DREAM ROUTES OF THE D REAM WORLD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS ON EARTH R OUTES OF OF OUTES Johann Wolfgang from Goethe (1749 – 1832) wrote »The best education for an intelligent person is found while travelling«, and DREAM ROUTES OF THE WORLD is the perfect travel guide for this journey, as it is the perfect companion for all globetrotters. It includes the most beautiful destination routes from around the globe. The 28 adventurous car tours lead over the continents, across fascinating countries, through impressive natural landscapes to mysterious lost civilisations. From Europe, with its imposing T castles, palaces and medieval cities to Africa, with its contrasting sandy W HE deserts and rushing waterfalls, from Asia’s sparkling metropolises and the stunning Himalaya to the scenic extremes of Australia and New Zealand, continue around the world to the extremely large US continent with its unbelievably deep canyons to the incredibly high volcanoes and largest jungles of the world in South America. ORLD With informative texts on travel destinations and regional topics as well as tips on worthwhile detours, brilliant colour photos and detailed route maps, as well as helpful city maps, this volume is a comprehensive travel encyclopedia and the ideal handbook for travelling the world. ISBN 978-3-95504-706-1 UK £ 25.00 US$ 35.00 The Erongo Mountains in Namibia were an ideal location for the hunters of the San: from the hills they oversaw the surrounding plains and were able to follow the migrations of the wildlife. DREAM ROUTES OF THE WORLD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS ON EARTH The cormorant fisher- man are the symbol of the romantic landscape by the Li River in Guilin in southern China. ‘Life is like a book, and those who do not travel just read a little about it,’ wrote Augustine Aurelius (354-430), and a Far Eastern proverb says, ‘If you do not you climb the mountains, you will not be able to experience the views.’ Since ancient times people have been travelling for a variety of reasons, but they are always reward- ed with experiencing a piece of the world and discovering some- thing strange and new. Once upon a time there were traders, sol- diers, pilgrims, explorers and scientists who overcame great distances. Today we often follow in their footsteps for fun along some of the legendary travel routes. More than 28 carefully researched car tours lead us to the most fas- cinating destinations of our planet: DREAM ROUTES OF THE WORLD represents a whole variety of continents: Whether rural or cultural – this book leads through the innumerable facets of the earth – whether through deserts or rainforests to ancient cultures such as those of the Maya or Inca to vibrant modern cities such as New York or Singapore. With informative texts and interesting topics, brilliant colour photos, detailed touring maps and tips for trips, DREAM ROUTES OF THE WORLD offers a comprehensive overview of the diversity of our planet and makes us want to set out, travel the world and explore its indescribable diversity. The trail to ‘False Kiva’ starts of the most beautiful just before the trail to the viewpoints of Canyonlands Aztec Butte. This is not National Park in Utah, USA for proven, but it is certainly one hikers. EUROPE 12 Route 8: Portugal The land of fado and peaceful matadors 98 Route 1: Scotland Route 9: Italy Clansmen, whisky and the Highlands 14 From fishing villages to Renaissance cities 108 Route 2: England Route 10: Italy, San Marino, Slovenia, Croatia, Magical locations in southern Britain 24 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Route 3: Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Montenegro and Albania Slovakia and Hungary Around the Adriatic 118 The Route of the Emperors: Route 11: Greece Berlin – Prague – Vienna – Budapest 36 Classics of antiquity up close 130 Route 4: Switzerland, Italy and Austria The Alps 52 Route 5: Netherlands and Belgium Between Amsterdam and Bruges 62 Route 6: France Via Turonensis: from Paris to Biarritz 74 Route 7: Spain Andalusia – a Moorish legacy 88 6 AFRICA 142 ASIA 188 Route 12: Morocco Route 15: China Royal cities, kasbahs and oases 144 From Beijing to Kunming 190 Route 13: Egypt Route 16: Nepal and Tibet A journey through the Kingdom of the Pharaohs 160 On the Road of Friendship Route 14: South Africa across the Roof of the World 202 Taking the Garden Route 174 Route 17: India Rajasthan and the ‘Golden Triangle’ 214 Route 18: Thailand and Malaysia Pulsing cities and tropical natural paradises 226 7 The Harbor Bridge and the Opera House (in the image on the left in the background) define the night skyline of one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Sydney. