
A remote unpaved road to Mata La
China, asia
40.6 km
4.5 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Deep in southern Tibet, where Comai and Cona counties meet, you'll find Mata La, a seriously high mountain pass topping out at 5,348 meters (that's 17,545 feet!). About 22 miles northwest of the stunning Naryong Co. lake, this baby is accessed via the G219, and the road to the top? Completely unpaved. We're talking rugged, real-deal exploring here!
This isn't a Sunday drive, folks. You're in serious mountain territory, scaling to insane altitudes, so that thin air is a real thing. Altitude sickness and crazy weather are always in play. The entire route sits above 4,500 meters, so be prepared!
The pass road stretches for about 40.6 km (25.22 miles), heading north-southeast from Riru until it hits the 202 Provincial Road (S202). Keep in mind this area is really only accessible in the summer months โ and even then, don't expect snow-free conditions until late June or July. Amenities? Forget about it. Electricity, medical assistance, running water? Rare as hen's teeth. Western toilets? Dream on! But hey, that's part of the adventure, right?
Where is it?
A remote unpaved road to Mata La is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 36.9386, 105.7356
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 40.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 4.5 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 36.9386, 105.7356
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