Five remote epic drives

Bearded adventurer Sean Conway has spent his life traversing some of the world’s most difficult terrain, and has now written a book about his record-breaking swimming adventures in Britain (Hell and High Water, RRP £10.99, Ebury Press). Sean tells The Club about his most awesome adventures behind the wheel

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The Friendship Highway, Lhasa to the Nepalese border

This amazing route sits about 5,000 metres above sea level in the mountains of Tibet. It’s a rocky, sandy environment, and you see a lot of desert, but there are also crystal-clear lakes high up in the mountains. The highway passes the north side of Everest base camp, Rongbuk, which is the highest monastery in the world.

Car of choice: Land Rover Defender

Photo: Getty Images

Highway 163 Monument Valley, Utah, USA

This is the stretch of road in the US where a bearded Tom Hanks finally stopped running in Forrest Gump. I feel a real affinity to the character because we both covered long distances in our careers. I’d love to race down that road in a classic American convertible. That would feel like real freedom.

Car of choice: 1967 Cadillac Eldorado

Photo: Getty Images

The Skeleton Coast, Namibia

This is where the sand meets the sea, so you have ocean on one side and desert on the other as you drive. The landscape is barren: sometimes, when the mist comes in off the ocean, it feels as if you’re on the moon. I’d recommend a stop-off at Kolmanskop, an incredible town. It’s been totally buried by sand.

Car of choice: Land Rover Defender

Photo: Alamy

Western Australia section of Eyre Highway (aka ‘90 Mile Straight’)

This is the longest stretch of straight road in Australia: there isn’t a single bend the whole way. I love that you can just drive a straight line for that long, visiting truck stops and maybe taking a detour to the coast for some surfing.

Car of choice: Massey Ferguson tractor

Photo: Getty Images

Pan-American Highway, from Santiago to Lima

The Atacama Desert part of this drive in Chile is incredible – you’re in the middle of nothing. I love deserts and crazy terrain, so this, to me, is an iconic route. I cycled it the first time, but I’d love the chance to drive it. It would probably make the sandstorms a little more manageable too.

Car of choice: 1965 Ford Mustang

Photo: Getty Images

Sean Conway

Five remote epic drives

The Friendship Highway, Lhasa to the Nepalese border

Highway 163 Monument Valley, Utah, USA

The Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Western Australia section of Eyre Highway (aka ‘90 Mile Straight’)

Pan-American Highway, from Santiago to Lima

The Friendship Highway, Lhasa to the Nepalese border

Highway 163 Monument Valley, Utah, USA

The Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Western Australia section of Eyre Highway (aka ‘90 Mile Straight’)

Pan-American Highway, from Santiago to Lima

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