Tratsang La: 27 hairpin turns to the summit

Tratsang La: 27 hairpin turns to the summit

China, asia

Length

25 km

Elevation

5,292 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, fellow adventurers, let me tell you about Tratsang La! This insane mountain pass sits way up high in Tibet's Gyirong County, topping out at a staggering 17,362 feet (5,292 meters)!

Getting to the top is no joke. We're talking a seriously steep, unpaved road, X260, snaking its way up with 27 hairpin turns – get ready to work that steering wheel! Definitely need a 4x4 for this adventure.

The pass stretches for about 15.5 miles (25.0 km), running north-south from China National Highway 219 towards the tiny village of Dênggar (or Danga). Fair warning: this is really only a summer trip, as the weather gets pretty gnarly the rest of the year. Don't expect any fancy amenities up here either – electricity, running water, or western toilets are hard to come by. But hey, that's part of the adventure, right? The views are absolutely worth it.

Where is it?

Tratsang La: 27 hairpin turns to the summit is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 35.7395, 104.7571

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Road Details

Country
China
Continent
asia
Length
25 km
Max Elevation
5,292 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
35.7395, 104.7571

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