10 Insane and spectacular roads from around the world

The world is a fascinating place, full of adventure and discovery. For those with the gumption and grit, there are 10 insane road trips that require white-knuckle precision to navigate.  The scenery on some of these roads are so spectacular, that the beauty itself can distract drivers from the task at hand, often making the journey a dangerous one. These sketchy roads have become tourist attractions for the adventurous. Without further ado, here is our list of the world’s 10 most insane and spectacular roads to drive on.

North Yungas Road – Bolivia

Otherwise known as “the Death Road,” North Yungas road is in the Yungas district of Bolivia. This road is about 40 miles long, extending from La Paz to Corico. According to the Inter-American Development Bank, this road is considered the most hazardous in the world. Nearly 300 people each year perish while driving this treacherous road. Despite the presumed adventure of driving yourself, the best thing to do is hire a car and leave the driving to a professional so you can enjoy the amazing views.

The road connects northern Bolivia to the Amazon rainforest district and comprises a single track that is a mere 10 feet wide…without any guard-rails! The dramatic drop-offs make this drive exceptionally dangerous, again, because of the lack of guard rails to keep vehicles from falling off the edge. The weather also adds to the danger as mist and torrential rain makes the drive exceptionally risky.

Photo Credit: Matthew Straubmuller
Photo Credit: Matthew Straubmuller

Guoliang Shaft – China

Guoliang shaft is a little street in the Taihang Mountains, inside the Hunan Province of China. This small and under developed settlement of Guoliang is located on a steep mountain ridge. In past years, the best way to reach the town was by rambling through the valley, which is covered by many steep hillsides. The Chinese government finally decided to put resources toward making it a drivable road leading into the district, hence the development of the Guoliang Shaft. As you can see in the picture below, the road skirts the cliff face, with a series of blasted tunnels to make the road passable.

Villagers in the nearby neighborhood came together to connect the road back in 1972…it took 5 years to complete. It was 1977 when the passage finally opened. This long passage is just a mile long and is 16 feet tall and 13 feet wide. The passage has become a tourist attraction for visitors to the area, with an abundance of windows for viewing the valley below. Due to the blustery seasons of the area, Guoliang Shaft makes for a perilous road trip.

Guoliang-shaft

Halsema Highway – Philippines

This interstate is an extremely noteworthy expressway in the Philippines. The Halsema Highway is 150 miles long and connects both Baguio and Benguet counties to Northern Luzon. Land/mud slides and dropping rocks are common threats to drivers. Transport vehicle drivers often travel at high speeds, making it extremely risky for smaller vehicles.

Most of the Halsema Highway is unpaved, leaving drivers with a number of abrupt drop offs, some more than 1,000 feet. One of the primary reasons this expressway is so dangerous is because it has no guard rails and has extremely sharp and unpredictable turns. Another danger that lurks around ever corner is the threat of an avalanche, which occurs on a regular basis.

Halsema-Highway

Taroko

The word “Taroko” means “splendid and wonderful” in the Truku tribe’s (indigenous Taiwanese people) native language. This rugged street is extreamly narrow, hence the numerous spots required to slow down and pull aside for passing vehicles. Starting from Dongshi District in Taichung, this stretch of road joins the Suao-Hualien Highway, which lies on the eastern shore of Taiwan along the Pacific Ocean. During severe storms, the street shuts down due to the increased risk in navigating the narrow and windy road.

Photo Credit: Yamil Gonzales
Photo Credit: Yamil Gonzales

Yakutsk Road – Siberia

Yakutsk Road is quite perilous during the winter months due to the large quantity of snow and ice accumulation.  Located in Siberia, this area is the second coldest place on earth, next to Antarctica. Rough weather conditions make the road exceptionally hazardous to drive on, with overwhelming levels of snow and ice making it quite unpredictability. So much snow and ice accumulates that there are only two months a year where the white stuff is not present.

Photo by: Tony Thetankengine
Photo by: Tony Thetankengine

Troll’s Footpath – Norway

You will find the “Troll’s Footpath” in Rauma, Norway. You can see from the photo below that this road has lots of sharp turns, sudden rises and limited places to pull over. The local administration has banned vehicles more than 39′ long from driving on this road as they just cannot make the dramatic turns required. Irrespective of this restriction, the street is highly popular amidst the busy travel season; about 2,500 automobiles pass through the area every day (during summer months). During winter, the road is closed to traffic due to weather restrictions. Taking nearly eight years to complete, the Troll’s Footpath opened back in 1936, and the credit goes to King Haakon VII for commissioning the construction. Trollstigen crosses into Andalsnes in Rauma and borders Valldal in Norhdal.

Photo by: Don P.
Photo by: Don P.

Sichuan – Tibet Road

In Tibet you will find Sichuan, a road that stretches 1500 miles and connects Chengdu to Tibet, which is a greater span than Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California. The formation of this expressway happened back in 1950 and opened to traffic on Christmas day, 1954. Because the road has several intense elevations changes, drivers will experience a delightful and evolving scenery. The journey takes visitors from warm springs in the lower valleys,  through snow-capped mountain passes.

Photo by: Matt Ming
Photo by: Matt Ming

Stelvio Pass

You’ll find Stelvio Pass deep in the Italian Alps! The road frequently overlaps itself in a zigzag pattern with 48 sharp turns. At a peak of 9,045 feet, this mountain pass is the second highest in the  Italian Alps. It took almost five years to build this Pass.

Photo credit: Absolute Czech
Photo credit: Absolute Czech

Zoji Pass – India

People have called this hazardous road in India a standout among the rest in the country as one of the most dangerous. Connecting the Leh region in the west part of the Himalayas, to Srinagar, the Zoji Pass is part of the Indian National Highway.

With just a single narrow lane, this road is extremely unsafe for drivers. Moreover, the weather adds to the perilous conditions. Drivers will often encounter overwhelmingly snowfalls along with fierce winds. Additionally, weather records indicate that this stretch of road has experienced 60 avalanches since being built.  At 11,575 feet, this pass is the highest in all of India.

Photo Credit: Nilanjan Sasmal
Photo Credit: Nilanjan Sasmal

Nanga Parbat – Pakistan

You will find this road at the base of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, which has earned a reputation as the ninth most wondrous peak in the world at a height of 26,660′ above sea level. Fairy Meadows is a popular stop for travelers with its picturesque sight. Those who love to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of Mother Earth will certainly fall in love with this incredible view.

A word of caution – reaching the top to Fair Meadows is not without risk, therefore many do not make it to the top to appreciate the stunning beauty that awaits.

Although the entire road is not unsafe and risky, the hairiest part is the 6-mile dramatic escalation on unpaved surface. There are no barricades in sight ether, to help prevent vehicles from tumbling off the bluff into the chasm below. Traveling this road is no doubt not for the weak at heart. If by any chance you decide to chance it, avoid using anything other than a 4-wheel drive, the additional traction will not only be helpful, it could save your life.

Photo Credit: Ahmed Sajjad Zaidi
Photo Credit: Ahmed Sajjad Zaidi

Mike Shubic

Mike Shubic is a seasoned road trip travel video blogger, traversing the byways of the world looking for those hidden gems of the road. From unique destinations, unexpected discoveries, creative cuisine, intriguing inns to exciting attractions…the road is his page. The experiences are his ink. And every 300 miles, a new chapter begins. Whether you live vicariously or by example, Mike will do the exploring so you can have an adventure.
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4 Comments

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