
Driving the high mountain road to Kandovan Pass in Iran
Iran, asia
12.1 km
2,989 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! If you're cruising through Iran and craving a serious mountain adventure, you NEED to check out Kandovan Pass! Nestled way up high – think 2,989 meters (that's a whopping 9,806 feet!) – this epic pass straddles the Alborz and Mazandaran provinces.
Winding for 12.1 kilometers (or 7.5 miles) through the Central Alborz range, the Kandevan Pass isn’t always paved but is generally accessible to most vehicles. Prepare for killer views between the Karaj and Chālūs rivers!
Located in northwestern Iran, get ready for a challenging drive! We’re talking tight turns, narrow sections, and some seriously steep climbs, hitting gradients of up to 8% in spots.
Word to the wise: plan your trip carefully! This road is usually a no-go from late October to late June/early July due to snow.
FYI, the famous Kandovan Tunnel, a key part of the Chalus Road, now bypasses the pass and is one of Iran's busiest roads, built way back in the 30's. So, make sure you take the old road to experience the pass!
Where is it?
Driving the high mountain road to Kandovan Pass in Iran is located in Iran (asia). Coordinates: 33.6308, 54.7327
Road Details
- Country
- Iran
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 12.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,989 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 33.6308, 54.7327
Related Roads in asia
hardLanak La: this road is not for timid drivers
🇮🇳 India
Welcome to Lanak La, a sky-high mountain pass chilling at 5,495m (18,028ft) in the disputed Aksai Chin region. Picture this: you're straddling the line between India (Ladakh) and China (Tibet) on one of the world's most politically charged and isolated routes! Forget smooth asphalt; this is raw, unpaved terrain mainly used for strategic and military operations. You'll find it smack-dab on the desolate Changtang plateau, where there’s zero support, services, or signs of civilization. Keep in mind that access here is super restricted, and you'll need special permits since you're right on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Get ready for an extreme adventure spanning 206 km (128 miles), running east-west from the paved G219 Road towards Qianglong Gongma. The plateau might look flat, but it's a mix of loose sand, gravel, and ever-changing river crossings. And forget road markings – you'll be following tire tracks across a high-altitude desert. Altitude is the big boss here. At this height, oxygen levels are cut in half, leading to serious altitude sickness and potential engine trouble. The weather? Brutal. Expect sub-freezing temps year-round and intense winds. Plus, you're on your own for fuel, water, and spare parts, as there are no facilities for miles. Access is seriously controlled thanks to the ongoing border dispute between India and China. Once a vital trade route, Lanak La is now a militarized zone. High-level military permits are a must, and they're rarely handed out to foreigners. This pass connects Ladakh to Rutog County in Tibet, but the actual crossing? Usually off-limits except to authorized personnel.
easyWhere is the Masik Pass Road?
🌍 North Korea
Masik Pass is home to the Masikryong Ski Resort, a modern, government-built tourist facility. The paved access road offers a rare example of a well-maintained, scenic mountain route cutting through the central part of the peninsula. Where is the Masik Pass Road? Masik Pass is located in , approximately 20 km outside of the port city of on the East Coast. It is a major mountain crossing that travelers often use to get from the capital region in the west to the east coast. What is special about this mountain road? Unlike the Paektu road which is remote, the Masik Pass is special because it is a relatively modern and tourist-focused mountain route . It offers the chance to drive through the high part of the , which features steep slopes and significant elevation changes. Its proximity to a high-profile resort means it is likely one of the best-maintained mountain roads What is the elevation of Masik Pass? , which hosts the summit of the ski resort, is . The road itself will cross the pass at a slightly lower elevation, placing it far below Paektu, but still representing a significant mountain crossing. How long does it take to drive to Masik Pass? While the length of the immediate pass road is short, the drive from the capital, Pyongyang, to Masik Pass typically takes around 3.5 to 4 hours , covering a substantial distance across the peninsula on motorways that may have inconsistent surfaces, making the entire journey a long and complex endeavor. The Highest Road of North Korea: Mount Paektu Access Road (The Path to Heaven Lake) Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
extremeThe Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Huahu Cliff tunnel road
🇨🇳 China
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! Let's talk about the Huahu Cliff tunnel road – a total hidden gem carved into the Taihang Mountains in Pingshun County, Shanxi Province, China. Seriously, this is one of those legendary Chinese tunnel roads you HAVE to experience. It's also known as Jinyu No.56 Highway and this paved road stretches for 22 kilometers from Pingshun to Linzhou, clinging to a crazy-high cliffside. You'll wind your way through seven seriously tight tunnels. This road was built by hand in the 80s, and it's not for the faint of heart. Expect a wild ride with views that'll drop your jaw (along with a thousand-meter drop-off, so, yeah!). The turns are steep and endless, the scenery is stunning, but keep an eye out for potential rockslides, especially when it's raining. It's become a tourist spot, not just for getting from A to B, but for the thrill of the drive and those epic vistas!
hardTarim Desert Highway is China's longest desert road
🇨🇳 China
Get ready for an epic adventure on the Tarim Desert Road in Xinjiang, China! This paved road cuts right through the Taklamakan, China's biggest desert - they call it the "sea of death," which sounds intense! Also known as the Tarim Desert Highway, it's made with sand stabilized with geotextiles instead of cement. Seriously cool engineering! This 562 km (349 miles) stretch runs north-south, connecting Luntai and Minfeng. We're talking a solid 5-hour drive across crazy desert scenery. Be warned: 80% of this road is in the heart of the Taklamakan, where massive, shifting sand dunes (up to 20 meters!) love to swallow the highway. Keep your speed under 60 km/h to avoid any sandy surprises. You'll find a gas station and some grub halfway through, but otherwise, it's just you, the sand, and the occasional hardy pump house worker. No settlements exist for the entire length of the highway. Despite the hazards, the views are insane. Think exotic desert landscapes and ancient Populus trees. It's the ultimate self-drive for anyone craving that total desert immersion! Just plan for a 10-12 hour journey if you’re doing it non-stop. This is one unforgettable road trip!