Looking to add some adventure to your next trip? We have plenty of scenic hikes, fun road trips and unique excursions around the world to get you started.

We have personally done all of these experiences and highly recommend them.

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Cec smiles behind in the passenger seat of a red vintage convertible, parked by the Pacific ocean on the California 1 Highway.
Driving along the iconic California 1

Exciting Road Trip Destinations

There’s something undeniably thrilling about hitting the open road, whether it’s the freedom to explore at your own pace, the joy of unexpected stops along the way, or the ritual of making a new playlist and setting off into the unknown.

These road trip itineraries take you through some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, from dramatic coastlines and mountain passes to winding wine routes and desert valleys.

Each one is packed with scenic drives, local highlights, and plenty of memorable stops along the way.

Canada

Small forested island reflects in the shallow tidal waters of a quiet, sandy bay on the rugged coast of Tofino, British Columbia.
Coastal drives

Best for: mountain passes, remote wilderness, thundering waterfalls, glacier-fed lakes, old-growth rainforests, wild camping, ocean drives, and long, quiet roads.

4 Day Nanaimo to Tofino Road Trip Itinerary

5 Day Vancouver Island Road Trip Itinerary

8 Day Vancouver to Banff Road Trip Itinerary

Salt Spring Island Weekend Itinerary

7 Short Road Trips from Toronto for a Relaxing Getaway

Chile

A winding highway cuts through cactus-covered hills under bright desert light in Chile’s scenic Elqui Valley.
Driving through the mystical Elqui Valley

Best for: high-altitude desert drives, mountain passes, remote wilderness, dramatic fjords, windswept coastal routes, and varied terrain.

Ultimate 2 Week Chile Itinerary

France

Cec sits at a stone picnic table with fresh pastries and macarons, surrounded by spring fields and valley views in Provence.
Roadside picnic in Provence

Best for: scenic countryside drives, vineyard-dotted hills, medieval villages, lavender fields, coastal drives, and mountain passes.

4 Day Provence Road Trip Itinerary

9 Day South of France & Piedmont Road Trip Itinerary

12 Day France & Italy Itinerary

Italy

Neat rows of grapevines curve through the hills below a cluster of colourful homes in the Piedmont countryside.
Piedmont wine region

Best for: olive grove and vineyard-covered hills, sparkling lakes and coastal drives framed by pastel towns, peaceful countryside routes through small villages, and winding cliffside roads.

5 Day Tuscany Itinerary

7 Day Florence & Tuscany Itinerary

3 Day Piedmont Itinerary

9 Day Piedmont & South of France Itinerary

12 Day Italy & France Itinerary

2 Week Italy Itinerary

Mexico

Cec poses beside tall agave plants and a flowering stalk, with wide desert plains and distant mountains in the Oaxaca countryside.
Exploring the Oaxaca countryside

Best for: desert highways, jungle backroads, colourful artisan towns, volcanic peaks, quiet beach roads, and long drives through cactus-strewn landscapes and high plateaus.

5 Day Oaxaca Itinerary

Morocco

Dozens of goats stand in the branches of a tree in Morocco’s arid landscape.
Goats spotted on our drive from Marrakech to Essaouira

Best for: mountain passes, traditional villages, quiet coastal stretches, and long drives across sunbaked plains and sand dunes.

5 Day Itinerary: Marrakech & Atlas Mountains

6 Day Itinerary: Marrakech & Essaouira Itinerary

7 Day Itinerary: Marrakech, Atlas Mountains & Essaouira

New Zealand

A white and yellow campervan parked in golden grass near a turquoise lake, with misty mountains in the distance on New Zealand's South Island..
Campervanning through New Zealand's South island

Best for: winding mountain roads, volcanic landscapes, glacier-fed lakes, quiet coastal roads, wild camping, and scenic drives through rolling farmland and dramatic fjords.

17 Day New Zealand Campervan Itinerary

Oman

Cec & Ari camping in the desert with a rooftop tent on their SUV, surrounded by endless sand dunes under a golden sky in Oman.
Exploring Oman's' desert by 4x4

Best for: desert roads, mountain passes, ancient villages, quiet coastlines, wild camping, and drives through canyons, wadis, and endless dunes.

1 Week Oman Road Trip Itinerary

Reunion Island

A white car drives a winding road through a reddish-brown volcanic landscape on the Route du Volcan in Réunion.
Driving the Route du Volcan on Reunion Island

Best for: mountain roads, volcanic craters, lush jungles, cascading waterfalls, coastal drives, and scenic routes through the tropical highlands.

Unique Things to Do in Reunion Island

Scotland

A quiet, winding road leads toward two rounded mountains, with lush green hills and a glimpse of the sea on a sunny day on the Island of Skye.
Exploring the Isle of Skye's quiet side roads

Best for: highland roads, misty lochs, dramatic coastlines, castle-dotted hills, and scenic drives through moors, glens, and ancient forests.

4 Day Isle of Skye Road Trip Itinerary

10 Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary

USA

Cec leans against a red vintage convertible parked in front of the white stucco Hotel Californian under golden light.
Renting a classic car for our drive to Santa Barbara

Best for: iconic highway road trips, vast deserts, coastal drives, mountain passes, national parks, quirky roadside stops and open roads through canyons, plains, and big skies.

