of usage per full charge and there were going to be some ten-hour flights, two extra batteries and a battery charger kit were needed. This whole system added considerable weight to the carry-on bag, but it was necessary.

A portable printer was purchased, but it and the related supplies such as paper proved to be too bulky and too heavy. Also purchased (from Radio Shack) were two packages of international  adapters, one for electrical outlets and the other for telephone outlets.

The fourth piece of luggage was a lightweight hanging bag for a sport coat and slacks to avoid wrinkling these items by packing them tightly in the big suitcase. I also purchased a small two-pocket zippered travel purse to hold my passport, travelers’ checks, airplane tickets, regular wallet, some bank checks, and a minicalculator. This purse was never out of my sight and went into the golf bag while on the course.

Because it immediately became apparent that the carry-on bag was really heavy I bought a set of detachable wheels to roll the bag on and off airplanes and down long airport corridors. However, it quickly became clear that it was impossible for one person to roll more than two pieces of bulky luggage at the same time. Thus, the detachable wheels were abandoned, and I put the carry-on bag back on my shoulder. Actually, moving the four pieces simulanteously was not a big problem except in Japan.

One or more cameras would have been desirable additions. However, not only were weight and space considerations in the decision note to include them, but so were the lack of  freedom to take pictures at appropriate times. The priorities were to play golf and write down observations. I have found that doing these two tasks makes it impossible to take pictures too while maintaining a reasonable pace of play. The choice is to take notes or to snap pictures, and I opt for note taking. In this regard 30 pocket-sized spiral notepads were purchased. One question was which spiral location was best — on the side or on top. Extensive field testing indicated that the clear choice was spirals at the top for ease of taking out and replacing in the right-hand back pants pocket.

Physical Conditioning Program

I am not a physical fitness freak, but I did not want to have the trip fail because some part of my body fell to pieces. That meant a fairly serious exercise program had to be performed on a 58-year-old body. Actually I have been on a semi-regular exercise program for the past few years, so I just became more dedicated to following it at least three times a week starting in the summer of 1996. The program consists of extensive stretching, 10 to 15 minutes on a stair climber, 10 to 15 minutes on a stationary bike, and 20 to 25 minutes on a treadmill whose elevation can be adjusted. I also spent the winter season carrying my bag in order to increase my stamina. Clearly the program worked because no body part failed, even for one day. I certainly would not characterize myself as an “iron man,” but for at least 100 days of my life I can modestly put myself in that category.

McCoy Power Reports (MPR)

Most of my friends think I am fully retired, but in fact I run a successful business, McCoy Power Reports (MPR). I publish nine formal reports a year, plus some interim reports, on worldwide market shares for electric power generating equipment and services. It is a $100 billion-a-year industry, and my paying customer base includes such companies as GE, Siemens (Germany),  ABB (Switzerland), GEC Alsthom (France and England), and Mitsubishi (Japan).

In early April the following notice was sent to all my customers:

“Please be advised that I will be out of the country from late April through early August. Therefore, the MPR office will be closed at the end of the day on Friday April 25 and will not reopen until Thursday August 7. There will be no way that I can respond to any requests during that time period. Thus, if you have any special requests please contact me by April 25.” Not only were there no complaints, but no one canceled. In fact, during the three weeks after reopening, three new companies signed up for the full subscription service. Maybe I should go away for 100 days every year.

Despite a full year of planning and preparation, I was going to need a lot of luck for the trip to be successful. Before blast-off I received a card and good luck charm from my older daughter Elizabeth. The card said “Enclosed is a good luck rock for your journey! May your goals and dreams be accomplished. May this green rock, illustrating different geological ages, bring you luck and happiness while you travel. The rock is from Alaska and Canada – the Tatshenshini River. It traveled a long way to bring you luck. Don’t forget to put it in your golf bag.”

I did as instructed, but then forgot about the rock. Fortunately I cleaned out the golf bag in Atlanta just before embarking upon 53 days of flying. It was then that I discovered the rock and realized why the trip had been going so well so far. For the rest of the trip, every time I thought about how lucky I was that everything was going so well I also thought of the rock. And these thoughts occurred daily. On the eighteen hundredth green at Merion I took out the lucky rock and had my younger daughter Jane take a picture of me kissing it.

