Where is Marsimik La?

Marsimik La is an insane mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir, India, hitting a whopping 18,339 feet! Seriously, it's one of the highest roads you'll find in the country.

This beast is tucked away in the Chang-Chemno Range, way up north, just a stone's throw – like 4 km – from the Indo-China border. Word of warning: this adventure is for Indian citizens and residents only as the Protected Area Permit for foreigners doesn't cover it.

Built back in '83 by the legendary Sonam Paljore, it's seen its fair share of action, mostly army vehicles grinding their way across.

Now, about the road… "road" might be a generous term. It starts out paved, but quickly turns to dust and then straight-up rubble. Watch out for those rocks, they're big enough to do some serious damage to your ride! This isn't a Sunday drive kind of road.

The whole thing stretches almost 80 km (around 50 miles) from Phobrang to Gogra near the Line of Actual Control.

You're gonna need a 4x4 and some serious driving skills for this one. Expect steep climbs (especially near the end), loose soil, and more rocks than you can shake a stick at. Oh, and don't forget the thin air will have your engine gasping for breath! Two-wheelers need not apply – the terrain gets too gnarly near the top. If your car isn't prepped, it's gonna struggle with the steepness and the rough conditions.

Starting from Phobrang, you're looking at a climb of over 1,100 meters, averaging a gradient of around 5%.

Keep an eye out for a Hindu temple at the summit. Just remember, this road is a no-go in the winter.

Allow around 3 hours for the trip, not counting stops. Trust me, you'll want daylight for the return journey, as the landscape is pretty unforgiving.