2 Day Road Trip to Santa Barbara

5 Day Maui Road Trip Itinerary

Explore more road trip destinations.

Cec with trekking poles stands on a mountain path, dwarfed by the massive snow-covered peaks of the Himalayas.
Trekking in the Himalayas in Nepal

Jaw-Dropping Hiking Destinations

There’s something incredibly rewarding about reaching wild landscapes that can only be accessed on foot. From glacier-capped peaks to volcanic landscapes, these countries offer some of the most scenic hikes in the world.

Bhutan

The Tiger’s Nest Monastery clings to the edge of a steep cliff, surrounded by forest and soft mist in Bhutan’s mountains.
Hiking to Tiger's Nest Monastery

Best for: Sacred mountain trails, high-altitude passes draped with prayer flags, forest hikes to hidden temples, and treks through untouched Himalayan landscapes.

Bhutan Travel Guide: What to See, Do & Expect

Canada

Cec stands on Panorama Ridge overlooking Garibaldi Lake’s vibrant blue waters and snow-capped mountains.
View from Panorama Ridge in Garibaldi Provincial Park

Best for: Panoramic alpine hikes, glacier-fed turquoise lakes, wildlife-rich backcountry trails, rugged coastline treks, and old-growth forests.

Garibaldi Lake and Panorama Ridge Hiking Guide

Lake Louise Hiking Guide: Lake Agnes Tea House & Big Beehive

Chile

Ari stands at the turquoise glacial lake at the base of Torres del Paine’s iconic granite spires in Patagonia.
Hiking the W-Trek to the iconic Towers Lookout.

Best for: Patagonia treks, jagged granite spires, high-altitude desert hikes, and remote routes through raw, untamed landscapes.

Ultimate Hiking Guide: W-Trek in Torres Del Paine.

17 Tips for Planning the W-Trek in Patagonia Without a Guide

Best W-Trek Refugious and Campsites

China

Towering sandstone pillars covered in dense greenery create a surrea landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest.
Zhangjiajie - China's famous "floating mountains"

Best for: Hiking along ancient trade routes, misty mountain trails, otherworldly landscapes and remote villages.

2 Day Zhangjiajie Hiking Itinerary

Nepal

Colourful prayer flags flutter on snow-covered rocks at the summit of Gokyo Ri, with Himalayan peaks in the distance.
Reaching the summit of Gokyo Ri at 5,357m altitude

Best for: High-altitude Himalayan passes, views of the world’s highest peaks, teahouse trails, glacial landscapes and spiritual journeys.

Gokyo Lakes & Gokyo Ri Trek Itinerary

New Zealand

Volcanic ridges, Mount Doom and rugged terrain mark the dramatic landscape of New Zealand’s Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to see Mount Doom

Best for: Dramatic alpine crossings, volcanic landscapes, rainforest-to-coast trails and glacier-carved valleys.

17 Day New Zealand Itinerary: North Island & South Island

Peru

Cec walks a rocky trail toward a snow-capped peak in the Peruvian Andes, surrounded by lush green hillsides.
Trekking the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Best for: High-altitude trekking, ancient pathways through the Andes, cloud forest trails, ancient ruins and remote mountain communities.

5 Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

Reunion Island

Small Creole village with colourful rooftops sit nestled in a green valley inside a caldera.
Hiking into the caldera of an extinct volcano to reach remote villages on Reunion Island

Best for: Volcanic crater hikes, rainforest trails, and trekking between remote Creole villages hidden in the mountains.

10 Unique Things to Do on Reunion Island

Scotland

Winding hiking path leading through vivid green slopes and dramatic rock formations on the Isle of Skye.
The greenest slopes on the Isle of Skye

Best for: Mist-covered highland hikes, windswept coastal trails, otherworldly green slopes and dramatic ridge lines.

Extraordinary 10 Day Scotland Itinerary

4 Day Isle of Skye Itinerary

Seychelles

Secluded white sand beach and turquoise cove surrounded by lush, vibrant greenery on a sunny day in the Seychelles.
Hiking to Seychelles' secluded beaches

Best for: Coastal hikes to hidden beaches, jungle trails through coco de mer palms, granite boulder scrambles.

5 Days Seychelles Itinerary

Switzerland


The snow-covered Matterhorn stands tall under a blue sky, perfectly mirrored in a still alpine lake at its base.
Hiking in Zermatt for magnificent Matterhorn views

Best for: Alpine hiking, glacier treks, hut-to-hut routes, high mountain lakes, and mountainside dining.

12 Fun things to do in Zermatt for Summer

Svalbard

Group of hikers make their way across Svalbard’s remote tundra, surrounded by vast, rugged terrain and clouded peaks.
Svalbard's remote Arctic tundra

Best for: Arctic landscapes, remote trails, wildlife, glacier hikes and guided treks.

5 Day Svalbard Itinerary

16 Unique Things to Do in Svalbard in Summer

Explore more scenic hiking destinations.

