The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the S307 Provincial Road
China, asia
195 km
4,851 m
moderate
Year-round
Calling all road trip enthusiasts! You HAVE to add the S307 Provincial Road in Tibet to your bucket list. Seriously, this is road-tripping gold.
Located in Shigatse Prefecture, China, this unforgettable 195 km (121 mile) journey stretches from Dagaxiang (near Lhasa) to Gyantse, a historic city once considered Tibet's third largest. You'll find yourself cruising through the Nyang Chu valley on what's known as the Southern Friendship Highway.
Don't expect crazy steep climbs, but be prepared for a long and steady drive on freshly paved roads, often shared with tourist buses. The real payoff? Mind-blowing views of Yamdrok Lake (aka Blue Lake), the largest freshwater lake nestled in the northern Himalayas. Picture this: 675 square meters of shimmering water stretching as far as the eye can see.
This is a popular route, especially for those heading to Everest Base Camp, so expect to share the road. Allow about 4 hours of driving time to complete the trip. You’ll be ascending to some serious altitudes, topping out at passes of 4,852m (15,915ft), 4,364m (14,317ft), and a staggering 5,010m (16,500ft)! Keep an eye out for Tibetan nomads and fluttering Buddhist flags along the way – it's a truly immersive cultural experience.
Where is it?
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the S307 Provincial Road is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 37.2028, 105.2454
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 195 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,851 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 37.2028, 105.2454
Related Roads in asia
easyDriving the Scenic Paved Mountain Road to Namshang La
🇮🇳 India
Namshang La, sitting pretty at 16,273 feet in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, India, is a total feast for the eyes. Picture this: you're surrounded by hundreds of colorful Buddhist prayer flags fluttering in the wind at the summit. This pass is your gateway from the Indus Valley up to the high plateau of Tsomoriri, right near the border with Tibet and its massive lake sitting pretty at 14,700 feet. The good news? The road is a smooth, newly paved black tarmac. The area is remote, so prepare for vast, sparsely populated landscapes and raw natural beauty. Keep in mind there's next to nothing in the way of villages or gas stations along the route, so fill 'er up before you go! This 27.83-mile stretch runs north-south from Sumdo to Korzok, one of the highest towns in India. Nestled in the Rupshu region of the Changthang Plateau, expect freezing temperatures in winter, which pretty much shuts things down until summer. Even then, be prepared for some seriously high passes (like Kiagar La at 15,941 feet!), a small saline lake called Kyagar Tso at 15,436 feet and cold nights, even in the summer months.
extremePuling La: Driving the high-altitude desert tracks of Zanda
🇨🇳 China
Deep in western Tibet, in the Ngari Prefecture's Zanda County, lies Puling La, a mountain pass that punches through the sky at a staggering 4,954m (16,253ft). Picture this: the Himalayas crash into the trans-Himalayan ranges, creating this insane maze of eroded canyons and plateaus. It's seriously otherworldly! Getting here is a proper escape from civilization. We're talking total isolation at 31.404950, 79.304890. The landscapes are just mind-blowing, unlike anything you've ever seen. Just west of the pass, the road keeps climbing, hitting a wild 4,986m (16,358ft) before it starts to drop. Trust me, you're on your own out here. The road to the top? Forget pavement. You'll need a 4x4 beast with high clearance to even think about it. Starting from Nabu Zelagebo, it's a 18.9 km (11.74 miles) grind through dust and rocks. And hold on tight, because there are some seriously steep sections, hitting a brutal 12% gradient! This, combined with the loose ground and the altitude, will punish your vehicle's cooling system and transmission. And the air? What little there is will leave your engine gasping for power, and you feeling lightheaded. Electricity? Medical help? Running water? Nope, nada, zilch. If you break down, you're potentially days from help. The weather? Prepare for anything. Constant winds whip up dust storms that can drop visibility to almost nothing. And things can change FAST. Clear skies can turn into a blizzard in the blink of an eye, even in summer. Rain or snow can turn those already-challenging 12% grades into completely impassable obstacles. So, if you're thinking of tackling Puling La, pack double spare tires, extra fuel, and the best cold-weather gear you can find. Since you are close to the border, you'll also need special permits and an official guide. Puling La is an absolute stunner, but it's strictly for the most experienced and prepared adventurers.
extremePamir Highway (M41)
🌍 Tajikistan
# The Pamir Highway: Basically the Top of the World on Four Wheels Want to drive across the literal roof of the planet? The Pamir Highway (officially M41) is your 1,252-kilometer ticket to adventure, linking Dushanbe in Tajikistan to Osh in Kyrgyzstan through the wild Gorno-Badakhshan region. The Soviets threw this beast together back in the 1930s, and it's still one of the highest and most isolated roads you can actually drive on. This isn't your typical highway experience. You're basically cruising through the Pamir Mountains—seriously, they call it the "Roof of the World"—crossing mountain passes that soar above 4,000 meters. The Ak-Baital Pass hits a mind-blowing 4,655 meters, which was actually the highest point on the entire Soviet road network back in the day. Scenery-wise? Absolutely unreal. Think barren, windswept high-altitude plateaus, impossibly blue turquoise lakes (Karakul and Yashilkul are showstoppers), crumbling Silk Road caravanserais that whisper of centuries past, and tiny remote villages where locals will feed you like family. The road itself is a mixed bag—you get decent asphalt closer to Dushanbe, then it progressively turns into crumbling Soviet concrete and rocky gravel tracks the deeper you venture into the wilderness. This is the kind of route that overlanders dream about. It's raw, remote, and absolutely legendary.
moderateA Memorable Road Trip to Kora La
🇳🇵 Nepal
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! Kora La is calling your name! This epic mountain pass, chilling way up at 15,160 feet in Nepal's Mustang District, is a true hidden gem. Straddling the Chinese border in northern Nepal's Dhawalagiri Zone, Kora La is supposedly the lowest drivable route connecting the Tibetan Plateau and the Indian subcontinent. Pretty cool, right? This north-south route clocks in at just over 7 miles (11.7 km), stretching from the Chinese border down to Nhichung. Heads up though! Located near Chhonhup, the road to the top, known as the Kali Gandaki Corridor KA32, is completely unpaved. Think rugged, think raw! It's usually snowed under in winter, and even when it's clear, you'll definitely want a 4x4 to tackle this beast. So, gear up, and get ready for some seriously breathtaking scenery!