
Dare to drive the dangerous Bursatyn Davaaa
Mongolia, asia
139 km
2,644 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! I've got a killer road trip idea for you: Bursatyn Davaa in western Mongolia's Bayan-Ölgii Province! This ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. We're talking a whopping 2,644 meters (8,674 feet) of pure, unadulterated mountain pass awesomeness.
Forget pavement, baby! This is a 139 km (86 mile) stretch of raw, unpaved Asian Highway 4 (AH4) that'll test your mettle (and your suspension). Think your 4x4 is tough? It'll need to be! Expect a long, challenging trek through some seriously rugged terrain. We're talking steep, sudden turns, and more bumps than you can shake a stick at.
But trust me, the views are worth it. We're talking dramatic vistas and snow-covered mountains as far as the eye can see. Most of the track is decent, but get ready for some seriously rough patches. Just a heads up: keep an eye on the weather, because things can get hairy real quick up here. This route runs east-west from Tolbo to Khovd, the capital of the Khovd Province. Get ready for the ride of your life!
Road Details
- Country
- Mongolia
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 139 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,644 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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