
Simi La is an absolute must for road lovers
China, asia
34.3 km
4,364 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Simi La Pass in Tibet is calling your name. We're talking serious altitude here, topping out at 4,364m (14,317ft)! You'll find it nestled in Gyantse County, along the S307 Provincial Road.
The whole stretch from Nianduixiang to Longmaxiang is about 34.3 km (21.31 miles) of paved road, but don't let that fool you. This is a mountain drive, so altitude sickness and unpredictable weather are definitely something to keep in mind.
But hey, the views! Prepare to be blown away by Simi La Tso, a turquoise mountain reservoir fed by glaciers. Seriously, some say it's one of the prettiest lakes in all of Tibet. And get this: the pass itself is covered in more colorful Tibetan flags than you can imagine, fluttering in the wind against the rocky landscape. Trust me, you won't want to forget your camera for this one.
Where is it?
Simi La is an absolute must for road lovers is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 36.5526, 104.2805
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 34.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,364 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 36.5526, 104.2805
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