Lowari Pass is the Grand Daddy of the passes
Pakistan, asia
40 km
3,118 m
extreme
Year-round
Buckle up for Lowari Pass, aka "Hell's Road," in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Think of it as the Grand Daddy of hairpin turns, snaking up to a dizzying 10,230 feet.
This stretch of the N45 connects Dir and Chitral through tribal lands bordering Afghanistan. Parts are paved, but don't be fooled; much of it quickly devolves into a super-rough dirt track that’ll test your suspension and your nerves for about 40 km straight!
High in the Hindu Raj mountains, Lowari is a beast of a road, notorious for its steep climbs and impossibly narrow sections. Loaded trucks crawl along, their drivers navigating a gauntlet of tight turns and sheer cliffs. Avalanches are a real threat in winter, tragically claiming lives each year. The pass is usually shut down from late November to late May due to heavy snow.
Originally built by the British, this road is not for the faint of heart. While the Lowari Tunnel (8.75km + 2km) now bypasses the most treacherous section, you're still in for an adrenaline-pumping ride. The tunnel is open to all vehicles and has a speed limit of 40 km/h. Get ready for a wild, unforgettable adventure with views that will leave you breathless... if the road doesn't first!
Where is it?
Lowari Pass is the Grand Daddy of the passes is located in Pakistan (asia). Coordinates: 29.2575, 68.2415
Road Details
- Country
- Pakistan
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 40 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,118 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 29.2575, 68.2415
Related Roads in asia
hardWhere is Suhua Highway?
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Get ready for one of the most breathtaking drives in Asia! The Suhua Highway hugs the stunning cliffs of Taiwan's east coast, connecting Su'ao and Hualien. Picture this: you're cruising along a perfectly paved road, 118km (73 miles) in total, with the vast Pacific Ocean sprawling beneath you. Located where Hualien and Yilan counties meet, this road is all about the views. Think steep cliffs, dramatic coastlines, and scenery that'll make your jaw drop. Chingshui Cliffs? Total must-see! Now, a little heads-up: this road is as thrilling as it is beautiful. Expect some tight curves and the occasional falling rock (especially after heavy rains or earthquakes). Take it slow, enjoy the views, and keep an eye out. You'll also be sharing the road with trucks hauling stone and goods, so stay alert. Summer (June-August) can get pretty dicey with landslides, so maybe plan your trip for another time. Built way back in 1932, this route is a true feat of engineering and offers views you won't find anywhere else!
hardDriving the curvy road to the summit of Shera La
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Shera La (aka Maesar La), a seriously high-altitude pass in Tibet! We're talking 5,563 meters (18,251 feet) – that's WAY up there! You'll find it straddling Comai and Lhozhag counties in the Shannan Prefecture, east of the stunning Puma Yumco lake. Forget smooth asphalt; this 82.7 km (51.38 mile) route from the G219 to Comai Town is all about the raw, unpaved experience. Expect some seriously steep sections – we're talking gradients up to 9%! Winter? Forget about it; this road is usually snowed in. If you're craving a wild, off-the-grid adventure with incredible scenery, Shera La is calling your name!
extremeIs the road over Dariga Pass paved?
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! Dariga Pass, also called Dalijia Yakou by the locals, is calling your name in the Haidong Prefecture of China! Tucked away in Qinghai Province, this legendary pass punches through the mighty Qilian mountain range at a whopping 11,817 feet. Think dramatic alpine meadows and jagged limestone peaks—this is central China at its finest! For ages, this route has been THE way to get around, south of Lanzhou. While a super convenient tunnel now handles most of the traffic, the original mountain road? Still there, still epic, and still ready to test your mettle. We're talking a fully paved, concrete ribbon of pure adrenaline, stretching from to . But don't let the pavement fool you—this baby boasts over 60 hairpin turns! The road just clings to the mountainside, giving you insane bird's-eye views. Yeah, it'll take you longer than the tunnel, but trust me, it's worth it for the breathtaking scenery. Just keep in mind you're playing in high-altitude territory. Expect sudden weather changes, that thinner air, and a drive you won't soon forget. If you live for technical driving and mind-blowing views, the "60 bends" of Dariga Pass are calling your name.
moderateA wild unpaved road to Pereval Munara
🌍 Afghanistan
Pereval Munara is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.535m (8,316ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan. The winding mountain road to the summit is unpaved. It’s called Asian Highway 77 (AH77), a main road running from Jabal Saraj, Afghanistan to Mary, Turkmenistan. 4x4 vehicle recommended after rains. The area is very remote. Open to traffic throughout the year, the road may be closed for short periods in winter when the weather is bad. The pass is 120 km (74.56 miles) long, and runs from Sharak to Chaghcharān, also called Firozkoh, the capital of Ghor Province. Facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets etc. are rare to find. The Ultimate Guide to Garmabeh-ye Bala Gardan-e Kotal-e Qonaq: a dangerous curvy road to the summit 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.