A road trip to Bari La is truly epic
Pakistan, asia
38 km
4,721 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! I've got a hidden gem for you: Bari La, a mountain pass soaring to a whopping 15,488 feet in the Northern Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Seriously, this is one of the highest roads in the whole country!
Tucked away in the stunning Deosai National Park, the road to the top is a wild ride – unpaved, narrow, and not for the faint of heart. We're talking Bari La Road here. Reversing skills? Essential. Forget anything less than a high-clearance 4x4, or better yet, hop on a bike for the ultimate experience.
Starting from Saigar, you've got 23 miles of pure, unadulterated adventure ahead of you. This pass is usually open for a fleeting 2-3 months, from July to September, so plan accordingly. This route links Deosai to the Gultri Shengo Shigar area, and trust me, the views are worth every bump and scrape. Keep your eyes peeled for incredible birds, plants, animals, and flowers – this isn't just a drive, it's an experience!
Where is it?
A road trip to Bari La is truly epic is located in Pakistan (asia). Coordinates: 29.7312, 70.1666
Road Details
- Country
- Pakistan
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 38 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,721 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 29.7312, 70.1666
Related Roads in asia
extremeA lovely trip on the paved Halsema Highway in the Philippines
🇵🇭 Philippines
# Halsema Highway: From Notorious to Legendary Once infamous as one of the world's most dangerous highways, the Halsema Highway has transformed into an absolutely thrilling mountain adventure. Every day, commuters, truckers, tourists, and locals navigate this stunning route through dramatic terrain—steep cliffs, hairpin turns, and jaw-dropping drop-offs that'll make your heart skip a beat (some plunging over 1,000 feet). But here's the good news: the road has been seriously upgraded, and now you can tackle this twisty mountain masterpiece on a smooth, well-maintained asphalt surface. The 150-km (93-mile) stretch of National Route 204 connects Baguio City to Bontoc in Mountain Province, winding through some of the Philippines' most remote and pristine areas. Opened back in 1930 under engineer Euseibus Julius Halsema (whose name stuck!), this "main artery" of the Cordillera's road system peaks at 2,300m (7,400ft) elevation near Atok—a record it held until recently. Fair warning: rainy season brings serious challenges. Landslides, thick mountain mist, slippery asphalt, and aggressive bus drivers can make conditions treacherous. Visibility plummets in the fog, and those rocks tumbling from above aren't just scenery. During the day though? Absolutely manageable in any vehicle, even a sedan, thanks to recent improvements. Just keep your fuel tank topped up, check your brakes and tires, downshift on those long descents, and skip night driving (no street lights out here). What you get in return? Pure magic. Cloud forests, sweeping vistas, glimpses of Sagada, and views that'll leave you breathless. Roll down the windows, feel that crisp mountain air, and make sure your camera's battery is fully charged. This legendary highway has earned its place in travel lore.
hardIs Gänja La paved?
🇨🇳 China
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! Gänja La, also called Gaenja La, is calling your name from the heart of Tibet. We're talking a whopping 4,775m (15,666ft) of pure, unadulterated altitude in Drongpa County, Shigatse Prefecture. Yep, China's Tibet Autonomous Region doesn't mess around! This isn't your Sunday drive. The Tibet-Xinjiang Highway, nicknamed the "Sky Road," is where you'll find yourself firmly planted above 5,000m. The good news? It's paved. The catch? It's seriously challenging. Think breathtaking landscapes mixed with a brutal reality check. We're talking vast stretches without food or water for potentially hundreds of kilometers. Forget showers – you might not even get a chance to wash for weeks. And those nighttime temps? Brace yourselves for -25°C or even lower. This 48.3 km (30 miles) journey between Zhaci Village and Zhuzhucun will throw everything it has at you, including multiple passes at 5,000, 4,000, and 3,000 meters. Acclimatize, or it could be a very bad time. But hey, if you're up for an epic, unforgettable adventure, Gänja La awaits!
extremeTsogugye La: courage is required to drive to the summit
🇨🇳 China
Alright, adventure seekers, buckle up for Tsogugye La! This beast of a mountain pass sits way up high at nearly 16,400 feet (4,999m), straddling the border between Qusum and Gyaca counties in southern Tibet. Forget smooth asphalt, this road is all raw, unpaved earth, and it's a twisty, turny monster that'll have your head spinning! Picture dozens of hairpin bends, so tight you'll feel dizzy just looking at them. And when winter hits, forget about it – snow and ice turn this into a seriously slippery challenge. We're talking serious remoteness here. Starting near Lasuixiang on the S306, you've got almost 30 miles (47.7 km) of uphill battling, gaining over 5,600 feet (1,716 meters) in elevation with some ramps hitting a steep 11% gradient. The average isn't too bad at just under 4%, but remember, you're climbing a HUGE mountain. Oxygen is thin, the weather can be brutal, so be prepared! This is Tibet, baby - breathtaking views, but not for the faint of heart!
hardHow is the road to Pe La?
🇨🇳 China
Pe La is an insane mountain pass sitting way up in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. We're talking one of the highest paved roads *in the world*, so get ready for some seriously breathtaking views... and seriously breathless lungs! You'll find this road snaking through an unreal landscape north of the Brahmaputra River – the highest major river on the planet! Think massive plains stretching forever, punctuated by jagged, snow-dusted peaks in the distance. This route's your ticket towards Lhaze, but fair warning: oxygen is a total diva up here, and the weather's no joke. Even in summer, the altitude messes with everything – your energy and your engine's power. Alright, so Pe La's located in Ngamring County, Tibet (China), stretching a little over 39 kilometers (about 24 miles). How's the road? Surprisingly smooth, actually! It's paved, so you don't need a crazy off-roader. But don't get cocky! This drive is still a beast. That 39 km (24 miles) heads north-south from Sangsang, a town on China National Highway 219 (G219). The climb gets seriously steep in spots, hitting gradients of up to 12%. Combine that with the altitude, and you've got a recipe for an unhappy engine and potential altitude sickness. Conditions? Intense. Pe La cops the full force of Tibetan plateau weather. Expect sudden snowstorms, crazy winds, and freezing temps pretty much all year round. CHECK THE FORECAST before you even think about heading up. Seriously. And that thin air at 5,136 meters (gulp!)? It's real. Acclimatize before you try this. There are no services along the 39 km stretch between Sangsang and Riwuqixiang, so be prepared. Make sure your car is tip-top and pack emergency gear: oxygen, warm clothes, the works.