
A beautiful mountain road to Anbarkesh Pass
Iran, asia
23 km
2,776 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure-seekers, let me tell you about the legendary Anbarkesh Pass in northern Iran! This beast of a road straddles the border between the Mazandaran and Qazvin provinces and hits an altitude of 2,776m (9,107ft).
Picture this: you're south of NaftChak Peak, inching your way along a 23 km (14 mile) unpaved track that connects the tiny village of Separ Deh with Viar. This high-altitude link is your ticket between Ramsar and Alamut-e Gharbi District.
Now, hold on tight! This isn't your Sunday drive. We're talking hairpin turns galore, steep drops that'll make your palms sweat, and a seriously loose surface. You'll need some solid mountain driving experience to tackle this one.
Forget your sedan; a 4x4 is non-negotiable to handle the terrain and those killer gradients. Aim for late spring or early summer (June and July) for the best chance to get through, because the Alborz Mountains can get seriously snowy and gnarly the rest of the year!
Where is it?
A beautiful mountain road to Anbarkesh Pass is located in Iran (asia). Coordinates: 32.8251, 52.4530
Road Details
- Country
- Iran
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 23 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,776 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 32.8251, 52.4530
Related Roads in asia
extremeA hairpinned road to the summit of Gade La
π¨π³ China
Hey adventurers, buckle up for Gade La, also known as Lashan Pass or Gadila! This beast of a mountain pass sits way up high in Banbar County, Tibet, clocking in at a dizzying 5,016m (16,456ft). Yeah, altitude sickness is a real thing here β most folks start feeling it way lower, around 2,500-2,800 meters! The road stretches for a whopping 709 km, and most of it's above 4,200m! The 85.7 km (53.25 miles) section from Nimuxiang to Maxiuxiang is the real heart of the pass. Expect a mix of paved sections and plenty of gravel, plus countless hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills. Oh, and did I mention the steep drops? In many places, there are unprotected edges plunging hundreds of meters down. Keep your eyes peeled for seriously stunning scenery: snowy mountains as far as the eye can see. BUT β and this is a big but β don't even THINK about attempting this road in bad weather. Avalanches, heavy snow, and landslides are real threats. Ice patches are common, making things even more dicey. The road can get flooded, damaged by rain, and closed without warning. Even with 4x4, you might find yourself stuck after a storm. You'll also encounter some muddy, rough, and unlit tunnels β just to add to the thrill! Speeding trucks and dripping water inside...yikes!
extremeConquering the Red Mud Pass
π¨π³ China
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because Red Mud Pass in eastern Tibet is not for the faint of heart! Sitting at a whopping 4,732m (15,524ft), this high mountain road will have you feeling that altitude! Weβre talking 709 km of mostly asphalt (with some gritty gravel surprises thrown in for good measure!) above 4,200m. Picture this: hairpin turns galore, seriously steep inclines, and snowy peaks towering all around. Sounds dreamy, right? Just remember those "guardrails optional" drop-offs of hundreds of meters! The road surface? Let's just say it's "well-loved" and leave it at that. Oh, and pro-tip: skip this one if the weather looks even remotely questionable. Avalanches, blizzards, landslides, and surprise ice patches are all part of the "fun." Rain can leave the road underwater or washed away completely, and even a 4x4 might not save you. Plus, there are these super-atmospheric, muddy, unlit tunnels, complete with dripping water and speedy trucks. You know, for added thrills!
moderateTravel guide to the top of Drong La
π¨π³ China
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Drong La in Tibet! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking a lung-busting 5,488 meters (18,005 feet) above sea level! The road? Well, let's just say it's "unpaved" in the truest sense of the word, and some bits are downright gnarly. You'll need a solid 4x4 if you're even thinking about tackling this one. We're talking a 82 km (50 mile) trek from Daruoxiang to Sangsangzhen (off the G219), stretching north to south. Keep your eyes peeled for the Doxong La tunnelβitβs pitch black, so watch out for those sneaky oncoming vehicles! But hey, with views like this, who needs pavement? Just prepare for an unforgettable ride through the roof of the world.
extremeWhere is the roller coaster bridge in Japan?
π―π΅ Japan
Okay, buckle up, thrill-seekers! The Eshima Ohashi Bridge in Western Japan's Tottori Prefecture is not your grandma's Sunday drive. Forget gentle curves β this bad boy is practically a rollercoaster for cars! This mile-long concrete beast connects Sakaiminato and Yatsukacho Eshima over Lake Nakaumi. Built between 1997 and 2004, it's designed to let big cargo ships sail underneath. To achieve that, it goes straight UP, then straight DOWN! Nicknamed the "Rollercoaster Bridge," it's famous for its crazy steep incline β a gradient of 5.1% on one side and 6.1% on the other. It's seriously tall at almost 45 meters high! From the right angle, it looks like you're driving straight into the sky. Sure, it might look terrifying in photos, but don't worry too much, even though itβs the third-largest bridge of its type in the world. The gradual ascent makes it less scary than it seems. Just remember to breathe and enjoy the unique views as you conquer this architectural wonder!