Miscellaneous

There were several day-to-day items to cover before lift-off. To cover the normal monthly bills, organizations such as the electric and phone companies had to be sent enough funds to cover at least four months’ worth of charges. The June installment to the Internal Revenue Service was prepaid, and the credit-card company received a substantial advance payment to avoid not exceeding my credit limit and thus being refused credit in Adelaide, Australia.

Ground Rules

As the first person to attempt playing the Top 100 in a given number of days, I have the discretion to determine the ground rules for anyone who wants to play them in fewer than 100 days. These ground rules are:

• 1.     Start from your official residence on day one.
• 2.     Fly commercially.
• 3.     Walk all 1,800 holes.

TO BE CONTINUED

About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf , the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him on Google+

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More From Forbes

Cabot adds lofoten links to growing golf destination portfolio.

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The Cabot Collection has added a seventh golf destination to its growing portfolio with a strategic ... [+] investment in Lofoten Links in Norway.

The Cabot Collection has expanded its golf portfolio yet again, with a strategic investment in the world’s northernmost links-style course and one of the game’s most visually dramatic properties: Lofoten Links in Norway.

Built on a rugged, seaside landscape above the Arctic Circle, Lofoten Links (pronounced Luh-footen) is playable 24 hours a day under the midnight sun during the summer months and with the northern lights as a majestic backdrop in the fall. The 18-hole facility is situated on the island’s northern edge and faces directly north towards the Norwegian Sea, positioning it perfectly to see one of nature’s most dazzling phenomena.

Cabot CEO and co-founder Ben Cowan-Dewar, who’s made a living experiencing the world’s finest courses, said photographer Jacob Sjoman’s image of Lofoten’s par-3 second hole on the water with the northern lights swirling overhead is the best golf photo he’s ever seen.

The northern lights over the 2nd hole at Lofoten Links, the newest addition to the Cabot Collection. ... [+]

“For me, just being able to be a little part of it, it’s off the charts,” Cowan-Dewar said in an interview. “I hope all golfers who share the wanderlust for the game get there at some point in their life. The whole destination of Lofoten is just unbelievable. It’s shockingly beautiful; amazing people, wonderful landscapes. And on its own it has been an extraordinary destination. So, I think there's just so much there to draw people and hopefully give them just a truly amazing experience.”

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The investment in Lofoten Links – terms weren’t disclosed – brings a seventh property into the Cabot Collection, which specializes in luxury resort and residential golf destinations.

The company in July e xpanded to continental Europe with Cabot Bordeaux , having acquired the 400-acre Golf Du Médoc Resort and its two 18-hole courses in Bordeaux, France. Cabot last year debuted its first U.S. property, Citrus Farms in Florida, and also opened its first Caribbean property in Saint Lucia.

Having burst onto the global golf scene in 2012 with the opening of Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Cabot is currently developing its second Canadian destination (Revelstoke) in British Columbia and is building a second course at its Castle Stuart property in the Scottish Highlands.

Lofoten Links is located above the Arctic Circle and originally started out as a six-hole golf ... [+] course

LEARNING ABOUT LOFOTEN

Cowan-Dewar said he first met the developer of Lofoten Links, Frode Hov, back in 2019 and learned the backstory of a special course that took almost a quarter of a century to bring to life.

Following through on the vision of his late father, Hov in 1997 had a six-hole course built along with a small number of cozy Nordic-style cottages on his family’s farmland to house traveling golfers. Almost 15 years later, having proven that a golf course could be maintained so far north, Lofoten Links began expanding to 18 holes and opened in its current form in 2015.

“It was a lot like Cabot and Cape Breton in a lot of ways, of sort of having a dream to build golf on a (challenging) site and being able to realize that very few people are nutty enough to have done that,” said Cowan-Dewar, adding that Hov was the one who ‘willed’ it to happen. “We engaged with them in the lead-up to Covid and then in Covid, we sort of put it on the back burner. And then the opportunity resurfaced.

