
How to Drive the Hairpinned Road to Sapi La?
India, asia
32.4 km
4,397 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! Sapi La, sitting pretty at 14,425 feet in Ladakh's Kargil district, is calling your name. Get ready for a wild ride through this Indian union territory gem!
This isn't just any road trip – we're talking hairpin turns galore! Sapi La, also known as SapiLa, is mostly paved with a few unpaved patches, but the surface is generally pretty good, and you won't be fighting through tons of traffic. Just a heads up: if you get carsick easily, maybe pop some Dramamine before you go, because those hairpin turns are relentless.
You can only tackle this beauty during the summer months. Winter slams the door shut with massive snowfall, isolating the pass for seven or eight months, so plan accordingly!
Clocking in at just over 20 miles, the road snakes its way east-west from Shargole to Batambis. Get ready for views that will blow your mind!
Where is it?
How to Drive the Hairpinned Road to Sapi La? is located in India (asia). Coordinates: 20.1052, 80.2651
Road Details
- Country
- India
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 32.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,397 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 20.1052, 80.2651
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