Western Canada: The Canadian Rockies

Start in Vancouver, where glass towers sit between mountains and ocean. After a night or two to settle in, drive the Sea to Sky Highway towards Whistler, a route lined with waterfalls and wide coastal views.

From there, head inland towards Jasper and Banff National Parks. The Icefields Parkway between them is often the standout stretch, with glaciers visible from the road, bright turquoise lakes like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and regular wildlife sightings. Elk graze near the roadside, and it’s not unusual to spot bears from a safe distance.

You’ll stay in mountain towns where evenings are spent walking to dinner, while days are filled with lake walks, gondola rides and scenic drives that genuinely live up to the photographs.

California: Pacific Coast and Beyond

Begin in San Francisco, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge before joining Highway 1. The road hugs the coastline, with cliffs dropping into the Pacific and long empty stretches where it’s just you and the ocean.

Overnight in places like Monterey or Carmel, where fishing boats line the harbour and seafood restaurants look out over the water. Drive through Big Sur, stopping at coastal viewpoints and redwood groves, then continue south towards Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

If you want to add a dramatic change of landscape, detour inland to Yosemite National Park, where granite cliffs, waterfalls and giant sequoias feel a world away from the coast.

Italy: Lakes, Countryside and Coast

Fly into northern Italy and begin around Lake Como or Lake Garda. Here, pastel coloured towns sit against still water, backed by mountains. Spend your days walking lakeside promenades, taking short boat trips and enjoying long lunches in small piazzas.

Drive south into Tuscany, where vineyards, olive groves and medieval hilltop towns define the landscape. Places like Siena and San Gimignano are compact enough to explore on foot, with cafés spilling onto stone squares and views stretching across the countryside.

Finish along the Amalfi Coast, where the road curves high above the sea. Towns such as Positano and Amalfi feel almost stacked on top of one another, with steps leading down to the water and restaurants built into the cliffs.

Iceland: The Ring Road

Collect your car in Reykjavik and follow the Ring Road through landscapes that shift hour by hour. In the south, waterfalls such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss crash down beside the road, and black sand beaches stretch out near Vik.

Drive past glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park, where ice fields sit just beyond the roadside, then continue towards geothermal areas where steam rises from the ground and hot springs dot the countryside.

In the north, fjords cut into the coastline and small fishing towns appear between wide open stretches of road. The distances are manageable, but the scenery is constantly dramatic.