Why is Khyber Pass so famous?
Pakistan, asia
32 km
1,070 m
moderate
Year-round
Khyber Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,070m (3,510ft) above sea level, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The road through the pass is the main route between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Why is Khyber Pass so famous?
Located in the northwestern region of the country, the pass is the most northerly and important of the passes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It has long been a significant trade and invasion route.
Well-known invasions of the area have been predominantly through the pass. It is the scene of various historic battles and one of the routes once known as “the Silk Road”. The area between Peshawar and Afghanistan is known as the tribal lands.
Is it safe to go to Khyber Pass?
Traveling to this area is not recommended, as the area is not safe. A place where tribal warlords ruled. Here neither the police nor the Pakistani army have any jurisdiction whatsoever.
At the top of the pass is the town of Landi Kotal, famous for smuggling everything from consumer electronics to AK-47s. Attractions for the truly intrepid tourist include weapons factories and hashish warehouses. Alongside the dusty road are corrugated metal rooftop storefronts. Here it isn't milk powder nor water they sell. Here, t
hey sell wholesale weaponry. AK-47s by the dozen, or maybe a single pistol for a single job. Grenades, mortars, not a problem. Discounts available. Next door it’s a different kind of merchandise. Hashish by the ounce, kilo, or bale. Opium for export and cocaine for retail. The pass is clearly far too dangerous for most.
How long is Khyber Pass?
Set high on the northeastern part of the Spin Ghar mountains, the road to the summit is completely paved. It’s called N5 Torkham Highway, part of the
. The pass is 32.0 km (19.88 miles) long running east-west from Shalkani to the border of Afghanistan.
Road trip guide: Conquering Nathia Gali in Pakistan
Pir Chinasi is a frighteningly narrow road in Pakistan
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.
Road Details
- Country
- Pakistan
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 32 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,070 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in asia
extremeWhere does Halsema Highway start and end?
🇵🇭 Philippines
Okay, buckle up for the Halsema Highway, folks! This 150 km (93 mile) stretch of National Route 204 is a wild ride from Baguio City to Bontoc, snaking its way north through the heart of Luzon's Cordillera Central mountains. Once upon a time, this road was notorious, a real daredevil's delight with crazy drop-offs – some plunging over 1000 feet! But fear not, intrepid travelers, the Halsema has had a serious glow-up. It's now a fully paved, mostly two-to-four-lane highway that's ready for your road trip. Opened in 1930 and named after Engineer Euseibus Julius Halsema, this "main artery" of the Cordillera climbs to a breathtaking 2,300m (7,400ft) in Atok. Keep an eye out, though. Even with improvements, the rainy season can bring landslides and visibility-killing fog. Watch out for those stones and debris, especially after a downpour! Gas stations are available along the way. Ensure proper fueling and check brakes and tires for safety. When going downhill, shift to low gears and never rely solely on brakes for safety. Pay attention to cars stopping in the middle of the road, and avoid night drives as there are no lamp posts. But oh, the views! Forget the danger, this road is all about the scenery. We're talking seriously jaw-dropping vistas, cloud forests, and that crisp mountain air. Plus, it's your ticket to Sagada, a must-see spot. So charge up your camera, roll down those windows, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
extremeTravel guide to the top of Mobdi La
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Mobdi La, a seriously high mountain pass straddling the border between Xinjiang and Tibet in China! We're talking a lung-busting 5,788m (18,989ft) above sea level – one of the highest drives on the planet. Forget smooth tarmac; this is a rough and narrow unpaved track demanding a 4x4 beast. Get ready for some seriously steep climbs, hitting gradients of up to 9% in places! The pass stretches for a hefty 43km (26.7 miles), so settle in for the long haul. Now, a word of caution: altitude sickness is a real threat here. The air is thin, and the risk of pulmonary and cerebral edema is no joke. Plus, up at these altitudes, you can expect strong winds and wildly unpredictable weather changes. But, if you’re prepared to brave the elements, the scenery is simply out of this world!
extremeWhat are the driving conditions on the Siyaba La?
🇳🇵 Nepal
Straddling the border between Nepal and China, the Siyaba La (also known as Sharba La or Sharpa La) is a seriously high mountain pass, topping out at an elevation of Seriously high. This remote crossing connects the Mustang region in Nepal’s Dhawalagiri Zone with Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Located at Coordinates, this pass is no tourist trap. It's primarily a Chinese military road, built for strategic access rather than sightseeing. Given its frontier location, there's a permanent Chinese military presence at the summit, and civilian access is a big no-no. For those of us obsessed with overlanding, the Siyaba La remains one of the most mysterious and off-limits high-altitude tracks in the Himalayas. Road to adventure or nightmare? Let's break it down: the route to the summit is completely unpaved, carved right through a high-altitude desert of rocky scree. You'll need a 4x4 vehicle with serious clearance to even think about tackling this track, as it's constantly battered by erosion and seasonal floods. The ascent is brutally steep and unrelenting, and you're fighting against a serious lack of oxygen (hypoxia), which hits both your concentration and your engine's performance hard. Since it's a military-controlled zone, the road's only passable during the summer months, once the snow has been cleared. The rest of the year, the Tibetan Plateau's extreme weather makes the Siyaba La totally inaccessible. Forget about facilities – there's no electricity, medical help, or running water. You're in a raw, high-mountain wilderness where self-reliance is your only option. But here's the kicker: the Siyaba La's notoriety comes from its strategic importance. It's a heavily monitored border pass, and if you're a foreigner trying to sneak in, you'll be turned back at military checkpoints long before you reach the top. Respecting these geopolitical boundaries is a must – unauthorized entry into restricted military zones can have serious legal consequences. Beyond the military risks, the environment itself is a constant threat. The "notorious absence of oxygen" at almost 5,000 meters makes even simple tasks, like changing a tire, a monumental effort. Sudden blizzards and massive temperature drops can happen even in summer. The Siyaba La is a stark reminder of the Himalayas' raw, untamed nature, where the road is a symbol of sovereignty, and the mountains call the shots.
extremeThe Old Dabanshan Road: 7 Hairpin Turns
🇨🇳 China
Hey adventurers! Ready for a trek through China's Qinghai Province? Buckle up for Dabanshan Pass, a sky-high crossing sitting pretty at 3,944m (that's 12,939ft!) on the border of Haibei and Xining. This beauty is nestled in the Qilian Mountains, and it's a key part of the G227, a road that's got serious Silk Road history. Now, getting over Dabanshan used to be a real white-knuckle ride. We're talking a 9 km mountain track with hairpin turns and seriously steep climbs. Thankfully, they built a tunnel to skip the gnarliest parts. But for the thrill-seekers? The old road's still there! Think you can handle the original Dabanshan Road? It's got 7 sharp hairpin turns and gradients that'll test your car (and your nerves!). It was a beast in winter with ice and snow, but now it's a scenic detour. Head up, and you'll find Silk Road memorials, even a statue of Marco Polo! Need a shortcut? The 1.6 km Dabanshan Tunnel is your ticket. It’s a toll road that makes things quick and safe. Once you're out, stop at the viewpoint where local traders hang out. The panorama of the high-altitude landscape is unreal – perfect for a breather! Heads up: this pass is no joke in winter. Usually, it's closed from late October to late June because of snow. The tunnel helps, but even that can shut down if the snowfall is heavy. Keep an eye on the weather before you go. Get ready for an unforgettable drive!