
An epic enthralling road to Puti La
China, asia
709 km
4.2 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Puti La in Tibet! This beast of a pass sits at a lung-busting 4,483m (14,708ft) in Banbar County, Chamdo Prefecture.
Clocking in at a hefty 709km, this route is not for the faint of heart! You'll be cruising above 4,200m for the *entire* time, hopping over mountain passes with views that'll make you weep (from joy and maybe a little fear).
The road is mostly paved, but donβt get too comfy β there are plenty of rough patches to keep you on your toes. Expect countless hairpin turns, seriously steep inclines, and drop-offs that plunge hundreds of meters with zero guardrails. Gulp. Plus, the road surface is pretty beat up.
The scenery? Unbelievable snowy peaks everywhere you look. The catch? Itβs often flooded, seriously damaged by rain and landslides, and can close without warning. Oh, and did I mention the dark, muddy tunnels dripping with water? And the speeding trucks? Yeah, this one's an adrenaline cocktail.
Where is it?
An epic enthralling road to Puti La is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 32.6770, 103.9671
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 709 km
- Max Elevation
- 4.2 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 32.6770, 103.9671
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