
The road to Kyi La is not for the faint of heart
China, asia
33.1 km
5,106 m
moderate
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, let me tell you about Kyi La, a seriously epic mountain pass tucked away in the Comai County of Shannan, in southeast Tibet. We're talking serious altitude here: 5,106 meters (that's 16,751 feet!).
The road kicks off from Qudegongcun, and it's a 33.1km (20.56 miles) climb to the top. The good news? It's paved the whole way. The better news? The views are insane! You'll be staring at Yarlha Shampo, a super-important holy mountain in Tibet, as you wind your way up.
Just northeast of Zhegu Lake, this road isn't for the faint of heart. Prepare for a rollercoaster ride of endless curves and hairpin turns. Budget about 1 to 1.5 hours to conquer it without stopping. And hold on tight — there are some seriously steep sections, hitting a max gradient of 15%! Just remember to keep an eye out and make room for oncoming traffic.
Where is it?
The road to Kyi La is not for the faint of heart is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 32.8630, 107.9976
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 33.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,106 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 32.8630, 107.9976
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