“There are few courses that I've ever seen that are as amazing a site and as beautiful,” he added. “Whether it's Cape Breton or Saint Lucia or the Highlands of Scotland, we’re trying to find beautiful seaside sites. This hits all of those notes and we’re just thrilled to be able to be a part of it. There's a high degree of probability had Covid not happened that it might have been something we would have gotten to in 2020. Obviously, as the world sort of shut down and nobody knew what was happening, we were focused on our existing projects and really doing that.”

Lofoten Links is built on a rugged, rocky seaside landscape in far north Norway.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

So, what’s next with Lofoten Links?

Unlike the other destinations in the current portfolio, the property won’t be rebranded as Cabot Lofoten Links. At least for now.

“It'll be an evolution, and we’ll see where we go,” said Cowan-Dewar, noting that Hov remains the facility’s general manager. “There's no name change. There's no dramatic changes. It's really just trying to support them and plan. It will certainly be tied to the Cabot Collection and we're honored to have it in that company and just keep building on the foundation of the success that they've had.”

During the summer months, golfers can play Lofoten Links 24 hours a day.

Asked whether another course could be in the mix in this remote stretch of Norway, Cowan-Dewar was reminded of the early days in Cape Breton, where Cabot Cliffs opened just over three years after the debut of the original Cabot Links.

“I remember the day we opened Cabot Links and somebody said, `When is the next course coming?’ I said, ‘God, can't we enjoy it?’ But the thing we know for sure is that you can't have two courses until you have one course, and they have a hell of a course. Hopefully we'll figure out an opportunity to grow that and certainly we're always on the lookout to add great golf and great destinations.”

Soaring mountains and a rocky seaside make for a dramatic setting at Lofoten Links.

Cowan-Dewar and his team have taken differing approaches with various destinations in the growing portfolio.

Citrus Farms, the former World Woods, was completely overhauled – with two brand new 18-hole courses and two short courses. Revelstoke is being built from the ground up, and the Highlands enlisted noted architect Tom Doak to build its second 18-hole course. Chances are that Lofoten Links might more closely follow the lead of a property like Cabot Bordeaux, where the existing golf gets a refresh.

“It's really just trying to create the greatest experience we can for golfers who are going to set out on this journey to be able to get there,” said Cowan-Dewar, who teed off at 11 p.m. when he visited in July and finished his round without the sun going down. “It's just one of the magical days in your golf life and we're thrilled to make it better in any way, shape or form we can.”

The par-3 second hole at Lofoten Links is one of the more dramatic one-shotters in the world of ... [+] golf.

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'Nothing can prepare you for 9 months': Guests reflect on Royal Caribbean world cruise

• The Ultimate World Cruise, which departed from Miami in December, garnered widespread attention in the weeks following its departure.
• The 274-night cruise visiting more than 60 countries allowed the ship to visit a wide range of destinations.
• The trip didn’t always go as originally planned, either. Royal Caribbean rerouted the vessel earlier this year and there was even a flooding.

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Audrey Martucci had never been on a cruise before booking a nine-month sailing with Royal Caribbean International .

The travel was one appeal, but the 60-year-old had another motivation. Her husband, Joe, had “no intention” of retiring, according to Audrey. “And so when the travel agent contacted us, and he called me, my first thought was, ‘Well, this will mean that you'll retire, so I'll say yes to this cruise,’” she said, laughing.

She and Joe – an avid cruiser – took a few sailings to warm up for the Ultimate World Cruise , which departed from Miami in December. “But nothing can prepare you for nine months,” said Joe, 67.

The Orlando, Florida, couple, who are now both retired, dove into travel. They sold their car, and their nephew moved into their house while they made the Serenade of the Seas ship their home.

The 274-night cruise visiting more than 60 countries garnered widespread attention in the weeks following its departure. Dispatches from passengers went viral on TikTok, amplified by other users recapping the latest developments and subsequent media reports.

Ahead of the sailing’s conclusion on Tuesday, USA TODAY spoke with several guests about what it was like spending nearly a year sailing around the world.

‘This ship was going places that I’d never been’

The length of the cruise allowed the ship to visit a wide range of destinations. That was a big draw even for guests like Joe Martucci, who had traveled extensively for work. “This ship was going places that I’d never been,” he said. Those included Buenos Aires, Argentina – allowing him and Audrey to see the sun rise over Iguazu Falls – and Copacabana Beach in Brazil.