Unique Outdoor Excursions

Two surfers in wetsuits carry boards across a reflective beach toward the waves, backed by a forested Tofino shoreline.
Surfing in Tofino

For travellers who love the outdoors but want something a little different from a hike or road trip, these outdoor excursions take it to the next level.

Canada

Cec relaxing in an Adirondack chair outside a canvas tent, gazing at a calm ocean view framed by tall coastal trees on Hornby Island.
Camping on Hornby Island

Camp in the wild

17 Best Weekend Getaways from Vancouver

Glamping on Hornby Island

23 Fun Things to Do on Pender Island

4 Day Vancouver Island Road Trip

Surf where the mountains meet the ocean

27 Unique Things to Do in Tofino

Go on a wildlife watching tour

3 Day Tofino Itinerary

Explore small, remote islands on the West Coast

Quadra Island

Pender Island

Galiano Island

Discover natural rock pools on the world's second largest lake

How to get to Bathtub Island

Chile

A dazzling view of the Milky Way lights up the night sky in Chile.
The night sky in Chile

Stargaze in the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth

2 Week Chile Itinerary

China

Cec stands at a lookout on the Great Wall of China, gazing at the steep stone steps winding through lush green hills.
Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China

Toboggan down the Great Wall of China

10 Day China Itinerary

Boat down the Li River

4 Day Guilin and Yangshuo Itinerary

Indonesia

Boats anchored near a white sand spit in Komodo National Park, framed by emerald hills and vibrant blue water.
Boating through Komodo National Park

Boat to tiny islands to see wild Komodo Dragons

3 Day Komodo National Park Boating Itinerary

Jordan

Vintage Toyota trucks with people in the back drive across the orange sand and dramatic rock formations of Wadi Rum under a clear desert sky.
4x4ing through the Wadi Rum Desert

4x4 through the Wadi Rum Desert

2 Week Jordan and Israel Itinerary

Kyrgyzstan

Rider’s view from horseback of two trekkers ahead on a trail through a vast green valley toward the alpine Song Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan.
Horse trekking to Song Kul Lake at 3,106m altitude

Horse trek to alpine lakes

10 Day Kyrgyzstan Itinerary

10 Essential Tips for Your Horse Trek to Song Kul Lake

Mexico

Natural infinity pools at Hierve el Agua sit perched on a petrified rock cliff, overlooking sweeping mountain views in Oaxaca.
Petrified waterfall at Hierve el Agua

Swim in a petrified waterfall

5 Day Oaxaca Itinerary

Oman

Cec wades through a clear desert wadi surrounded by tall grasses and rugged red rock cliffs in Oman.
Taking a refreshing dip in a wadi in Oman

Go glamping in the sand dunes and swim in a refreshing wadi

1 Week Oman Itinerary

Reunion Island

A pair of dolphins swim gracefully in the deep blue water, their streamlined bodies just visible below the surface.
Snorkelling with dolphins in Reunion

Snorkel with humpback whales and dolphins

10 Fun Things to Do on Reunion Island

Seychelles

Cec and her sister paddling a clear kayak through turquoise waters along the granite boulders and jungle coast of Seychelles.
Kayaking along Anse Source d'Argent beach

Kayak along Anse Source d’Argent to see its iconic granite boulders

3 Day La Digue Itinerary

Switzerland

Outdoor cheese fondue meal set against the snowy Matterhorn in Zermatt, with wine glasses and cozy mountain lodge vibes.
A ski break at Chez Vrony overlooking the Matterhorn

Take in panoramic views of the Swiss Alps by helicopter or Europe’s highest gondola

12 Unique Things to Do in Zermatt in Summer

Enjoy mountainside fondue with Matterhorn views

18 Fun Things to Do in Zermatt for Non-Skiers

Ride down one of Europe's longest ski runs

21 Top Things to Do in Zermatt in Winter

Svalbard

A group of walruses lounge at the water’s edge in Svalbard, one staring directly toward the camera from the icy shore.
Wildlife boat safari in Svalbard

Boat to the northernmost town in the world

5 Day Svalbard Itinerary

Go on a glacier and wildlife boat safari

16 Unique Things to Do in Svalbard in Summer

Explore more destinations with fun outdoor excursions.

See our round-up of the best travel adventures we've been on:

42 Fun Adventure Ideas For Your Next Trip.

There are millions of travel blogs out there, so what makes Groovy Mashed Potatoes a bit different?

  1. All our recommendations come from our personal travel experiences - we only share things we genuinely think are awesome and worth your time.
  2. All together we've travelled to 58 countries, which has shaped our understanding of authentic travel experiences.
  3. Our travel itineraries are simple and designed to make planning your trip fun and stress-free.
  4. We feature a mix of unique experiences, from off-the-beaten path places to popular activities that live up to the hype.
  5. We cover things we are passionate about: food, nature, road trips, hiking, architecture, art, design, music, fashion and restorative experiences.
  6. We love highlighting places that feel current and have a great local energy.
  7. Instagram does not influence where we travel. We love taking photos of the places we go to, but it doesn't dictate where we go.
  8. All the photos on our site were taken by us during our travels (except for the occasional accommodation pic).

Read more about who were are here.