Yaylasuyu Gecidi is a paved road heading deep into the high mountains
Turkey, europe
N/A
2,362 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're cruising through eastern Turkey's Erzurum Province, you HAVE to check out the Yaylasuyu Geçidi! This mountain pass climbs to a whopping 2,362 meters (that's 7,749 feet!).
The road itself is paved, so no need to worry about your low riders. You'll find it nestled between Çukurtepe and Çat. Just be warned, this climb is no joke – it's seriously steep!
Keep in mind that this area is prone to some crazy winter storms, so plan accordingly. And honestly, if you're not super confident driving on winding mountain roads, especially when it's dark or foggy, maybe skip this one.
But hey, if you're up for the challenge, the views are totally worth it!
Road Details
- Country
- Turkey
- Continent
- europe
- Max Elevation
- 2,362 m
- Difficulty
- hard
Related Roads in europe
hardMalanser Alp
🇨🇭 Switzerland
# Malanser Alp: A Serious Alpine Challenge Ready for something that'll get your adrenaline pumping? Malanser Alp sits pretty at 1,840 meters (6,036 feet) in Switzerland's St. Gallen canton, and let me tell you—this isn't your typical Sunday cruise. Starting from the Gigerwaldsee parking lot, you're looking at a punishing 3.5 km climb that'll test both your nerves and your car's suspension. We're talking 10 hairpin turns and a relentless average gradient of 14.14%. In just 3.5 kilometers, you'll gain nearly 500 meters of elevation. It's absolutely brutal. The road itself is gravel and narrow—no room for error here. Sheer dropoffs are a constant companion, and rockslides are a genuine hazard you need to respect. But here's the payoff: jaw-dropping views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tectonic Arena Sardona make the white-knuckle drive worth every twist and turn. Fair warning though: this is serious mountain driving. Winter? Forget about it—the road becomes impassable when snow rolls in. Plan your visit for warmer months, take your time, and focus on the road. This is one where you need all your attention and a healthy dose of caution.
moderateThe road to Omey Island off the coast of Connemara gets swallowed by the sea
🌍 Ireland
Okay, picture this: you're in County Galway, Ireland, on the edge of Connemara, near the adorable village of Claddaghduff. Look out toward the Atlantic, and you might just spot Omey Island, playing hide-and-seek with the mainland. The real adventure? Getting there! The Omey Tidal Road is a 700-meter (that's about half a mile) causeway that only appears when the tide's out. It's a white-knuckle drive across the seabed, weaving through potholes and little puddles left by the retreating ocean. Keep your eyes peeled for the marker poles sticking out of the sand – they're your guide! But seriously, check the tide tables *before* you go. This isn't a road you want to linger on; at high tide, the water gets deep enough to swallow a car whole! It's an exhilarating (and slightly nerve-wracking) experience you won't soon forget!
extremeStalheimskleiva
🇳🇴 Norway
# Stalheimskleiva: Norway's Jaw-Dropping Mountain Descent Okay, if you love dramatic driving experiences, Stalheimskleiva in Voss (western Norway) is absolutely not to be missed. This is seriously steep—we're talking 400 meters of elevation lost over just 1.5 kilometers, with grades hitting a wild 20 percent. Yeah, your brake fluid is going to get warm. The road winds down from the Stalheim Hotel through 13 insanely tight hairpin turns, threading its way into the Naerodal valley like some kind of automotive slalom course. And the scenery? Absolutely stunning. You've got the Stalheimsfossen and Sivlefossen waterfalls thundering down the valley walls on either side—it's the kind of view that makes you forget (temporarily) about how sketchy this road actually is. Here's the quirky part: this route dates back to 1846 and was actually the main highway connecting Oslo and Bergen. Can you imagine eighteenth-century travelers tackling this on horse-drawn carriages? They ditched it in 1980 when a modern tunnel opened up, but the old road lives on as a one-way tourist route that only operates downhill during summer months—probably a wise safety call. The hairpins are brutally tight with stone retaining walls, and you'll drive over a mix of original cobblestones and weathered asphalt that adds to the whole historical vibe. The views into the narrow valley are genuinely vertiginous. It's less a road and more a living piece of 19th-century engineering history—one that'll definitely get your adrenaline pumping.
moderateWhere are the Gorges de Saint-Georges?
🇫🇷 France
Cruising through the Aude department of France? You HAVE to check out the Gorges de Saint-Georges! This incredible canyon, carved by the Aude River, is a real treat. Think "French balcony road" vibes. This beauty winds through the Occitanie region in southern France. Originally built between 1816 and 1836, this narrow passage was intentionally kept super slim (like, only 2 meters wide!) for military reasons until 1840 – wild, right? We're talking about 4.8 km (around 3 miles) of pure driving bliss (and maybe a little bit of a challenge!). It's all paved (the D118), but be warned: it's narrow, often just a single lane hugging the river about 10 meters above. Keep an eye out, as it's prone to flooding; there was even one in 2020! Good reversing skills are a must, as turnarounds are scarce. But trust me, the views are SO worth it! And if you're into adrenaline, this area of the Pyrenees is famous for whitewater sports like rafting, kayaking, and more! So, yeah, Gorges de Saint-Georges is 100% worth adding to your France road trip itinerary.