Adita Larson, a guest from Houston, said Antarctica was her favorite destination. “You can't video and you can’t photograph how beautiful it is to stand in front of those icebergs and see them right in front of your eyes so close,” said the 64-year-old.

Royal Caribbean also curated experiences for passengers. Brandee Lake, 47, had been to the Great Wall of China before, but the cruise line offered an exclusive tour of the Badaling section this time around. “So, it was super exciting to have it basically private for our group,” said Lake, who was previously based in Los Angeles. “Like, when does that happen?”

She also seized opportunities to set out on her own. When the ship skipped a stop in Madagascar due to a storm, for example, Lake flew there herself for a brief visit.

But visiting even the most exciting places can take a toll after a while. The ship’s Europe segment that began in July was quite port-heavy, with only a handful of sea days in the first couple of months. Larson said many folks on board complained of being “exhausted.”

“It’s a blur,” she said. “We don’t know where we were yesterday; we don’t know where we’re going tomorrow.”

The Martuccis echoed the sentiment. At one point during the cruise, a friend of theirs stayed behind while their partner took a shore excursion. “And I remember coming back and saying to Joe, ‘You can do that? We don’t have to go?’ ” Audrey recalled. “That was, like, a huge revelation to me.”

At the beginning of the cruise, they said many guests “hated” days without any stops. “Now we’re all like, ‘Oh my god, a sea day. This is so good,’ ” she said.

The trip didn’t always go as originally planned, either. Royal Caribbean rerouted the vessel earlier this year amid continued attacks in the Red Sea, for example. Rather than transiting through the Suez Canal, the ship sailed an alternate path around Africa.

Lake said canceled ports during the voyage served as a “reminder to be flexible.”

“I think if I learned anything, it’s to expect the unexpected,” she said.

The ship also saw flooding in parts of the ship amid rough weather off the coast of South America in January, and the line confirmed the death of a passenger in February.

Story continues below.

‘Just like any other community’

Cruise ships are often described as cities at sea, and the Ultimate World Cruise fostered a neighborly sense of camaraderie, passengers said. 

“I mean, obviously, it’s just like any other community,” said Lake. “You have the people that you are really close to, some of them are acquaintances, maybe some that are not your people, but nothing wrong. It’s just, you have your group that you naturally gel with.”

Outside of roughly 650 Ultimate World Cruise guests, the sailing was also sold in segments, bringing new folks into the mix every couple of months or so. If passengers ever need space, Audrey Martucci said, they can find solace in their cabins. “Or there’s lots of spaces on the ship that you can go and hide,” she said.

And while the Martuccis took pains to prepare themselves for the trip – they even scoped out the ship during one of their practice cruises – spending so much time with one another was a change. “We went from him working full time to all of a sudden, we're in these small quarters together all the time, and we've done it,” she said. “So, anything else is going to be a breeze now.”

“And you haven’t tossed me overboard,” Joe added.

Guests help each other out, too. Larson said there is a group chat on Facebook where passengers can ask for items they need or post things they no longer want to exchange with one another.

Lake advised anyone thinking about taking a world cruise to pack light – a lesson she learned from experience. She brought three large suitcases, a rolling carry-on bag and a backpack. “I pared it down, and it's still just too much,” she said. “It's kind of like your own closet: you really only wear about 10% to 20% of it.”

While she felt she had too many shoes and rarely wore her accessories, other items like cubbies for the closet came in handy.

Still, the logistics of managing life can be more complex on a ship. Larson pointed to her condominium, which suffered minor damage during Hurricane Beryl . “So not being there to deal with things like that,” she said. “Of course, we could have gone home, but it wasn't that huge of an emergency.” She found other tasks, like paying bills, easy to keep up with online.

The Martuccis even managed to buy a car remotely, so they’ll have one when the cruise ends, and a home in Audrey’s native Scotland, where they plan to spend summers. “We’ve been able to function,” said Joe.

As for whether they got tired of the food, Joe said, “It's just like at home, you open your refrigerator and go, ‘That's all we have,’ and you decide to go out instead of eating (at home). You kind of get that feeling sometimes.” But he emphasized that compared to the earlier cruise they took on Serenade of the Seas, the culinary team “upped their game” for the nine-month sailing.