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 240 USA AND CANADA 284 Route 19: Australia Route 22: Canada On Stuart Highway through the ‘Red Centre’ 242 On the Trans-Canada Highway Route 20: Australia from Vancouver to the Great Lakes 286 The Pacific Highway 258 Route 23: Canada and the USA Route 21: New Zealand On the Pan-American Highway 298 Glaciers, fiords and rainforests 270 Route 24: USA The ‘Wild West‘: cowboys, canyons and cactus 320 Route 25: USA From Maine to Maryland 340 8 CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AMERICA 356 INDEX 394 Route 26: Mexico, Guatemala and Belize Through the Kingdom of the Maya 358 PICTURE CREDITS/IMPRINT 399/400 Route 27: Peru and Bolivia The Inca Trail 370 Route 28: Argentina and Chile Through the Pampas and Patagonia 384 9 In the main chapters, which are divided into the respective respective countries and regions as well as their scenic, continents, a total of 28 routes are suggested, which lead historical and cultural features. Supplemented by a multitude through magnificent natural and cultural landscapes and to of brilliant colour photos, important places and sights are the most beautiful cities in the world. The overview map below described, including the route and the roads. The numbers shows the course of all tours at a glance. An introductory text representing the places and sights can be found in the maps to each tour gives an outline of the travel route and the at the end of each route chapter. The main route is clearly 10 separated and is supplemented by suggestions for interesting detours. Pictograms (see adjacent list) indicate the location and nature of important sights along the routes. In addition, as well as the best travel time is provided by an information outstanding travel destinations are highlighted by colour box for each route. Interesting aspects of culture and nature are images and short texts at the edge of the map. Important travel explained in marginal columns. Worthwhile detours are information about the time required and the length of the tour additionally shown in coloured boxes in the margins. 11 Europe Europe offers an endless abundance and variety of fascinating destinations: magnificent natural landscapes, beautiful churches and monasteries, castles and palaces, famous museums, charming medieval cityscapes and vibrant metropolises. 15 routes lead to the continent’s most interesting destinations. Country by country, the most important regions and all worth seeing natural and cultural monuments, the most beautiful landscapes and cities are described in detail. Besides magnificent and at the same time such different landscapes as the Côte d‘Azur and the Highlands, it is important to explore Europe‘s capitals such as London, Rome or Copenhagen. This is where the jewels of Earth‘s history are buried: 185 million years ago the Jurassic Coast was created in the south of England, which is one of the most important fossil sites on Earth. Route 1: Scotland Clansmen, whisky and the Highlands Whether you’re a romantic, a lover of the outdoors or a culture connoisseur, Scotland’s raw beauty rarely fails to move the souls of people who make the journey there. Those who choose to experience the rugged, often solitary landscape of the Highlands and the rich history and tradition of this country will be rewarded with unforgettable memories. sandy beaches await discovery, Route profile: for example on the Western Isles. Length: approx. 1,200 km On the mainland, Scotland’s first (745 miles), excluding detours national parks were recently Time required: 2–3 weeks opened around the Cairngorm When to go: Mountains and Loch Lomond. Between April and October is the Poets such as Sir Walter Scott best time. and the ‘national poet of Scot- land’, Robert Burns, have written of this country’s unique beauty. The modern revival of Gaelic mu- Jagged escarpments covered in sic and language has long since a lush carpet of green grass, deep spread beyond Scotland’s bor- lakes in misty moorlands, and ders, and Scottish customs like torrential rivers tumbling down caber tossing and wearing kilts craggy valleys often typify our may seem peculiar to outsiders, image of the Highlands and Scot- but to the Scots they are part of land in general. But there is more their identity. to Scotland than the Highlands If you take one insider tip, make in the north, notably the interest- it this one: Scottish cooking. ing groups of islands to the west Once you have tried Angus steak, and a couple of lovely cities. grouse or Highland lamb, you will Glasgow and the capital, Edin- no longer limit your praise of the burgh, offer modern city living, country to single malt whisky. with cultural events, attractive Having said that, there are about shopping possibilities and re- 110 whisky distilleries in Scot- nowned festivals, while idyllic land, mainly spread around the 14 Left: The summit of Buchaille Etive Mor is a challenge for mountain climbers. Above: There is a wonderful view from the Stob Dubh summit.