Best Mountain Pass Driving Routes Around the World
Browse more guides: India travel | Asia destinations Best Mountain Pass Driving Routes Around the World The first time I drove Khardung La in Ladakh - at 5,359 meters, one of the world's highest motorable passes - I'd been warned about altitude, vehicle preparation, and weather. What nobody warned me about was the disorientation that comes from driving above virtually all of Earth's peopled places. The horizon line is wrong; you're looking down at clouds. The air on your lungs feels different. Distance estimation breaks because there's nothing to compare with. The whole experience was three hours of ascent, fifteen minutes at the top, and three hours descent - and remains one of my most-remembered driving experiences globally. Mountain pass driving offers something cars do better than any other travel mode: progressive ascent through changing ecosystems and weather while maintaining a base of comfort, navigation, and storage. Trains can't reach pass summits...