What is a world cruise?: It's not a 'shoot-from-the-hip decision'

Going viral

The attention the cruise received online caught passengers like the Martuccis off guard. They originally planned to share videos with their kids, who suggested they post on TikTok . Their follower count jumped from “almost none” to nearly 100,000 within a week, according to Joe.

“We fell into it, and we got caught up in this daily video,” Audrey said. “But it’s been great.”

Lake, who has been chronicling her trip online as well, echoed that, calling the experience a “surprise.” She and the Martuccis both noted they had been recognized by strangers on board.

Larson didn’t have a TikTok account when she boarded the ship, but she’s had fun sharing videos from the trip. She hopes to continue doing so back on land, “especially after we get home, the adjustment after nine months of being away from home, and sleeping on a bed that's not rocking anymore.”

Nine months at sea hasn’t soured them on travel. Larson has nearly 30 cruises booked, the first of which takes place in October. Lake, who gave up her apartment and a job in advertising and marketing to travel full-time, plans to start a new profession, organizing group trips.

The Martuccis also have many travel plans, including a family cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in January. “We're not going to let the grass grow under our feet,” said Joe.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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Bucket List: The 12 Best Road Trip Routes In The World

• Road trips offer freedom and flexibility, allowing travelers to explore at their own pace and stop as long as they want. No schedules or time constraints to worry about.
• The world is full of incredible road trip routes, from scenic coastal drives to traversing challenging mountain passes. There are options for every type of traveler.
• Some of the top road trip routes include Route 66 in the US, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Ocean Road in Australia, Trollstigen in Norway, and the Ring Road in Iceland. These routes offer amazing views and unforgettable experiences.

Traveling by train, like enjoying an adventure on Amtrak's epic sleeper train routes around the world , can be a comfortable way to explore a destination (and multiple, at that!). However, there's far less freedom when traveling by rail because passengers are limited to the time constraints and stops on the journey. What's better than rail travel for folks with wanderlust hoping to be free from the clutches of time limits? Road trips, of course!

Going on a road trip is an amazing way for travelers to discover the world at their own pace; explorers can go wherever their hearts desire and stop for as long as they wish without having to worry about schedules. Moreover, there are countless options for road trip routes that range from scenic coastal drives to traversing rugged mountain passes and immersing oneself in the culture and history of an area (or an entire country, in many cases).

For aspiring roadtrippers looking to see the world, here are the top ten best road trip routes around the globe to add to the bucket list. From the breathtaking vistas of Scotland's North Coast 500 to the remote and challenging terrain of Pakistan's Karakoram Highway, these amazing bucket list road trips offer unforgettable experiences and awe-inspiring views for those who crave adventure on the open road.

UPDATE: 2023/11/30 12:40 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Who's Up For A Drive? These Are Some Of The Most Beautiful Routes To Take

This list covers a number of the most beautiful road trips in the world (in other words, the best!). However, there's always room for more! As such, this article has been updated with two new bucket list road trip routes, both in the US and the most beautiful to embark on ASAP. From Route 66 across the Western United States to the Blue Ridge Mountain Drive, there are endless places to travel by vehicle. Have fun!

Related: Road Trip Bucket List: 12 Major Cities To Stop At Along Route 66

Route 66, United States

Welcome to the wild west: route 66 is the perfect desert adventure.

One of the most famous road trips in the world is Route 66 in the United States. Not only has this iconic road-inspired movie like Cars , but it also boasts endless scenery, history, and communities worth stopping in for the night. Most notably, Route 66 offers tons of epic stops and spans over 2,400 miles across states like Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico and ends in Los Angeles, California.

This is undeniably one of the best driving ideas for a road trip itinerary and should keep everyone occupied from mile one to 2,488. Moreover, Route 66 boasts an eight-state coverage, with something to see and do at nearly every turn. However, much of this route goes through desert landscape, so make sure and bring plenty of water!

• Distance : 2,448 miles
• Time to Drive: 10 days (minimum) , but 2 weeks is an ideal timeframe

The Blue Ridge Parkway, United States

This road trip route is known to be the most scenic drive in the united states.

Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most stunning drives in the United States and arguably North America. Here, people can embark on a 469-mile adventure through this famous mountain range, traveling through states like Virginia and North Carolina. Moreover, the Blue Ridge Parkway detours into places like Shenandoah National Park and the Smoky Mountains National Park system. This makes it a perfect choice for mountain lovers and hikers, plus it is a pretty scenic route from start to finish.

It's also worth noting that while on this road trip route, you will drive through countless towns, including Linville Falls, Blowing Rock, Boone, Sparta, Roanoke, Virginia, Bryson City, Mouth of Wilson (Grayson Highlands State Park), West Jefferson, and so on.

• Distance: 469 miles
• Time to Drive: ~9-10 hours

The Blue Ridge Scenic Highway through North Carolina is another epic US road trip route in this region!

Great Ocean Road, Australia

Coastal views and cliffside driving make the great ocean road a top road trip.

Covering a distance of 413 miles, The Great Ocean Road is a picturesque coastal route that starts from Torquay and ends in Allansford, near Warrnambool, located on the southeastern coast of Australia.

Constructed by Australian soldiers in remembrance of their fallen colleagues, the road is renowned for its scenic beauty, with stunning oceanic views, cliffs, and rainforests. Exploring this road with its gorgeous scenery is one of the best things to do in Australia.

• Distance: 413 miles
• Time to Drive: ~9.5 hours

Trollstigen, Norway

Get ready to turn (a lot) in norway while driving trollstigen.

Trollstigen, which translates to the "Troll's Path" or the "Troll's Road", is a mountainous road located in western Norway, running from south to north from Sylte in Fjord Municipality to Åndalsnes in Rauma Municipality. It is approximately 20 kilometers long and contains 11 hairpin turns that ascend the steep mountainside, with gradients as steep as 10%.

The road was built between 1925 and 1936 and has since become a popular tourist attraction due to its breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, earning a spot on many lists of the world's most scenic drives. Even though it is not included as one of the things travelers should not miss out on in Norway because it's a bit off the beaten path (and tourists without a car will have to rent one), it provides a breathtaking experience for road trip fans.

• Distance: 31 miles
• Time to Drive: ~1-2 hours

Ring Road, Iceland

Also called route 1, this route offers glaciers, volcanoes, hot springs, and falls.

The Iceland Ring Road, also referred to as Route 1 or simply the Ring Road, is an 828-mile-long highway encircling the entire island country of Iceland. The road provides access to some of Iceland's most popular tourist spots, such as volcanoes, glaciers, hot springs, and waterfalls.

Completed in 1974, the Ring Road has emerged as a major tourist attraction in Iceland, offering visitors stunning vistas of the country's diverse landscapes and unique geological formations. Several charming towns and villages in Iceland (other than Reykjavik) dot the road, providing essential services and accommodations to travelers. From Icelandic culinary adventures to marveling at Iceland's unique beaches , Iceland's Ring Road is worth the bucket list because it promises a deep exploration of the entire country.

• Distance: 828 miles
• Time to Drive: Approximately 6 days in summer and 12 days in winter , at a minimum

The Garden Route, South Africa

190 miles of beaches, mountains, lagoons, and forests.

Located on the south-western coast of South Africa, The Garden Route is easily one of the most scenic drives in the world; it's a 190-mile-long scenic route between Mossel Bay and Storms River, passing through a range of breathtaking landscapes such as lush forests, pristine beaches, towering mountains, and tranquil lagoons.

As a popular tourist spot, The Garden Route offers visitors an array of attractions and activities throughout the journey, making it an ideal road trip destination. Drive down this road and discover what South Africa is really like .

• Distance: 190 miles
• Time to Drive: 2-3 hours (but it's recommended to take a few days to complete it and appreciate the sights along the way)

Amalfi Coast, Italy

High-class living and mediterranean views make the amalfi coast an upscale road trip choice.

The stunning Amalfi Coast is a 31-mile road that winds along the southern coast of Italy, connecting the cities of Sorrento and Salerno. The road passes through a series of charming coastal towns, such as Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi, each with its own unique character and attractions.

The narrow, winding road features hairpin turns and steep drops, providing breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and cliffs. Travelers can stop at scenic overlooks, indulge in local cuisine, and explore historical sites and cultural attractions.

