Is the road to Ye La paved?
China, asia
37.3 km
5,041 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're heading to Tibet, you HAVE to conquer Ye La. This beast of a mountain pass sits way up high in Nagarzê County, Shannan Prefecture, clocking in at a whopping 5,041m (16,538ft) above sea level.
The good news? The whole thing is paved! It's part of the S207 Qiangluo Road, so you won't be battling any dirt tracks. But don't get complacent – this drive is no walk in the park. Think super steep sections and more hairpin turns than you can count! Oh, and did I mention the altitude? The air gets thin up here, so be smart and take it easy to avoid altitude sickness.
The 37.3 km (23.17 miles) stretch of road (running north-south from Pubanang to Zha Nagqu) winds along the gorgeous Pu Moyongcuo lake, so keep your eyes peeled for some seriously epic scenery. Seriously, prepare for mind-blowing views, a sense of freedom you won't find anywhere else, and lungfuls of that crisp Tibetan air!
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 37.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,041 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
Related Roads in asia
moderateHere's How To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Chhachor Pass
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! I've got the inside scoop on the Chhachor Pass, a seriously epic high-altitude pass chilling at a cool 13,809 feet above sea level in Skardu Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. You'll find it smack-dab on the Deosai Park Road. We're talking an average altitude of almost 13,500 feet through the Deosai Plains, the world's second-highest plateau. Picture this: Himalayas and Karakoram ranges as your backdrop. The road itself is a mixed bag – gravel and asphalt, plus a few river crossings on bridges that'll definitely get your heart pumping! You'll need a 4x4 for this one, trust me. Heads up: this road is a summer-only affair. From November to May, it's a snowy wonderland, totally inaccessible. But when the snow melts, usually around June, you can access Deosai from Astore Valley in the west or Skardu in the north. Locals call this place "the land of giants," and you'll understand why when you see it.
hardMukha Pass: The Border Crossing Between Afghanistan and Pakistan
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Hey, adventure junkies! Ever heard of Mukha Pass? It's a wild ride at a whopping 2,564 meters (8,412 feet) high, straddling the border between Afghanistan's Kunar Province and Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This pass is the real deal – a crucial link through the Hindu Kush mountains. You kick things off on the Pakistani side from Mamund, and the climb is a rough and ready 22.8 km (14.16 miles) of unpaved military track. Think hairpin turns galore and seriously narrow squeezes! Now, here's the catch: this isn't your average tourist route. The Pakistani military keeps up a track for their logistics, but on the Afghan side, it's pretty much non-existent. Plus, access is a no-go unless you're military personnel. Foreigners and civilians, sadly, can't pass through. You'll see plenty of military checkpoints keeping an eye on things. Word to the wise: this border area is a restricted zone. International authorities strongly advise against travel here due to ongoing security stuff and instability. Permits are super tight, so this one's more for the armchair traveler than the road tripper, unfortunately. Still, pretty cool, right?
extremeDiscovering the unpaved road from Chitral to Parsan is a terrifying adventure on wheels
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Hold on to your hats, folks, because the road from Chitral to Parsan in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is WILD. Forget paved paradise – this is a 15-mile stretch of pure, unadulterated mountain road blasted straight out of the cliffside. Locals built this thing the old-fashioned way, without heavy machinery, which adds to its, uh, charm. You'll be hugging the Lutkho River, winding your way through Garam Chashma, and clinging to a route that makes "unstable" an understatement. Picture this: a narrow dirt track, sheer cliffs above, and a dizzying drop to the river below. Oncoming traffic? Prepare for some serious reversing skills – sometimes up to a kilometer! The notorious "Parsan's tunnel of death" is a particularly tight squeeze, demanding a 4x4 and nerves of steel. But hey, the views! You'll climb from 4,000 feet to a breathtaking 10,000 feet in just a few miles. The inclines are intense, but the scenery is epic. Just remember, this adventure isn't for the faint of heart!
hardMount Haiz
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Mount Haiz! This epic pass, sitting pretty at 15,249 feet in China's Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, is one for the books. You'll be cruising on asphalt (it's the S217 Provincial Road connecting Xiangcheng and Litang), but don't get complacent. This isn't your average Sunday drive! We're talking remote territory, seriously steep inclines, and air so thin your lungs will sing opera. Think you can handle it? Trust me, the views are worth it. Plus, there's a glacial lake waiting for you at the summit. Just remember to prepare accordingly.