7 of the world’s scariest roads
Posted 20 April, 2018
Lauren Ferrone
If you thought Britannia Roundabout was bad, here are seven of the world’s scariest roads that’ll turn your knuckles white as you grip onto the steering wheel for dear life.
1. Tianmen Mountain Rd
Location: China
Some say this snake-like path (pictured top) is as sacred as the Great Wall of China. Word has it, the road’s 99 sharp bends symbolise what the Chinese believe are the nine palaces in heaven.
At the summit is Tianmen Cave, or ‘Heaven’s Door’, which is a 30m hole in the cliff face. But, getting there isn’t an easy feat. To reach the cave, you need to take a mini bus up through the 99 bends until you get out and walk precisely 999 steep and narrow steps up to the cave.
2. Los Caracoles Pass
Location: Between Chile and Argentina
Sharp turns and nothing between your car and the edge of a massive cliff. Add snow, which Los Caracoles Pass is covered in almost all year, and there’s no wonder this road is a scary route for locals and tourists alike.
Difficult to navigate is an understatement. The Chilean side of the road, in particular, has been dubbed as one of the most winding routes in the world. The path climbs to an elevation of 3175m and has no roadside safety barriers.
Traffic crawls at a snail’s pace as slow-moving heavy vehicles make their way up the slopey surface. If you can get passed the hundreds of metres drop below, the road is maintained regularly and surprisingly doesn’t have a bad road toll.
3. The Road to the Himalayas
Location: India-Tibet
As breathtaking as this part of the world is, the roads that lead up to the Himalayan mountain range are a 3528m-high, one-lane, crumbling dirt disasters.
These unpaved slippery and narrow roads feel like you’re weaving your way out of a scary maze you don’t know if you’ll ever find your way out. Tragically, you can even see a number of flipped cars and buses strewn across the bottom sides of cliffs.
4. Karakoram Hwy
Location: China
At 4693m high, Karakoram Hwy probably isn’t the best route if you suffer with altitude sickness. It’s reportedly the highest border-crossing in the world – and one of the most dangerous.
Avalanches, heavy snowfalls and landslides can occur anytime and can sometimes block some sections of the road. Despite its bad conditions, Karakoram Hwy took 27 years to build and is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
