Top Gear’s Top 10 Best Adventures
Top Gear became famous for more than mere car reviews. During its most popular era, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May travelled across deserts, jungles, mountains, and plenty of other terrains, usually in cheap vehicles that were spectacularly unsuited to the task.
These adventures became some of the show’s most beloved episodes, combining spectacular scenery with the presenters’ famously chaotic friendship. From crossing Vietnam on motorbikes to racing towards the North Pole, the trio repeatedly found ways to turn a simple road trip into an unforgettable television event. Here are ten adventures that capture the show at its very best.
The India Special
The presenters travelled across India in three cheap cars, attempting to promote British trade while dealing with chaotic roads, cultural misunderstandings, and a series of ridiculous challenges. Their journey took them from Mumbai to the Himalayas, with plenty of mishaps along the way.
The Winter Olympics Special
For this unusual adventure, the presenters travelled to Norway and attempted to recreate Winter Olympic events using cars. The challenges included a biathlon involving a car and a rifle, curling with a modified vehicle, and launching a rocket-powered Mini off a ski jump.
The Middle East Special
The trio attempted to recreate the journey of the Three Wise Men, travelling from northern Iraq towards Bethlehem in second-hand convertibles. With a budget of £3,500 per car, they chose a Mazda MX-5, Fiat Barchetta, and BMW Z3. The route crossed several countries and delivered an unusually ambitious road trip.
The USA Special
Given just $1,000 each, the presenters bought used cars in Miami and drove them to New Orleans. Clarkson chose a Chevrolet Camaro, Hammond a Dodge Ram pickup, and May a Cadillac.
The Burma Special
The presenters bought three second-hand lorries online and drove them across Burma, eventually reaching Thailand. Their mission was to build a bridge over the River Kwai, although the final crossing turned out to be the River Kok. Mechanical problems, spectacular landscapes, and a typically chaotic journey made this a memorable two-part special.
The Africa Special
In this two-part adventure, the presenters travelled through Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania in cheap second-hand estate cars, attempting to find the true source of the River Nile. Their vehicles were modified into makeshift homes, but the increasingly difficult terrain made even basic progress a struggle.
The Polar Special
Clarkson and May attempted to reach the Magnetic North Pole in a heavily modified Toyota Hilux, racing against Hammond, who travelled by dog sled. The expedition crossed frozen Arctic terrain and dangerously thin ice, creating one of the show’s most ambitious and physically demanding adventures.
The Bolivia Special
Starting deep in the Bolivian rainforest, the presenters had to reach the coast of Chile in second-hand four-wheel-drive vehicles costing no more than £3,500 each. Their route included the Amazon, the Andes, and the notorious Death Road, making this one of the show’s most nail-biting journeys.
The Botswana Special
The trio were each given £1,500 to buy an ordinary two-wheel-drive car and cross roughly 1,000 miles of Botswana. Hammond’s 1963 Opel Kadett, affectionately named Oliver, became a star in its own right, while the journey tested the cars against deserts, salt pans, and increasingly unforgiving terrain.
The Vietnam Special
Rather than driving cars, the presenters were challenged to travel roughly 1,000 miles from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Long Bay in just eight days, using motorbikes bought with a limited budget. Clarkson’s struggles with two wheels, the spectacular scenery, and an absurd finale make this a fan favourite.