Driving on the highest roads in the world offers unparalleled adventure, combining extreme altitudes with stark natural beauty. These routes demand physical endurance, mechanical preparedness, and mental resilience.
Below are five of the world’s highest roads, each presenting unique challenges and rewards for intrepid travelers.
5. Cerro Estrella, Argentina
At 5,389 meters (17,680.446 feet), the track to Cerro Estrella volcano in Argentina’s Andes presents a lunar landscape of gravel, volcanic rock, and windswept plains.
Popular among motorcyclists, the route demands technical skill to navigate loose surfaces and sudden elevation drops.
The area offers views of neighboring volcanoes like Llullaillaco and access to the Salinas Grandes salt flats.
Indigenous Quechua communities inhabit nearby villages, preserving traditional lifestyles. Travelers should carry extra fuel and supplies, as services are nonexistent beyond small towns like Tolar Grande.
4. Cerro Uturuncu, Bolivia
The dormant Andean volcano in Bolivia’s Lipez Desert features a road reaching 5,550 meters (18,208.66 feet), once used by mining operations. The route combines gravel switchbacks with steep ascents, culminating near sulfur fields and fumaroles.
While the upper section is now closed to vehicles, the lower track remains accessible for adventurous drivers.
The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve’s surroundings boast attractions like Laguna Verde, a vivid green lake framed by Licancabur Volcano, and geothermal fields.
High winds and rapid weather changes necessitate sturdy 4×4 vehicles and experienced navigation.
3. Semo La, Tibet, China
Situated at 5,566 meters (18,261.15 feet), Semo La is a remote pass crossing Tibet’s arid Changthang Plateau. The 160-kilometer (99-mile) stretch of barren terrain lacks guardrails or services, requiring self-sufficiency.
This road historically linked trade routes between Tibet and Xinjiang, passing near nomadic communities and sacred lakes like Namtso.
The plateau’s stark beauty includes grazing herds of Tibetan antelope and wild yaks. Drivers should expect oxygen deprivation, sub-zero temperatures, and isolation.
Permits are mandatory for foreign travelers, and journeys are best undertaken in summer to avoid snow blockades.
2. Khardung La, Ladakh, India
Often cited as one of the world’s highest motorable roads at 5,602 meters (18,379.265 feet), Khardung La connects Leh, Ladakh’s capital, to the Nubra Valley.
While some surveys suggest a lower elevation (approximately 5,359 meters [17,582.021 feet]), the pass remains a formidable challenge with narrow lanes, hairpin bends, and frequent landslides.
The route offers dramatic contrasts: lush Indus Valley villages give way to stark, snow-capped peaks and Buddhist monasteries such as Hemis and Thiksey.
The Nubra Valley is accessible via this pass. It is renowned for its dunes, hot springs, and double-humped Bactrian camels. Travelers must obtain permits and monitor weather conditions, as the road closes during winter.
1. Refugio Tejos, Chile
At 5,800 meters (19,028.87 feet) above sea level, Refugio Tejos serves as a critical rest point on the route to Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest active volcano.
Located in Chile’s Atacama Desert, this road traverses a desolate, high-altitude environment marked by loose gravel, sharp inclines, and unpredictable weather. The refuge itself is a rudimentary shelter for climbers preparing to summit the volcano.
The surrounding area features geothermal springs, turquoise lagoons, and views of neighboring peaks like Tres Cruces.
Travelers may encounter flamingos in nearby saline lakes or explore the Mars-like valleys of the Puna de Atacama plateau. Due to the road’s poor condition and extreme elevation, a 4×4 vehicle and acclimatization to altitude are essential.
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