
If you love to drive, you’ll love the Kubaky Pass road
Kyrgyzstan, asia
N/A
2,168 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're cruising around the Issyk-Kul Region in Kyrgyzstan and craving a little elevation, you HAVE to check out Kubaky Pass.
This baby climbs to a cool 2,168 meters (that's 7,112 feet!). The road is in pretty sweet shape - all paved, so no need to worry about crazy off-roading. Think of it as a nifty shortcut on the A-365, heading north to south.
Fair warning, there are some sections that get pretty steep (we're talking up to a 6% grade!), so make sure your engine is ready to rumble.
The pass is generally open year-round, but keep an eye on the weather in winter. A bit of snow can close it down temporarily, so plan accordingly! Get ready for some epic views!
Road Details
- Country
- Kyrgyzstan
- Continent
- asia
- Max Elevation
- 2,168 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in asia
Tianmen Mountain Road
🇨🇳 China
# Tianmen Mountain Road: The Road to Heaven Ready for one of the most intense drives in the world? Welcome to Tongtian Avenue, or as locals call it, "The Road to Heaven" — and trust me, this 11-kilometer stretch in Hunan Province isn't for the faint of heart. Snaking up Tianmen Mountain near Zhangjiajie, this engineering marvel climbs from 200 meters straight up to 1,300 meters, gaining elevation so fast your ears will pop. Here's what makes this road legendary: 99 hairpin bends. And no, that number isn't random — in Chinese culture, nine is sacred (representing heaven's nine palaces), so 99 feels pretty cosmic. Built in 2005 as the centerpiece of Tianmen Mountain National Park, this road was designed to challenge and impress in equal measure. Expect white-knuckle moments as your bus winds through lush subtropical forest with impossibly tight turns and steep grades that'll have you gripping your seat. (Pro tip: private vehicles aren't allowed up here — it's bus-only for good reason.) Every bend is numbered and named, and the views? Absolutely breathtaking. At the summit, you'll spot the jaw-dropping Tianmen Cave, a massive natural arch punching clean through the mountain — 131 meters high and 57 meters wide — visible all the way from Zhangjiajie below. Reach it by climbing 999 more steps if you're feeling ambitious. Not thrilled enough? The summit also features a glass skywalk suspended 1,432 meters above the valley (it's as terrifying as it sounds) and the world's longest commercial cable car ride at 7,455 meters. Car manufacturers have even staged promotional events here to show off their vehicles. Visit year-round, but expect cold, foggy conditions if you go in winter.
moderateWhere are the Naltar Lakes?
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Hey fellow adventurers! Ever heard of the Naltar Lakes in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan? Think three shimmering jewels – Strangi, Blue, and Bodlok – nestled high in the Naltar Valley, aka Pakistan's 'magic carpet' thanks to its unreal scenery. Getting there? Buckle up! The Naltar Valley Road is a wild 30km (19 mile) ride from Nomal that runs alongside the Naltar River. Forget paved roads, this is a bumpy, unpaved adventure that demands a 4x4 and some serious driving skills. Plus, keep an eye out – the river can flood! Elevation-wise, you're climbing! The lakes sit between 3,050 and 3,150 meters above sea level. Word of warning: winter turns this road into an impassable wonderland of 10-15 foot snowbanks. Best time to visit these beauties is May to October. Trust me, the views are SO worth the challenge!
moderateEast Coast Road is a scenic drive shadowed by mystery
🇮🇳 India
Okay, picture this: the East Coast Road (ECR) in Tamil Nadu, India. This isn't just a road; it's an adventure! Think shimmering coastline, salty air, and a two-lane highway (SH-49, NH-332A, and NH-32) stretching a whopping 777 km (482 miles) from Chennai all the way down to Kanyakumari, hugging the Bay of Bengal. They're even talking about widening some parts to four lanes, especially the Chennai to Mamallapuram stretch! This road is a total feast for the eyes. We're talking stunning beaches, chill beach resorts, and roadside stalls overflowing with the freshest seafood. Seriously, every turn seems to beg for a photo op. But here's where it gets interesting... ECR has a bit of a reputation for being haunted. Yep, you heard right! Travelers whisper about paranormal experiences, especially after dark. Keep an eye out, especially on those dimly lit sections, for a lady in white. The story goes that she appears out of nowhere, startling drivers and causing accidents. Spooky, right?
extremeWhere is the Anzob tunnel of death?
🌍 Tajikistan
Located in the Sughd Region of Tajikistan, Anzob Tunnel is said to be the most dangerous tunnel in the world. Nicknamed the Tunnel of Fear and the Tunnel of Death by locals, it lacks proper lighting and ventilation, and breathing is hard and painful due to the thick mixture of exhaust gases. Where is the Anzob tunnel of death? The tunnel is located in the northwestern part of the country. It was built to bypass the infamous and keep the road open year-round. The tunnel through the tunnel is the infamous , the main road between Duschanbe, the capital of the country, and Khujand, the country's second-largest city. How long is the Anzob tunnel? The tunnel is 5,040 m (3.13 mi) long at an elevation of 2,700 meters above sea level. The tunnel is dark and dangerous with hardly any lights inside, and it’s suffocating as there’s no ventilation bar one fan. Why is the Anzob tunnel called the tunnel of death? Locals have shared stories of a number of people dying inside it due to traffic jams that leave people trapped, where they succumbed to carbon monoxide. The poisonous air in the tunnel is barely shifted by one solitary fan somewhere in the middle of the tunnel, which gives some, but not sufficient, movement to the air. How is the Anzob tunnel? The tunnel floor is a maze of deep, seriously deep, potholes hidden under a constant stream of water; the tunnel is strewn with abandoned construction machines and filled with the noxious black smoke of clapped-out lorries. It can be a disturbing experience: no lights, ventilation, or road markings, and it is liable to flooding. It's long, dark, and really dusty, and if you are claustrophobic, just be prepared to be uncomfortable. Even in good weather conditions, the tunnel is flooded, turning the giant potholes in the unfinished road into invisible death traps. Unmarked drainage channels waiting to swamp your bike. The tunnel lacks proper lighting and ventilation, and breathing is hard and painful due to the thick mixture of exhaust gases. Most drivers go as fast as they can, as in any other Central Asian country. Avoid the potholes, particularly in the winter time here. Your whole SUV can submerge if you drive in the wrong place. There are no road markings, so driving on the left or the right are optional, with the middle being the common choice. When was Anzob Tunnel opened? The tunnel was officially opened in March 2006 and supports heavy traffic. It’s also known as Istiqlol tunnel or Ushtur Tunnel. There are no traffic lights to regulate traffic through this section, nor is there an ordered tidal flow of traffic being allowed to enter the tunnel; instead, anarchy prevails in the darkness. Expect huge, axle-snapping potholes threatening to swallow up the car, along with flooding that almost turns them into tunnel ponds. Halfway along the tunnel, water floods the road as a result of an engineering fault. Oncoming cars and trucks emerge in the darkness with headlights flashing for the other drivers to get out of their way. How’s Anzob Tunnel today? In 2018, the tunnel was improved (adding drainage and repairing potholes), and for the most part, it is lit now, with a more or less decent asphalt surface. But it needs much more improvement to be done. How to Survive and Drive through the Dangerous Anzob Pass in Tajikistan Pamir Highway is the second highest altitude international highway in the world 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.