The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the International Qafe Thane
Albania, europe
15.9 km
1,000 m
moderate
Year-round
Alright, globetrotters, buckle up for Qafë Thanë, an epic mountain pass straddling Albania and North Macedonia! Perched at a cool 1,000m (3,280ft), this beauty connects Korçë County in Albania with the Southwestern Region of North Macedonia. It's THE main artery between these two amazing countries.
We're talking a fully paved ribbon of road (part of the E852, known as SH9 on the Albanian side and A2 in Macedonia). Get ready for some leg-burning climbs, with gradients reaching a max of 7% in spots.
Starting from a junction on the SH3 in Albania, this 15.9 km (9.87 mile) adventure snakes its way north to Struga, a dreamy tourist hotspot on the shores of Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia. And did I mention the views? Seriously, with Lake Ohrid glistening nearby, this drive is a total feast for the eyes. Get ready for an unforgettable ride!
Where is it?
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the International Qafe Thane is located in Albania (europe). Coordinates: 41.1707, 19.9307
Road Details
- Country
- Albania
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 15.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,000 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 41.1707, 19.9307
Related Roads in europe
extremeGeorgia, the Country: Where the Roads Are as Wild as the Mountains
🇬🇪 Georgia
Most people picture peaches and sweet tea when they think of Georgia, but forget that! We're talking about the *other* Georgia, the one nestled between Russia and Turkey. This place is a knockout, all ancient history, delicious wine, and landscapes that will leave your jaw on the floor. Think deep valleys, medieval towers, and mountain roads that twist and shout through the Caucasus. And those roads? Oh man, they're gorgeous, but they're also seriously wild. Forget Sunday driving, you're plunging INTO the mountains, often above the clouds, hugging cliff edges that seem to crumble as you pass, and sometimes even splashing through riverbeds that double as roads when it rains. Tourists land in Tbilisi, fall head-over-heels for khinkali and Georgian hospitality, and then think, "Let's hit the mountains!" Sounds epic, right? It is. But unless you're ready for it, that postcard-perfect dream can turn into a real-life nightmare, fast. Take Abano Pass, for instance. It's the only road into the remote Tusheti region, and it's one of the highest drivable passes in Europe – clocking in at over 9,000 feet! We're talking dirt, narrow, often muddy roads with zero guardrails. One tiny mistake, one moment of distraction, and you're not just sliding, you're... well, you're dropping. Hundreds of feet. In winter, this pass is totally shut down, buried under snow and ice. Spring brings landslides. Summer? You'll be dodging tourist SUVs while trying not to run over herds of sheep. There's barely enough room for one car, let alone two! And that's just one example. Roads like the one to Shatili (via Datvisjvari Pass) or Goderdzi Pass in the south are just as dramatic. Pavement can turn to gravel without warning. "Paved" in Georgia can mean anything from smooth asphalt to broken concrete and loose rocks. The raw beauty of the Caucasus Mountains comes with a price. Driving here isn't a joke, it's an act of respect. Georgian drivers seem fearless for a reason: they grew up on these roads. But if you're used to wide American highways and generous shoulders, the learning curve is crazy steep, and sometimes pretty vertical. One traveler told me he rented an SUV in Kutaisi and tried to drive to Mestia in Svaneti. His GPS took him via Ushguli, one of the highest villages in Europe. What the map *didn't* tell him? The "road" was barely wider than his car, clinging to a cliff, and hadn't seen any love in years. He ended up reversing almost a mile downhill after meeting a logging truck with no room to pass. "It was the most beautiful and terrifying drive of my life," he said. "I honestly thought we were going to die more than once.” His story is pretty common. Google Maps doesn't factor in landslides, rockfalls, or the fact that a "road" might be a dry riverbed one minute and a raging river the next. Locals know which turns to avoid, which roads to skip in the rain, and when to turn back. Most tourists don't. In Georgia, the weather doesn't just change, it FLIPS. You can be cruising under a sunny sky and, fifteen minutes later, find yourself in thick fog, icy rain, or even snow – even in summer! The elevation changes are insane. That sunny valley you just left might be thousands of feet below the pass you're heading for. Abano Pass is usually only open from June to early October, and even then, it's unpredictable. A rainstorm can cause a landslide and shut it down for hours, or even days. Datvisjvari, on the way to Khevsureti and Shatili, often closes without warning too. It's not just rain. Fog is a HUGE deal, especially early in the morning or evening. Visibility can drop to zero, and with no lights, no lines, and no guardrails, you're basically driving blind. If you're hitting the mountains, start early. Always check local reports – and don't trust your weather app too much. Locals, guesthouse owners, and gas station attendants often know way more than your phone does. Seriously, think twice before renting that cute little sedan. