Is the road to Thato La paved?
India, asia
67.2 km
5,090 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure junkies! Thato La, sitting way up high in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India, at a dizzying 5,090m (16,699ft), is calling your name.
Good news! This beast of a road, also called Satatho La, got a full makeover in 2022 and is now paved. Locals used to call this road "hell" because of the gnarly turns on gravel, but now it's a smooth ride – well, as smooth as it can be with hundreds of hairpin turns that’ll test your driving skills!
You can totally drive it! Located way up north near the border with China, it's typically snowed in during winter. Expect crazy weather and a seriously biting wind. It's pretty remote, carved into the mountains, and you might spot some small landslides. The good news is you don't need special permits other than the standard Protected Area Pass/ILP.
This incredible stretch of road is about 67.2 km (41.75 miles) long, connecting Chushul to Mahe in the Changthang region on a north-south axis.
Is it worth it? YES! You'll be blown away by the stunning scenery, with views of gorgeous lakes, mountains, and valleys. It's located north of Mirpal Tso lake, so keep an eye out for some amazing photo ops.
Road Details
- Country
- India
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 67.2 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,090 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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