
How to drive the high mountain road to Great Kandovan Pass?
Iran, asia
8 km
3,296 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're craving an off-the-beaten-path experience in Iran, then Great Kandovan Pass is calling your name. Perched way up at 3,296 meters (that's a whopping 10,813 feet!), this bad boy is one of the highest roads you'll find in the country.
You'll find it straddling the border between Taleqan County (Alborz Province) and Chalus County (Mazandaran Province) in northern Iran. Be warned: this isn't your average Sunday drive! The road is completely unpaved and twistier than a pretzel. Seriously, you'll need a 4x4 to conquer this one. And if you're afraid of heights, maybe sit this one out, because there are some seriously scary drops.
The unpaved section kicks off from the Gachsar - Taleqan Road and stretches for about 8 kilometers (5 miles) to the top. Get ready for some incredible scenery, though!
Where is it?
How to drive the high mountain road to Great Kandovan Pass? is located in Iran (asia). Coordinates: 34.5005, 53.7419
Road Details
- Country
- Iran
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 8 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,296 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 34.5005, 53.7419
Related Roads in asia
hardBechenagskiy Pereval
🌍 Armenia
Betschenagsku Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.346m (7,696ft) above the sea level, located on the Azerbaijan- Armenia border. The road to the summit is asphalted. It’s called M-13 (Armenia) and R49 (Azerbaijan). It’s pretty steep. There are sheer drops virtually along the entire route and enough hairpins to make a whirling dervish dizzy. This route is not recommended if your passengers are prone to car sickness. The pass links the villages of Shaghat is (in the Syunik Province of Armenia) and Biçənək (in the Shahbuz District of Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan). Pic: https://static.panoramio.com.storage.googleapis.com/photos/large/98976453.jpg Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
extremeThe wild road to the blue fire of Kawah Ijen
🌍 Indonesia
Nestled between Banyuwangi and Bondowoso in East Java, Indonesia, Mount Ijen is home to the stunning turquoise crater lake, Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater). The adventure to this incredibly acidic lake, famed for its sulfur deposits, starts above the Ijen Plateau. The 3.2 km (2 mile) unpaved road begins at Pos Perijinan Kawah Ijen, the starting point before you ascend. It's a bumpy ride to the trailhead, followed by a 1.5-hour hike, including some pretty steep sections. Once you reach the crater rim, you'll likely see miners carrying heavy baskets of sulfur. The lake itself is a reservoir of sulfur, where it's mined daily. Watch out for the miners carrying incredible loads (75-90 kg!) up the trail. This sulfur mining has been going on since 1968. The acid lake here is the world's largest! This volcano is famous for its electric blue fire, acidic crater lake, and the grueling sulfur mining. This sulfur, nicknamed "Devil's Gold," gets its name from its yellow color and the dangerous conditions. The water is so acidic it can dissolve flesh, clothes, even metal! Seriously, within 15 seconds, it can start to decompose human skin. Swimming? Definitely not recommended. You can descend into the crater, but be quick and at your own risk. Masks are crucial to avoid inhaling those toxic fumes. It's incredibly hot, smells awful, and the air is terrible, making a long stay pretty much impossible. Don't touch anything, and definitely don't touch your face. In 2018, the crater was closed for months because of toxic gas emissions, evacuating hundreds of locals. The road is super narrow and incredibly steep, making a 4x4 absolutely necessary. No private vehicles are allowed. In recent years, Kawah Ijen has become a popular tourist spot. One of the big draws is the "blue fire," one of the only places on Earth you can see this phenomenon. When sulfuric gases meet high temperatures, the sulfur ignites, creating blue flames. You can only see these flames at night, though they burn 24/7. Temperatures can reach a scorching 600˚C (1112°F), but the blue flames are only visible at night. Sulfur ignites at 360˚C (680°F), but a chemical reaction causes the blue hue, not the temperature.
hardThato La is by no means an easy road
🇮🇳 India
Alright adventure seekers, buckle up for Thato La, a seriously sky-high pass sitting at a whopping 16,699 feet in Ladakh, India! You'll find it way up in the northern part of the country, practically waving hello to China. This 41.75-mile stretch of road winds its way from Chushul to Mahe through the Changthang region and trust me, it's a wild ride. Imagine hundreds of turns, hairpin after hairpin, carved right into the mountains. Locals used to call it "hell" when it was gravel, but now it's paved! Still, don't expect a cakewalk. Keep your eyes peeled for small landslides and rocks scattered about as you climb north of Kaksang La. This road is remote, rarely used, and totally stunning! Think incredible views of pristine lakes, dramatic mountains, and sweeping valleys as you cruise north of Mirpal Tso lake. Just a heads up, winter makes this pass a no-go, and even in good weather, the wind can be brutal. The upside? You only need a regular Protected Area Pass/ILP to tackle this epic drive – no extra permits required!
moderateTaking on the Twists and Turns of Road A371
🇨🇳 China
Okay, picture this: you're cruising through southern Kyrgyzstan on the A371, a seriously epic mountain road that takes you right to the Chinese border at Irkeshtam Pass. This fully paved beauty stretches for about 73 km (45 miles) from Sary-Tash, winding its way through the remote villages of Nura and Erkeshtam (or Erkech-Tam, depending on who you ask). Once you hit the border, China's S309 provincial road picks up the thread and whisks you away towards Kashgar. The road itself is in pretty decent shape, having been paved back in the late 2000s. The real draw, though, is the scenery – think rugged, untamed landscapes as far as the eye can see, with hardly another soul around. And get this, you'll climb to a breathtaking 3,545m (11,630ft) above sea level, offering views that will absolutely blow your mind! Just be prepared for a desolate, wild ride – it's all part of the adventure!