Zholpel La, an awe-inspiring road through remote areas

Zholpel La, an awe-inspiring road through remote areas

China, asia

Length

62 km

Elevation

4,615 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Zholpel La in eastern Tibet! This beast of a mountain pass hits an altitude of 4,615m (15,141ft) – that's seriously high! You'll find it in the Qamdo district, smack-dab in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

The road? Let's just say it's "rustic." We're talking unpaved, rough-and-tumble terrain along the G317 (China National Highway 317, or Sichuan-Tibet highway Northern Route). It’s a 62 km (38 mile) stretch running from Bindaxiang to Eluozhen.

Nestled in the Tannyaintangoin Mountains, Zholpel La – also called Zhu Jiao La or Trugu La – used to be a real nail-biter. Thankfully, the infamous Zhu Jiao La Tunnel now bypasses the most intense section. Get ready for some stunning scenery!

Where is it?

Zholpel La, an awe-inspiring road through remote areas is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 35.6516, 103.8905

Share this road

Road Details

Country
China
Continent
asia
Length
62 km
Max Elevation
4,615 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
35.6516, 103.8905

Related Roads in asia

Tanggu La is one of the China's top driveshard

Tanggu La is one of the China's top drives

🇨🇳 China

Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Tanggu La! This beast of a pass hits a whopping 17,162 feet above sea level in the heart of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China. Nestled in the Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau, you might also hear it called Dang La, Tanggula, or Tanggu. You'll find it along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (part of China National Highway 109), which is paved, linking Beijing to Lhasa. Prepare for some serious altitude – you'll be cruising above 16,400 feet for nearly 50 miles before the next pass! The highway itself stretches almost 2,500 miles, heading west from Beijing through a string of cities before hooking southwest to Lhasa. Keep your eyes peeled on the weather, though. Conditions here are notoriously harsh and change on a dime. Sunny skies can quickly turn into a snowstorm. Once you reach the top, soak in the endless plains – if you can handle the killer winds, that is!

Where is Nakole?hard

Where is Nakole?

🇨🇳 China

Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Nakole Pass in Coqên County, China! We're talking SERIOUSLY high – think air so thin your engine (and lungs) will be gasping. This isn't your Sunday drive. Nestled way out in western Tibet, southeast of Ngari Prefecture, you'll find this gem tucked between the Gangdise and Kunlun ranges. Imagine a desolate, high-altitude desert dotted with salt lakes and the occasional nomad. Epic scenery? Absolutely. Easy drive? Not so much. The "road" (and I use that term loosely) is about 56 miles of pure, unadulterated gravel and rocky track. We're talking 4x4 HIGH-CLEARANCE territory. Seriously, you’ll need your navigation A-game, because in some parts, the path just…vanishes. You'll be hugging the shore of Gyesar Tso, a massive lake shimmering at over 16,000 feet. Breathtaking! Now, timing is everything. This pass is pretty much a no-go outside of July to September. Think blizzards, ice, and general "nope" conditions the rest of the year. Oh, and pro-tip: bring everything you need. Zero facilities (fuel, medical – nada) for that 56 mile stretch. Basically, you, your ride, and some of the most extreme scenery on Earth. Are you in?

Is the road to Paye Lake dangerous?extreme

Is the road to Paye Lake dangerous?

🇵🇰 Pakistan

Siri Paye is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 3,025m (9,924ft) above sea level, located in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Is the road to Paye Lake dangerous? The road to the summit is mostly unpaved, narrow, and steep. It is not easy, with some turns that are hair-raising. New drivers are strongly advised against driving up here, especially those unfamiliar with such terrain. A 4x4 vehicle is required. How long is the road to Paye Lake? The trail is pretty steep. Starting at Kiwai, at 1,502m above sea level, the ascent is 13.8 km (8.57 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 1,556 meters (5,105 feet). The average gradient is 11.2%, with some sections up to 15%. The more you travel up, the steeper and narrower the road gets. Is the road to Paye Lake open? Beware that you should not travel up here in harsh weather conditions like heavy rain or snowfall, as landslides and avalanches may occur at any time during such weather, making the area very risky. Heavy rainfall with some hail is also experienced often, in addition to hurricanes and thunder, surprising visitors and worsening the traffic situation. Monsoon winds bring heavy rains with occasional hailstorms. Unexpected thunderstorms and heavy rains keep the environment cool and sometimes create difficulties for visitors to move around. Warm clothes are recommended for nights due to low temperatures. Heavy snow covers the valley throughout the winter season. Is Paye Lake worth it? Set high in the Kaghan Valley, the area boasts scenic green mountains and snow-capped peaks, with a peaceful environment and natural beauty that is soul-soothing. Driving the terrifying road to Noori Top in Pakistan Fairy Meadows Road is the 2nd deadliest highway in the world Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click  to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.

Sevakatarhard

Sevakatar

🌍 Armenia

Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! If you're anywhere near the Ararat Province in Armenia and have a serious craving for a high-altitude thrill, you HAVE to check out Sevakatar. We're talking a whopping 3,223 meters (that's 10,574 feet!) above sea level. Now, fair warning: this isn't your average Sunday drive. This gravel road is bumpy, to put it mildly. You'll definitely want a 4x4 to tackle this one. And, because it's so high up, expect snow in winter – it could even close the road completely! Even a little rain can make things seriously dicey. But hey, the views! They make all the bouncing around worthwhile. The rough road winds its way towards Tashtuni Lernants’k’ offering some seriously epic scenery. Just make sure you (and your vehicle) are prepped for a real adventure before you go!