
Khung La: Only Experienced Drivers with Advanced Off Road Skills
Nepal, asia
78.8 km
5,425 m
moderate
Year-round
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for Khung La – a seriously epic high-altitude pass straddling the China-Nepal border! We're talking a staggering 5,425m (17,798ft) above sea level.
This beast of a route connects Drongpa County in Tibet to the Dolpa District in Nepal, smack-dab in the heart of the Himalayas. The road stretches for about 79 kilometers (49 miles) of pure, unadulterated off-road terrain from Nisalgaon, Nepal, to Jiazhu, China. Forget pavement, this is a 4x4-only kind of adventure.
But hey, with incredible views come serious warnings! At this altitude, the air gets thin, so be prepared for potential altitude sickness. Also, the pass is usually closed during winter because of snow and ice.
Where is it?
Khung La: Only Experienced Drivers with Advanced Off Road Skills is located in Nepal (asia). Coordinates: 28.7449, 84.6838
Road Details
- Country
- Nepal
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 78.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,425 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 28.7449, 84.6838
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