
Ultimate 4wd destination: Lokomotiv Peak
Kazakhstan, asia
8.6 km
3,397 m
hard
Year-round
Hey, adventure junkies! Let me tell you about Pik Lokomotiv, a seriously epic mountain peak nestled in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan.
This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about a gravel road that climbs all the way up to 3,397 meters (that's over 11,000 feet!) in the Zailisky Alatau range. Fair warning: this road is usually snowed in from late September until almost July, so plan accordingly!
The adventure kicks off near the Shymbulak Ski Resort (the biggest in Central Asia, BTW), up in the Medeu Valley. From there, it's a wild 8.6 km (5.34 miles) climb with an elevation gain of 1,110 meters. Brace yourself for some crazy steep sections – we're talking gradients of up to 16%! The average? A hefty 12.9%.
They call the top Pereval Ak-Kiya, and trust me, you'll need some serious courage to make it. But the views? Absolutely worth it!
Road Details
- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 8.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,397 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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