After a small hiatus (read: multiple lockdowns and travel restrictions), travel is firmly back on everyone’s itinerary, and we all have adventures to catch up on.

As we continue to satisfy the new-found freedom to explore at our own pace and on our own terms: luxury road trips are booming.

From discovering the Côte d’Azur in a classic Porsche and hitting the Pacific Coast Highway in an American muscle car, to an ice-cool expedition to the Norwegian fjords in a cutting-edge EV, here are five of our favorites.

Just remember: You pick the place, you choose the route, and you set the schedule.

Which only leaves one question... What are you waiting for?

France: The French Riviera

Marseille to Monaco, 293 kilometers

If there’s a more glamorous location for a road trip than the South of France, we haven’t heard about it, and if there’s a more perfect car for making that journey than a Porsche 356 Roadster, we don’t want to pick up on it. A '50s automotive icon made famous by the legendary Hollywood actor James Dean, it still looks sleek and modern despite its age, and with the roof down so will you, as you set off on your grand tour through Provence.

Although the French Riviera has no official start point, the port city of Marseille is a great departure option before heading down to Cassis, along the winding Route des Crêtes to La Ciotat, then over to Toulon and across to Saint-Tropez. Hug the coast as best you can through Fréjus and on to Cannes, and you’ll be rewarded with contrasting views of the vibrant turquoise Mediterranean and the remarkable red cliffs of the Massif de l'Esterel mountain range. Do take the time to visit Antibes before heading on to Nice — Nissa la Bella (Nice the Beautiful) as the locals call it — and if you’re driving a 356, you should definitely cruise the Promenade des Anglais for social media’s sake.

_{^{Shutterstock: View of Monaco from train station}}

Saving the best for last, from Nice take La Grande Corniche (the highest of the three cliff roads) through the mountains to the Principality of Monaco, before descending into Monte-Carlo. C’est magnifique.

To rent a Porsche 356, visit rentaclassiccar.com

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh to AlUla, 1,056 kilometers

As the second largest country in the Arab world, Saudi is a fascinating and diverse nation to explore, offering immense mountain ranges, flat and fertile coastal plains, vast sandy deserts, and a varying climate. The relaxation of tourist restrictions in 2019 has fast-tracked interest in the country, and visitors open to the thrill of discovering this sparsely inhabited area on four wheels are in for an unforgettable experience. Although the quality of the roads in Saudi are exceptional, you’ll want to head off the beaten track from time to time, which means you’ll be best served driving an SUV.

If you’re aiming for that once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip, you should rent a 4x4 that will redefine luxury while you travel: a Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Starting your trip from the capital, Riyadh, within hours you leave the growing modernity of Saudi’s largest city heading west in the direction of the Red Sea towards the Qassim region, encountering lush date palm farms and small villages amid the sandscapes. At the historic city of Hail, deserts give way to mountains, but you should take time to visit the A’arif Fort and the local souks for souvenirs.

The run to AlUla is remote but the scenery — barren plains, volcanic mountains, basalt lava flows, and sandstone rock formations — is spectacular, especially from your vantage point behind the wheel. This route saves the best for last, with your journey ending at The World’s Masterpiece (Hegra), the kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can discover 200,000 years of human history.

To rent a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, visit carrentalriyadh.com

California: The Pacific Coast Highway

San Francisco to Los Angeles, 901 kilometers

When it comes to spectacular roads, America is spoilt for choice. The iconic cross-country Route 66, the verdant Blue Ridge Parkway between Virginia and North Carolina, and the Great River Road that follows the Mississippi through 10 states are all incredible. But the truth is they can’t really compete with the ultimate American Dream drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. And yes, it should be down because you’ll be driving on the right, and you don’t want to miss any of that jaw-dropping coastal scenery looking past oncoming traffic.

