Here are some roads from across the world that demand the ultimate in driving dexterity. These have become infamous for their sheer drops, narrow passes, rough conditions and unforgiving terrain. Here are 16 most dangerous and challenging roads where only the most skilled drivers can drive safely.
Zoji La Pass, India –
Zoji La Pass certainly is one of the most scenic routes in India. The road that winds through the highest mountain range in the world has to be somewhat dangerous to travel, though.
Nathu La Pass, India –
Standing at an impressive elevation of over 14,000-ft, Nathu La is located on the Indo-China border in the East Sikkim district. This road becomes risky to travel through during rain and snowfall when its condition severely deteriorates and landslides and avalanches are far too common.
Skippers Canyon Road –
Skippers Canyon Road, located in the south-west of New Zealand’s South Island, is today one of New Zealand’s better known scenic roads and unbelievably scary as it’s narrow which makes it difficult to maneuver your car.
The Karakoram, Pakistan –
The highway links China and Pakistan at the Khunjerab Pass, at an altitude of 4,693 meter. It’s prone to landslides and floods and to make matters worse, the road is unpaved in Pakistan.
Kabul-Jalalabad Highway, Afghanistan –
The 65-km stretch from Jalalabad to Kabul snakes through Taliban territory. But it’s not the threat of insurgency that makes Highway 1 so dangerous — it’s a combination of the narrow, winding lanes that climb up to 600 meter through the Kabul Gorge.
99 Bending Road, China –
Located within the Tianmen Mountain National Park, in northwestern Hunan Province, China, the Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road is 11 kilometres long from the bottom to the top. The drive up Tongtian Avenue takes you through 99 turns.
Caucasus Road, Russia –
This narrow, winding road connects Ritsa lake and Sochi and passes through the region’s imposing mountains.
Yungas Road, Bolivia –
While there are vertigo-inducing steep mountains on one side, the other has a 600 meters elevated cliff. It is frightening to even imagine driving through this path!
Kolyma Highway, Russia –
Kolyma connects Magadan and Yakutsk. This road is extremely dangerous during the winter, which is ten months long, because of the heavy snow, the ice, and reduced visibility. But in summers, the condition is nothing short of challenging either. In July and August, the mud is the worst enemy.
Hana, Hawaii –
The 112-kilometer road stretch links Hana and Kahului to the popular tourist island Maui. The narrow road stretch connects 59 bridges, out of which 46 feature a single lane.