
Driving the high mountain road to Kandovan Pass in Iran
Iran, asia
12.1 km
2,989 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, thrill-seekers, listen up! If you're cruising through Iran and craving a serious mountain adventure, you NEED to check out Kandovan Pass! Nestled way up high – think 2,989 meters (that's a whopping 9,806 feet!) – this epic pass straddles the Alborz and Mazandaran provinces.
Winding for 12.1 kilometers (or 7.5 miles) through the Central Alborz range, the Kandevan Pass isn’t always paved but is generally accessible to most vehicles. Prepare for killer views between the Karaj and Chālūs rivers!
Located in northwestern Iran, get ready for a challenging drive! We’re talking tight turns, narrow sections, and some seriously steep climbs, hitting gradients of up to 8% in spots.
Word to the wise: plan your trip carefully! This road is usually a no-go from late October to late June/early July due to snow.
FYI, the famous Kandovan Tunnel, a key part of the Chalus Road, now bypasses the pass and is one of Iran's busiest roads, built way back in the 30's. So, make sure you take the old road to experience the pass!
Where is it?
Driving the high mountain road to Kandovan Pass in Iran is located in Iran (asia). Coordinates: 33.6308, 54.7327
Road Details
- Country
- Iran
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 12.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,989 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 33.6308, 54.7327
Related Roads in asia
extremeLowari Pass is the Grand Daddy of the passes
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Buckle up for Lowari Pass, aka "Hell's Road," in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Think of it as the Grand Daddy of hairpin turns, snaking up to a dizzying 10,230 feet. This stretch of the N45 connects Dir and Chitral through tribal lands bordering Afghanistan. Parts are paved, but don't be fooled; much of it quickly devolves into a super-rough dirt track that’ll test your suspension and your nerves for about 40 km straight! High in the Hindu Raj mountains, Lowari is a beast of a road, notorious for its steep climbs and impossibly narrow sections. Loaded trucks crawl along, their drivers navigating a gauntlet of tight turns and sheer cliffs. Avalanches are a real threat in winter, tragically claiming lives each year. The pass is usually shut down from late November to late May due to heavy snow. Originally built by the British, this road is not for the faint of heart. While the Lowari Tunnel (8.75km + 2km) now bypasses the most treacherous section, you're still in for an adrenaline-pumping ride. The tunnel is open to all vehicles and has a speed limit of 40 km/h. Get ready for a wild, unforgettable adventure with views that will leave you breathless... if the road doesn't first!
extremeShangshang La: A High-Altitude Challenge in Southern Tibet
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Shangshang La! This beast of a mountain pass tops out at a lung-busting 5,228m (17,152ft). You'll find it way down south in Tibet's Cona County, practically waving to India. Talk about remote – this place is strategically important and seriously off the beaten path! We're talking southern Himalayas here, specifically the Shannan region of Tibet. It's a crucial high-altitude connector linking tiny villages like Changda and Jisong. The road itself stretches for 30 km (18.6 miles), carving an east-west path through some seriously harsh terrain. "Difficult" doesn't even begin to cover it. Think extreme altitude and crazy weather. Forget smooth tarmac – this entire road is unpaved, so a 4x4 is a MUST. It’s a real technical challenge out there, especially with the 24 hairpin turns. Most of them are packed near the summit, where the landscape gets seriously wild. Just a heads up: driving above 5,000 meters is no joke. The air is thin, and both you and your engine will feel the strain. This area is SUPER isolated too. Forget electricity, medical help, or even running water. Strong nerves and high-altitude driving skills? Non-negotiable!
extremeWhere does the road to Rib La lead?
🇨🇳 China
Rib La is one seriously epic high-mountain pass, topping out at a dizzying 4,760m (15,616ft)! You'll find it tucked away in Lhünzê County, way down in southeastern Tibet, China. Get ready for a wild ride, because this narrow dirt track is *the* lifeline to one of the most isolated places on Earth. Think unpaved roads, gravel, and maybe even some ice thrown in for good measure. Where does it lead? Well, it snakes its way north-south from somewhere in the remote Tsari Valley up to the tiny town of Yumai. Seriously, Yumai used to be known as China's smallest township, with just a single family living there! Now it’s home to a whopping 32 people or so. For years, braving Rib La was the *only* way to reach this remote outpost near the border. Driving conditions? Intense, to say the least. The road to the summit is insanely steep and narrow, demanding your full attention. We're talking about a single-lane track and a staggering 16 hairpin turns while hugging the edge of some seriously unprotected drop-offs. Not for the faint of heart, or anyone without solid driving skills! Weather plays a huge role. At that altitude, winter comes early and lingers forever. When the snow hits, things get *sketchy*, like ice-rink-on-a-cliff sketchy. It used to block the pass completely for half the year, leaving Yumai totally cut off! Modern maintenance helps, but winter's still a beast. So, is it dangerous? Absolutely. It's one of the most thrilling, but also treacherous, roads in southeastern Tibet. The thin air, the narrow, gravelly path, and the constant threat of avalanches and landslides keep you on your toes. The views are incredible, but you *have* to stay focused to avoid a costly mistake on those steep slopes. Beyond the scenery, Rib La is strategically important, connecting this remote region. Recent improvements mean Yumai stays connected year-round, but it's still a raw, untamed mountain experience that shows off the Himalayas at their most extreme.
hardX605 Road offers stunning views of Gyaring Lake
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're craving a true high-altitude challenge, get ready for County Road 605 (X605) in Nagqu, Tibet. This beast of a road sits entirely above 15,000 feet – we're talking serious thin air! Tucked away in the remote Tibetan plateau, in the Nagqu region, X605 connects Shenyaxiang (Nyima County) and Xiaguoxiang (Xainza County) and is famous for serving up ridiculously amazing views of Gyaring Lake. Clocking in at around 46 miles, this unpaved route will test your mettle – and your vehicle. We're talking a max elevation of over 16,500 feet! Trust me, you'll need a 4x4 with high clearance and some serious off-road driving skills to tackle this one. The highlight? Cruising along the southern edge of the jaw-dropping Gyaring Lake. Picture this: crystal-clear water stretching out against the vast Tibetan plateau. Epic photo ops abound! Word to the wise: this road is usually a no-go during the brutal Tibetan winter due to snow and ice. And even in the warmer months, conditions can change on a dime, so always check with locals before you head out. X605 is calling, are you ready to answer?