
A rough 4x4 road to Yilanga La
China, asia
73.8 km
5,555 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Yilanga La! This beast of a mountain pass sits way up high in the Tibetan Himalayas, at a lung-busting 18,225 feet. We're talking Zanda County, Ngari Prefecture – the far, FAR west of Tibet, China.
Forget pavement – this is a rugged, unpaved military road (the Chumuti-Chepzi Highway) that demands a 4x4 and serious off-road skills. The oxygen is thin, the climb is brutal, and the views? Absolutely epic!
Starting near Qusum Town, you'll grind your way up for about 46 miles, battling gradients that can hit a steep 14%. Be warned: getting permission to even attempt this road is a huge challenge, even for locals. It's a restricted area close to the Indian border. Also nearby are some other climbs: Zhilung La and Changlashan Pass, which are even more brutally steep.
Where is it?
A rough 4x4 road to Yilanga La is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 34.9505, 104.7572
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 73.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,555 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 34.9505, 104.7572
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