Austrian Road is a brutal drive in the Altai Mountains of Kazakhstan

# The Austrian Road: A Historic Mountain Route Through the Altai

Hidden in the remote borderlands between Kurshim and Katonkaragay districts in East Kazakhstan lies one of the world's most fascinating—and challenging—mountain roads. The Austrian Road is a 108km (67 miles) unpaved track that winds through the Sarym-Sakty Range, connecting the small settlement of Enbek on Highway P-163 to Moyildy.

What makes this route truly special is its incredible backstory. Built between 1915 and 1917 by captured Austro-Hungarian prisoners from WWI (Czech, Slovak, Austrian, and Hungarian soldiers), the road was carved through unforgiving wilderness using nothing but shovels, saws, pickaxes, and cables. It's hard not to be humbled when driving a route constructed under such brutal conditions with such primitive tools. The Austrian Road stands as a testament to human resilience and engineering ingenuity—a nearly 100-year-old monument to the determination of those who built it.

The drive itself is no casual cruise. You'll climb through multiple mountain passes, including the challenging Burkhatskiy Pass at 2,137m (7,011ft) and Alatajsky Pass at 1,792m (5,879ft), ascending from 990m in the Bukhtarma Valley. The route follows the scenic Sorvenok Valley through Katon-Karagaisky State National Nature Park, crossing 16 bridges and fords along the way, with the Kara-Koba River appearing repeatedly as you wind through a dramatic ravine. The road eventually descends toward the stunning Lake Markakol at 1,445m.

**Before you go:** You'll need a serious 4x4 vehicle and absolutely should not travel alone. Pack sufficient food and water, and be prepared to camp. Some bridges are deteriorating, and wet conditions make the passes genuinely dangerous—avoid ascending in rain. Traffic is virtually nonexistent, and the remoteness demands genuine self-sufficiency. But if you're up for the challenge, you'll experience some of the most spectacular mountain scenery imaginable.