Where are the salt pans of Gozo?

Where are the salt pans of Gozo?

Malta, europe

Length

3.2 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

easy

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're cruising along the northern coast of Gozo, Malta, and you stumble upon the super cool Xwejni Salt Pans. Seriously, they're an island highlight!

You'll find them tucked away near the sweet little village of Xwejni, practically spitting distance from the livelier Marsalforn. It’s like stepping back in time, watching this ancient salt-collecting tradition unfold. The whole area is just a patchwork of these geometric salt pans—it's Mother Nature doing her thing!

Basically, seawater fills these shallow, square pools and then the sun and wind work their magic, evaporating the water and leaving behind all this glistening salt.

You can totally drive there! The road, Triq Is-Sagħtrija, starts near Xwejni Bay (in the Żebbuġ area) and takes you right to the pans. It's about 3.2 km (or almost 2 miles) of paved road, but be warned, it's got a few potholes here and there from being weathered. But honestly, the drive is worth it for the killer views of Gozo's wild coastline.

What makes these salt pans so special? Well, they've been around for ages, we're talking way back to the 11th century! They stretch for around three kilometers along Xwejni Bay and offer up incredible photo ops. These rectangular pools are carved right into the limestone, looking like a giant checkerboard from above. Each one is filled with seawater, patiently waiting to become delicious salt. It's a must-see!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Malta
Continent
europe
Length
3.2 km
Difficulty
easy

Related Roads in europe

Why is it called Botev Peak?hard

Why is it called Botev Peak?

🌍 Bulgaria

Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Botev Peak in Bulgaria, chilling right between Lovec and Plovdiv provinces, is calling your name. We're talking serious altitude here – 2,376 meters (that's 7,795 feet!). Fun fact: it used to be called Yumrukcha, but got a name change to honor Hristo Botev, a Bulgarian poet and revolutionary. What's at the top? A weather station and a radio tower (super important for broadcasts!), plus a mountain refuge if you need a break. Getting there is part of the adventure. You can hike up the southern side through Central Balkan National Park, OR, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, take Route 607. Heads up: this is a 4x4-only situation. Starting from Ostrets, it's a 35.1 km (21.81 miles) climb, gaining a whopping 1,803 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 5.13%. Trust me, the views above the tree line are worth it! Now, the fine print. This road is usually only open in summer because the weather can get wild. Think average temps of -8.9°C (16.0°F) in January and 7.9°C (46.2°F) in July. Fog and clouds? Pretty common. Keep your wits about you! You might see sheep and cows, and while the paths are generally kept up, watch out for slippery rocks. Small injuries can happen. Mountain weather can be unpredictable. Best to have a plan B.

Lac Long Supérieurhard

Lac Long Supérieur

🇫🇷 France

Okay, adventure-seekers, listen up! Lac Long Supérieur is calling your name! This incredible mountain lake sits way up high in the French Alps, a whopping 2,126m (6,975ft) above sea level in the stunning Mercantour Massif. Heads up: the road to get there is a wild ride! Think gravel, rocks, bumps – you name it. Definitely need a 4x4 for this one. It’s pretty steep in places, and usually snowed in from October to June, so plan your trip accordingly. But trust me, the views are SO worth it! Plus, you'll find the Refuge des Merveilles mountain hut right on the lake’s edge. And get this: Lac Long Supérieur is smack-dab in the middle of the Valley of Merveilles, home to over 40,000 ancient rock engravings! It's the biggest site of its kind in Europe, all nestled at the foot of majestic Mt. Bego. Seriously, this trip is a feast for the eyes and a thrill for the soul.

Colle Planemoderate

Colle Plane

🇮🇹 Italy

Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! I've got a killer route for you: Colle Plane, a high-altitude border crossing straddling Italy and France at a whopping 2,222 meters (7,290 feet)! Nestled in the Ligurian Alps, this isn't your Sunday drive. Think narrow, think gravel, and definitely think 4x4. Seriously, you'll want the right vehicle for this one. The road connects the Alpes-Maritimes in France with Piedmont in Italy, offering some seriously stunning scenery along the way. Word to the wise: plan your trip for summer or early fall. This pass is usually buried under snow from November to June. And if you make it to the top, you'll find Capanna Morgantini, a mountain hut built back in '77, perfect for a breather before you head back down. Trust me, this road is an experience you won't forget!

Abano Pass is a Georgian treacherous road closed in wintersextreme

Abano Pass is a Georgian treacherous road closed in winters

🇬🇪 Georgia

# Abano Pass: Georgia's Ultimate Mountain Challenge Ready for an adventure that'll make your heart race? Abano Pass (also called Torgva Pass) sits at a jaw-dropping 2,864m (9,396ft) in the heart of the Great Caucasus Mountains, right where Kakheti and Tusheti regions meet near the Russian border. This isn't your typical Sunday drive—we're talking about the highest drivable mountain pass in the entire Caucasus. The 67.2km (41.75 miles) unpaved route winds from Pshaveli up through some seriously dramatic terrain to Omalo, a small mountain village at 1,850m. It's the kind of place that feels genuinely untouched—partly because it's cut off from the rest of Georgia for most of the year. Summer is your window, roughly May through October, but even then, weather and landslides can close things down unexpectedly. Seriously, you might get stuck for a couple days waiting for roads to dry out. Here's the real talk: this road demands respect. Only high-clearance 4x4 vehicles should attempt it, and you're looking at some brutal 17% gradients with zero guardrails hugging cliffsides above gorges. The unpredictable surface, hairpin turns, and countless memorials along the way tell you this isn't called a "death road" for nothing—roughly 10-12 fatalities happen here annually. But here's why people do it anyway? The scenery is absolutely stunning. Wildflowers dot the landscape, waterfalls cascade alongside you, and you'll spot everything from snow walls (sometimes 4 meters deep in July!) to incredible mountain vistas. The Soviet-built road, completed in 1978, even features a tiny chapel at the summit with a quirky coffee shop called "Above the Clouds" that sometimes opens up there. Pro tip: Book accommodation ahead (many homestays only operate July onward), hire a sober driver, and pick a clear weather day. And if your driver suggests taking shots of cha-cha on the way up? Politely decline. You've got this—just give it the respect it deserves.