Driving the wild Road to Ma La
China, asia
17.5 km
5,245 m
extreme
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for Ma La! This beast of a road is tucked away in Nyalam County, Tibet, connecting Gyirong to the breathtaking Paiku Co lake. We're talking serious Tibetan Plateau vibes here—remote, high-altitude, and calling for your A-game driving skills.
Forget smooth tarmac; this climb is all about that raw, unpaved life. Expect a gravel surface that’ll keep you on your toes, especially when the weather throws a curveball. Oh, and did I mention it peaks at a whopping 5,245m (17,208ft)? Translation: winter snow can shut this baby down in a heartbeat if the path isn't cleared.
Hold on tight for 32 hairpin turns of pure adrenaline! This part of the road is a twisty, turny, up-and-down roller coaster that demands laser focus. Think steep inclines, loose gravel, and a serious test of your driving prowess.
Clocking in at 17.5 km (10.8 miles) from Zhongma to the top, this climb packs a punch with a 1,752-meter elevation gain. That's an average gradient of 10%! The air gets seriously thin up here, messing with both you and your engine. Altitude sickness? Yeah, you'll probably feel it.
Where is it?
Driving the wild Road to Ma La is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 36.2692, 110.7992
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 17.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,245 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 36.2692, 110.7992
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