
Lowari Pass is the Grand Daddy of the passes
Pakistan, asia
40 km
3,118 m
extreme
Year-round
Buckle up for Lowari Pass, aka "Hell's Road," in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region! This isn't your average Sunday drive. Think of it as the Grand Daddy of hairpin turns, snaking up to a dizzying 10,230 feet.
This stretch of the N45 connects Dir and Chitral through tribal lands bordering Afghanistan. Parts are paved, but don't be fooled; much of it quickly devolves into a super-rough dirt track that’ll test your suspension and your nerves for about 40 km straight!
High in the Hindu Raj mountains, Lowari is a beast of a road, notorious for its steep climbs and impossibly narrow sections. Loaded trucks crawl along, their drivers navigating a gauntlet of tight turns and sheer cliffs. Avalanches are a real threat in winter, tragically claiming lives each year. The pass is usually shut down from late November to late May due to heavy snow.
Originally built by the British, this road is not for the faint of heart. While the Lowari Tunnel (8.75km + 2km) now bypasses the most treacherous section, you're still in for an adrenaline-pumping ride. The tunnel is open to all vehicles and has a speed limit of 40 km/h. Get ready for a wild, unforgettable adventure with views that will leave you breathless... if the road doesn't first!
Where is it?
Lowari Pass is the Grand Daddy of the passes is located in Pakistan (asia). Coordinates: 29.2575, 68.2415
Road Details
- Country
- Pakistan
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 40 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,118 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 29.2575, 68.2415
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