A road with 44 hairpin turns to Bangmeilong Peak
China, asia
125 km
7 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Bangmeilong Peak in Tibet's Yadong County, near Bhutan, is calling your name! We're talking serious altitude here – 5,190m (17,027ft)! This isn't your Sunday drive; you'll need a 4x4 to tackle this totally unpaved route in the stunning Chumbi Valley.
Seriously, the air gets thin, so be prepared. But the reward? A mountaintop astronomical observatory and views that'll make your jaw drop.
Get ready for a wild ride from Phari (Pagri). This 12.5km climb is packed with 44 hairpin turns, averaging a 7.4% gradient (spiking to almost 12% in places!). Trust me, every twist is worth it. The Himalayas spread out before you, dominated by the majestic 7,000m Chomo Lhari peak. It’s a feast for the eyes!
Where is it?
A road with 44 hairpin turns to Bangmeilong Peak is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 40.1208, 103.8045
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 125 km
- Max Elevation
- 7 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 40.1208, 103.8045
Related Roads in asia
hardA Once in a Lifetime Drive through Chake La
🇨🇳 China
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! We're heading to Chake La, a seriously high mountain pass in Tibet, chilling at a breathtaking 17,513 feet (5,338m)! You'll find it straddling the Nyima and Shuanghu (Tsonyi) counties in southwest China. Get ready for a wild ride, because this road, also called Qagê La, is completely unpaved. A 4x4 isn't just recommended, it's essential! Trust me, you'll want that extra grip. Try to time your visit for daylight hours; night driving is a no-go. This isn't just a road, it's an experience. Picture this: stunning views, a sense of freedom you can't find anywhere else, and lungfuls of the freshest air imaginable. Keep in mind this is serious mountain territory. Altitude and crazy weather are part of the deal. The pass itself stretches for about 41 miles (66.1 km) from Suoga Luma to Gacuoxiang. Budget around 4 hours for the drive without stops. But seriously, plan extra time to soak in the scenery and snap some photos – you won't regret it! This road cuts through the Changtang National Nature Reserve, so expect some seriously wild landscapes!
hardWhere is Sang Da La Pass?
🇳🇵 Nepal
Okay, buckle up adventure junkies, because Sangda La Pass in Nepal is calling your name! Nestled way up in the Dhawalagiri Zone, this baby is one of the highest roads you can actually drive in the whole country. Reaching Sangda La Pass is a serious off-road affair. Think completely unpaved, super narrow sections (forget passing), ridiculously steep climbs, hairpin turns that'll make your head spin, and massive drop-offs that'll test your nerves. The air is THIN, so take your time to adjust. And be warned: landslides can be a real problem, making the road totally impassable. Clocking in at just over 15 km (or about 9.5 miles), the climb from Chhusang in Upper Mustang is intense. You'll be gaining serious altitude – we're talking an average gradient of over 13%! When should you go? Definitely aim for late spring or early autumn (September to mid-November) to avoid the worst of the weather. Heads up: you'll need special permits to even get near Sangda La Pass, issued by Nepal's Department of Immigration. You can't just roll up solo either; you gotta arrange it all through a local trekking agency. Permits cost money, and you need to have them on you at all times. But here's the thing: despite all the challenges, the views are mind-blowing! Think untouched landscapes and raw, rugged beauty in a region that feels a million miles away from civilization. Plus, you can also explore the scenic Mo La Pass nearby or take the New Road from Jomsom to Rara Lake. This is the kind of trip that'll change you, for real.
extremeA wild 4x4 road to Sichal Peak in the Alborz Mountains
🇮🇷 Iran
Okay, buckle up thrill-seekers! We're heading to Sichal, a mind-blowing peak in Iran that tops out at 3,701m (12,142ft)! Seriously, this is one of the highest roads you'll find in the whole country. Perched right on the edge of the Alborz and Tehran provinces in northern Iran, Sichal offers views that are simply unreal. Get ready to feast your eyes on Damavand, Iran's majestic, towering giant at 5,610m. Up top, nestled in the Central Alborz Mountains, you’ll find what's left of the Dizin ski resort chairlift. Word on the street is the Shemshak piste was shut down because the lifts were a bit past their prime (think: not properly maintained). This place has serious history though, dating back to the Pahlavi era in the 60's. This mountain peak? It's the highest point of the entire resort. Now, for the road itself: hold on tight, because it's a completely unpaved service road that goes straight up. We're talking STEEP. Starting from the Dizin Ski Resort, you’ve got 10.78km (6.7 miles) of pure adrenaline. That means a whopping 1,015m (3,333ft) climb, with an average gradient of 14.34%. It's not for the faint of heart, but the views? Totally worth it.
moderateWhere is David Gareja Monastery?
🌍 Azerbaijan
Okay, so you're headed to Georgia? Forget the usual tourist traps and get yourself to the David Gareja Monastery in the Kakheti region! This place is seriously cool – a rock-hewn monastery complex that's probably the most amazing of all of Georgia's ancient sites. You'll find it southeast of Tbilisi, practically spitting distance from the Azerbaijan border. This 6th-century monastery clings to the side of Mount Gareja, about 695m (2,280ft) high. It's super remote and was pretty much left to crumble during the Soviet days. Expect a lunar-like landscape, but if you time it right (April to early June), the steppe blooms and it's magical. The road in, Road 172 (შ172), starts from Sagarejo, and it's a 48.1km (30 miles) shot straight into the middle of nowhere. The good news is that it was fully paved in the 2020s, so no more bone-jarring ruts!