• Time to Drive: ~2 hours

A82, Scotland

Catch a glimpse of the lochness monster on scotland's a82 route.

In Scotland, the A82 is a major road that spans approximately 167 miles from Glasgow to Inverness, passing through some of Scotland's most stunning landscapes, such as Loch Lomond, Glencoe, and Loch Ness.

Initially constructed in the 18th century as a military route to the Highlands, it has become a vital transport link and popular tourist route. The A82 goes through several towns and villages, including Fort William, the gateway to Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain in the UK.

• Distance: 167 miles
• Time to Drive: ~3 hours (but it's better to take one's time to enjoy the stops and views along the way)

Related: Discovering The Beauty Of The Palisades Parkway: A Road Trip Adventure In Northern New Jersey

The Karakoram Highway, China/Pakistan

Peaks, glaciers, and valleys from kashgar, china to islamabad, pakistan.

The Karakoram Highway, also known as the Friendship Highway, is one of the best travel routes for road trippers on this list for those who crave adventurous terrain. The route spans over 1,300 kilometers from Kashgar in China to Islamabad in Pakistan. The road traverses through some of the most remote and rugged terrain on earth, including the Karakoram mountain range, which houses some of the world's highest peaks, such as K2, the second-highest mountain in the world.

The construction of the Karakoram Highway was completed in 1986, and it is recognized as a remarkable engineering feat involving the construction of numerous bridges and tunnels through some of the planet's most challenging terrain. The highway provides breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and deep valleys while also providing an opportunity to experience the culture and history of the region.

• Distance: 810 miles
• Time to Drive: ~4-5 days (but travelers can spend longer if they wish to take their time)

Related: From Canyons To Wildflowers: Discovering Anza Borrego On A Scenic Road Trip

The North Coast 500, Scotland

Castles, cliffs, pubs, and water views in the scottish highlands.

The Scottish Highlands is a picturesque region in Scotland that boasts natural beauty, rugged landscapes, and historical landmarks. Many scenic routes and roads are scattered throughout the area, offering visitors breathtaking views of the region's unique culture and history. However, none are quite as enchanting as the North Coast 500 drive, which easily earns its place among the world's best road trips for its scenery alone (and the quintessential Scottish pubs en route!).

One of the best road trips in Scotland (or indeed the UK overall) is the North Coast 500, a 516-mile road trip showcasing some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery. The journey begins and ends in Inverness, taking travelers through small villages, historic towns, dramatic mountain ranges, and rugged coastlines. There are plenty of ancient castles, scenic overlooks, and traditional Scottish pubs to stop and enjoy along the way.

• Distance: 516 miles
• Time to Drive: ~ 8 hours 30 minutes

The Overseas Highway, Florida Keys, USA

This is the drive between the florida keys and miami beach.

The Overseas Highway , located in the Florida Keys of the USA, is a 113-mile-long road that connects Miami to Key West, the southernmost point in the continental United States. The highway spans a series of islands, providing awe-inspiring views of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Originally built as a railroad track in the early 20th century, it was later converted to a highway to connect the Keys' islands. Today, the highway is one of the best road trips in the world for coastal scenery, passing through several towns and villages, including Islamorada and Marathon, each with its own unique attractions and activities.

• Distance: 113 miles
• Time to Drive: ~4 hours one-way

Related: From Waterfalls To Wildlife: Exploring The Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway On A Road Trip Adventure

The Atlantic Road, Norway

This route in norway makes its way to the little island of averøy.

The Atlantic Road in Norway is a 5.2-mile road that runs along Norway's coast, connecting the mainland to the island of Averøy with eight bridges. It passes through some of Norway's most stunning coastal landscapes, offering views of the open sea, rugged cliffs, and tiny islands.

This road is an engineering marvel, completed in 1989, as it required the construction of several bridges and causeways in one of the most challenging marine environments in the world. The Atlantic Road is a popular tourist attraction that offers stunning views of the surrounding scenery to those visiting Norway.

• Distance : 5.2 miles
• Time to Drive: ~10 minutes

This road is short but sweet; however, if travelers want to extend it, they can drive the whole of the super scenic Route 64 ( Route 64 includes the Atlantic Road ). Doing so will add around an hour and 15 minutes to the journey.