The joy of crossing wide open spaces with complete freedom lies in the ability to be where you want when you want and discover new places on your own timetable. A well-crafted road trip enables you to catch sunrise or sunset, beat the crowds, and generally pile as many experiences as possible into each precious day.

We've put together our favourite road trips to help inspire your next adventure. From winding mountain roads to sun-kissed coastal highways, here are some of the best road trips in the world.

Namibia could be the best road trip country in the world. Easy-to-drive gravel tracks crisscross a vast wilderness of remarkable wildlife and natural wonders. At Sandwich Harbour, towering sand dunes drop into crashing oceans. In Sossusvlei, dead black trees are baked into the earth. Fish River Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the world.

Etosha National Park is an exciting and affordable safari park. The Skeleton Coast has vast open horizons, shipwrecks, and a huge seal colony. Namibia has worked hard to conserve its wildlife. Take a road trip there and you'll learn about their conservation sacrifices and help support their progress.