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's safe. Lots of mountain roads in Georgia should *only* be attempted with a true 4x4 with high clearance. And no, I'm not talking about a crossover, I mean a REAL off-roader. Even then, your tires are important. Some rental places give you SUVs with bald tires – great for the city, but terrifying on wet clay or loose gravel. Before you drive off, check your spare tire, check the jack, make sure the handbrake works, and ask for a real map if you're leaving the cities behind, because cell service disappears fast in the mountains. Here's a pro tip: if you're not sure a road is passable, see what the local marshrutkas (minibuses) do. If they're not going that way, you probably shouldn't either. Not all rental companies offer full insurance that covers off-road or mountain driving, so ask about coverage for gravel roads, river crossings, and high-altitude areas. If you crash or break down in the middle of nowhere, help might not arrive quickly. Cell coverage is spotty at best, and in some areas, it's nonexistent. Emergency numbers are responsive, but they might not be able to find you exactly. So, tell someone where you're going: a hotel, a friend, even your rental company. Tell them your route and when you expect to arrive. Most roadside areas are too narrow to stop safely. If you do break down, try to find a wider spot or a pull-off where you're visible. Turn on your hazard lights and get away from the car, especially on blind corners. Locals are usually friendly and helpful, so if someone stops to help, they probably mean it. But, don't count on passing traffic, especially in Tusheti or high Svaneti. Some roads see less than ten cars a day. There are no "turnaround zones" in the high mountains. If the road looks sketchy and you're unsure, turn back early. Don't think it'll get better, because it probably won't. Driving through the mountains of Georgia is one of the most amazing experiences you can have. The views are incredible, the roads are wild, and the feeling of freedom is unlike anything else. But so is the risk. These aren't highways, they're narrow paths carved into rock, ice, and mud. They demand respect, focus, and humility. If you're going for it, be prepared. Know your limits. Rent the right car. Check the weather. Ask the locals. And most of all, don't let your ego get in the way of good judgment. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do on these roads is turn around.
hardWhere is Muur van Geraardsbergen?
🌍 Belgium
Alright, cycling fans, listen up! You HAVE to experience the Muur van Geraardsbergen, aka "The Wall," in western Belgium. Picture this: you're smack-dab in the heart of Geraardsbergen, East Flanders, ready to tackle cycling history. This climb? Legendary! It's a cobbled beast often featured in the Tour of Flanders, and for good reason. We're talking seriously steep – gradients that crank past 20%! It's only about a kilometer (0.66 miles) long, but those cobblestones will have your legs screaming. You start practically at the Dender River (18m above sea level) and claw your way to the top of the Oudenberg (110m). The average gradient is a solid 9.3%. Oh, and did I mention the Chapel of Our Lady of the Oudenberg waiting for you at the summit? It's the perfect reward after conquering this monster. Trust me, the views (and the bragging rights) are totally worth the burn!
hardWhere is Peña Angulo?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, picture this: Burgos, Spain. You're up in Castile and León, practically spitting distance from the Basque Country. We're talking Peña Angulo, a mountain pass topping out at 735 meters (2,411 feet). Now, there *used* to be this killer old road, part of the BU-550, snaking its way through here. For ages, it was the lifeline connecting the Basque region to Burgos. Think gorgeous scenery, but also… constant rockfalls and seriously sketchy slopes. Like, edge-of-your-seat stuff. Eventually, they wised up and built a safer, modern bypass with a tunnel in the early '90s. Smart move! The old road? Officially closed. Blocked off with mounds of earth and plenty of warning signs. But here's the thing: that abandoned stretch is only about a kilometer long. It starts in a shaded forest and then BAM! You're clinging to the side of a gorge, the views are insane. You can see where they tried to reinforce things with stone walls and bolts. Thing is, chunks of the pavement have collapsed, and in one spot, half the road is just GONE. Old guardrail bits, missing signs, and broken asphalt mark the end of the line, right before the new tunnel. Basically, it's a snapshot of a road battling nature... and losing.
moderateDosso Alto Pass: enjoy a road among the clouds
🇮🇹 Italy
# Passo del Dosso Alto: Italy's Hidden Alpine Adventure Want to experience one of the Alps' most wild and raw mountain roads? The Anfo Ridge Road takes you up to Passo del Dosso Alto, perched at 1,727m (5,666ft) in Brescia, Lombardy. This isn't your typical smooth Alpine crossing—it's the real deal. This 20.1km (12.48-mile) east-west route from Anfo to Passo del Maniva is basically unpaved adventure. You'll navigate four short unlit tunnels (newer ones added in 2010 to bypass the tightest squeezes) along what's been a mountain passage since Roman times. The road had serious trouble—it was actually closed for six years after a landslide, but finally reopened in 2009. Today, it's still gloriously rough around the edges, with plenty of dust, loose stones, and character. Fair warning: this route demands respect. You're dealing with rock fall risks, sheer unprotected drops, hairpin turns, and a surface that's basically a potholed, rocky obstacle course. The speed limit caps out at 20 km/h, and vehicles wider than 2.5m or taller than 3.2m aren't even allowed. With grades hitting 12 percent and minimal maintenance, it stays gloriously untamed. You'll climb four mountain passes: Passo Baremone (1,450m), Passo della Spina (1,521m), Passo della Berga (1,527m), and the main event at Passo del Dosso Alto. The scenery? Absolutely stunning. The driving conditions? Intensely challenging. Summer months (June through October) are your window, though heavy rains can shut it down anytime.