How challenging is the drive to the top of La Norma?

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How to reach Pas des Chapelets from Courchevel?

🇫🇷 France

Cruising through the French Alps? You've GOT to check out the climb from Courchevel up to Pas des Chapelets. It's tucked away in the Savoie, right in the heart of the Tarentaise Valley, inside the stunning Vanoise National Park. Okay, so getting there isn't exactly a Sunday drive. We're talking around 8 kilometers of serious switchbacks – like, FIFTEEN hairpin turns that'll keep you on your toes! The road starts paved, but heads up, it turns to gravel as you climb towards the ski station. A bit of ground clearance on your vehicle is a major plus for those final, bumpy stretches. Keep in mind, this is primarily a service road for the ski lifts, so it's a no-go in winter when it's covered in snow and skiers. But in summer? The views are absolutely unreal from the top. At over 2,300 meters, you’ll be overlooking the whole of Vanoise National Park with views of jagged peaks and alpine meadows. Seriously breathtaking. The air gets thin up there, and the weather can flip on a dime, so be prepared! Heads up on the hazards: the gradients are STEEP. Plus, the road gets narrow, and you might be sharing it with maintenance trucks, mountain bikers, and hikers. Those hairpins demand your full attention, and the gravel sections can be a bit loose. Definitely give your brakes a check before heading down; that descent is a long one!

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Col du Pre is a narrow quiet road with lots of hairpins

🇫🇷 France

# Col du Pré: A Alpine Adventure in the French Alps Nestled in the Savoie department of southeastern France, Col du Pré sits pretty at 1,703m (5,587ft) — though if you're aiming for the actual summit marker, you'll climb all the way to 1,755m (5,757ft). This high mountain pass is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and delivers everything you'd want from an Alpine road trip. The 10.9km (6.77 miles) stretch from Col de Méraillet to Les Gérats is completely paved, which is a relief when you're tackling those endless hairpin turns. It's a beautifully narrow, peaceful road that feels sheltered from the wind — and honestly, it can get surprisingly warm up there, so don't be fooled by the altitude. Now, fair warning: this climb is *legit*. We're talking maximum grades of 13.0%, with three separate sections hitting around 11%, and the final 1.5km averaging over 10%. It's steep enough to have earned its spot in the Tour de France, so come prepared. But that's part of what makes it epic, right? The real payoff? The views. Seriously. You've got the stunning deep blue waters of Lac de Roselend and its impressive dam spread out below you, the surrounding Alps towering around you, and on clear days, Mont Blanc looming majestically as you approach the top. It's the kind of vista that makes every hairpin turn worth it.