So, collect your car — sorry, collect your American muscle car —ideally something monstrous like a Shelby GT-H Fastback if you can’t get hold of a classic Mustang in San Francisco, and prepare for a journey along Route 1. You’ll take in vast mountains, stretches of wild, awe-inspiring cliffs and coastline, beautiful beaches, and national parks.

From the Golden Gate City, your trip will take you to the seaside town of Monterey, through quintessentially quaint Carmel, and along the majestic Big Sur — the highlight of your journey. With Pacific Ocean views on one side and towering redwoods and wild parkland to the other, this rocking and rolling stretch will leave you breathless. Stop off at San Simeon and visit the Hearst Castle for your 'Citizen Kane' photo op, then continue south past Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and finally into Los Angeles. You’ve made it, baby!

To rent a Shelby GT-H Fastback from Hertz Adrenaline Collection, visit hertz.com

Norway

Bergen to Trondheim, 953 kilometers

Few places on Earth have roads that can compete with Norway's. Then again, few spots have a landscape that’s as awe-inspiring as this Scandinavian country, famous for its lush green mountains, sheer rock faces, snow-capped peaks, icy coastal fjords, retreating glaciers, and vast lakes. Put them together and you have an unmissable road tripping experience.

_{Shutterstock: Storseisundet Bridge, Norway}

Amid such stunning natural beauty, it only feels right we should recommend a luxury electric car for your trip. Norway’s EV infrastructure is second to none, with an ever-increasing impressive number of chargers and rapid chargers around the country, making the Polestar 2 (made by their Nordic neighbours Sweden) the perfect choice. As for the perfect time to travel, visitors should aim for a June to September slot to ensure the best weather. This is also when all the roads should be open and daylight stretches out for close to 20 hours.

_{Shutterstock: Snow covered pine forest in Norway}

Setting out from Bergen, your journey to Trondheim can include all the must-see stretches of asphalt in the country. The Gaularfjellet National Tourist Route runs from Sognefjorden to Fosseheimen, through the Jostedalsbreen National Park, and up to Geiranger, where you can travel on arguably the most spectacular road in the world, the Trollstigen. A ribbon of tarmac that snakes up a steep mountain in the Romsdalen Valley, its 11 hairpins are individually named.

Beyond the Troll’s Pass, head north and you’ll reach Atlanterhavsvegen, also known as the Atlantic Road or the road across the sea. It’s an iconic, unique stretch of highway that weaves beautifully through Hustadvika and more than lives up to its title as Norway’s engineering feat of the century.

To rent a Polestar 2, visit alamo.com

South Africa: The Garden Route

Cape Town to Gqeberha, 853 kilometers

The problem with starting a road trip from Cape Town is that it might be difficult to drag yourself away from one of the most beautiful cities in the world. To help you get over that metaphorical speed bump, we suggest you rent something that will make heading for the open road simply impossible to resist: a classic AC Cobra.

_{Shutterstock: South Africa Garden State Route}

To get comfortable driving this vintage V8 machine, head south from the Mother City and make for Chapman’s Peak. This toll road is only around 8 kilometers long but takes in 114 curves offering breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Cape Peninsula mountains on the other. From “Chappies,” you’ll take the coast road east — via Hermanus for some whale watching — towards the official start point of the Garden Route at Mossel Bay, where the driving is spectacular and the distractions come thick and fast.

The town of George is home to the UNESCO-recognized Garden Route Botanical Gardens, while Knysna offers dramatic cliffs and coastline, alongside lush forests and an inland lagoon. There’s also Wilderness National Park, which is a hiker’s dream (if you can bring yourself to park up for a few hours). If you have time, take a detour to the luxurious Botlierskop Private Game Reserve, where you can see four of the big five (apologies for the lack of leopards), plus some unique bird life.

Finish the trip at one of South Africa’s best kept secrets, the stunning Plettenberg Bay. It features picture-perfect beaches, marine wildlife (migrating whales and dolphins, plus a seal colony), and the nearby Robberg Nature Reserve.

To rent a classic AC Cobra, visit capecobrahire.com

Paul Henderson