extreme

Georgia, the Country: Where the Roads Are as Wild as the Mountains

🇬🇪 Georgia

Most people picture peaches and sweet tea when they think of Georgia, but forget that! We're talking about the *other* Georgia, the one nestled between Russia and Turkey. This place is a knockout, all ancient history, delicious wine, and landscapes that will leave your jaw on the floor. Think deep valleys, medieval towers, and mountain roads that twist and shout through the Caucasus. And those roads? Oh man, they're gorgeous, but they're also seriously wild. Forget Sunday driving, you're plunging INTO the mountains, often above the clouds, hugging cliff edges that seem to crumble as you pass, and sometimes even splashing through riverbeds that double as roads when it rains. Tourists land in Tbilisi, fall head-over-heels for khinkali and Georgian hospitality, and then think, "Let's hit the mountains!" Sounds epic, right? It is. But unless you're ready for it, that postcard-perfect dream can turn into a real-life nightmare, fast. Take Abano Pass, for instance. It's the only road into the remote Tusheti region, and it's one of the highest drivable passes in Europe – clocking in at over 9,000 feet! We're talking dirt, narrow, often muddy roads with zero guardrails. One tiny mistake, one moment of distraction, and you're not just sliding, you're... well, you're dropping. Hundreds of feet. In winter, this pass is totally shut down, buried under snow and ice. Spring brings landslides. Summer? You'll be dodging tourist SUVs while trying not to run over herds of sheep. There's barely enough room for one car, let alone two! And that's just one example. Roads like the one to Shatili (via Datvisjvari Pass) or Goderdzi Pass in the south are just as dramatic. Pavement can turn to gravel without warning. "Paved" in Georgia can mean anything from smooth asphalt to broken concrete and loose rocks. The raw beauty of the Caucasus Mountains comes with a price. Driving here isn't a joke, it's an act of respect. Georgian drivers seem fearless for a reason: they grew up on these roads. But if you're used to wide American highways and generous shoulders, the learning curve is crazy steep, and sometimes pretty vertical. One traveler told me he rented an SUV in Kutaisi and tried to drive to Mestia in Svaneti. His GPS took him via Ushguli, one of the highest villages in Europe. What the map *didn't* tell him? The "road" was barely wider than his car, clinging to a cliff, and hadn't seen any love in years. He ended up reversing almost a mile downhill after meeting a logging truck with no room to pass. "It was the most beautiful and terrifying drive of my life," he said. "I honestly thought we were going to die more than once.” His story is pretty common. Google Maps doesn't factor in landslides, rockfalls, or the fact that a "road" might be a dry riverbed one minute and a raging river the next. Locals know which turns to avoid, which roads to skip in the rain, and when to turn back. Most tourists don't. In Georgia, the weather doesn't just change, it FLIPS. You can be cruising under a sunny sky and, fifteen minutes later, find yourself in thick fog, icy rain, or even snow – even in summer! The elevation changes are insane. That sunny valley you just left might be thousands of feet below the pass you're heading for. Abano Pass is usually only open from June to early October, and even then, it's unpredictable. A rainstorm can cause a landslide and shut it down for hours, or even days. Datvisjvari, on the way to Khevsureti and Shatili, often closes without warning too. It's not just rain. Fog is a HUGE deal, especially early in the morning or evening. Visibility can drop to zero, and with no lights, no lines, and no guardrails, you're basically driving blind. If you're hitting the mountains, start early. Always check local reports – and don't trust your weather app too much. Locals, guesthouse owners, and gas station attendants often know way more than your phone does. Seriously, think twice before renting that cute little sedan. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's safe. Lots of mountain roads in Georgia should *only* be attempted with a true 4x4 with high clearance. And no, I'm not talking about a crossover, I mean a REAL off-roader. Even then, your tires are important. Some rental places give you SUVs with bald tires – great for the city, but terrifying on wet clay or loose gravel. Before you drive off, check your spare tire, check the jack, make sure the handbrake works, and ask for a real map if you're leaving the cities behind, because cell service disappears fast in the mountains. Here's a pro tip: if you're not sure a road is passable, see what the local marshrutkas (minibuses) do. If they're not going that way, you probably shouldn't either. Not all rental companies offer full insurance that covers off-road or mountain driving, so ask about coverage for gravel roads, river crossings, and high-altitude areas. If you crash or break down in the middle of nowhere, help might not arrive quickly. Cell coverage is spotty at best, and in some areas, it's nonexistent. Emergency numbers are responsive, but they might not be able to find you exactly. So, tell someone where you're going: a hotel, a friend, even your rental company. Tell them your route and when you expect to arrive. Most roadside areas are too narrow to stop safely. If you do break down, try to find a wider spot or a pull-off where you're visible. Turn on your hazard lights and get away from the car, especially on blind corners. Locals are usually friendly and helpful, so if someone stops to help, they probably mean it. But, don't count on passing traffic, especially in Tusheti or high Svaneti. Some roads see less than ten cars a day. There are no "turnaround zones" in the high mountains. If the road looks sketchy and you're unsure, turn back early. Don't think it'll get better, because it probably won't. Driving through the mountains of Georgia is one of the most amazing experiences you can have. The views are incredible, the roads are wild, and the feeling of freedom is unlike anything else. But so is the risk. These aren't highways, they're narrow paths carved into rock, ice, and mud. They demand respect, focus, and humility. If you're going for it, be prepared. Know your limits. Rent the right car. Check the weather. Ask the locals. And most of all, don't let your ego get in the way of good judgment. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do on these roads is turn around.

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When was Orchilla Lighthouse built?

🇪🇸 Spain

Okay, adventurers, picture this: you're on El Hierro, the tiniest Canary Island, heading to its southwestern tip – the edge of Spain itself! Your destination? The iconic Orchilla Lighthouse, a beacon built back in the day using stones hauled from Frontera. This beauty sits right on the old prime meridian line, which is pretty cool if you're a history buff. Getting there is half the fun, though! The road, known as HI-14, is a wild mix of pavement and dirt, twisting and turning like a rollercoaster. It’s only 13.4 km, but don't let the short distance fool you. Starting from the tricky intersection of HI-500 and HI-14, it's a white-knuckle ride all the way to the small pier near the lighthouse. We're talking hairpin turns, serious drop-offs, and views that'll make you forget your fear of heights... almost! Word on the street is that some locals won't even attempt this drive, so that should give you an idea of what you're in for. But trust me, it's worth it. Once you reach the lighthouse, take a deep breath and soak it all in. The solitude, the crashing waves, and at night? Forget about it! The stargazing here is out of this world, with constellations galore in a sky free from light pollution. And don't miss the old pier - a quiet reminder of when this remote spot was buzzing with ships from all over.

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How to reach Pas des Chapelets from Courchevel?

Col du Pre is a narrow quiet road with lots of hairpins

Georgia, the Country: Where the Roads Are as Wild as the Mountains

When was Orchilla Lighthouse built?