9 Most Dangerous Roads in the World

Not all road trips are meant for leisure, some can turn out to be quite an adventure. These are the roads less travelled, owing to the danger they pose despite offering some spectacular views.

Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway

The Atlantic road in Norway has a length of 5274 metres and includes 8 bridges. The road has several turns and dips, as it stretches over the the beautiful Norwegian Sea. The challenge, however is to deal with the unpredictable weather conditions and wind that grows strong with occasional storms. For more about Norway, check some of its best pictures here.

Getting there: It is close to the cities Molde and Kristiansund in the midwest part of the Norwegian coastline.

Passage du Gois, France

Passage du Gois is a 4150 metres long natural passage located in Atlantic coast in France. This unique causeway is often flooded, making it extremely hard to drive. It is so daunting that the fear of disappearing beneath the salt brine prevails among the drivers. Only twice a day the tide goes out and the causeway becomes visible and accessible to traffic. If you are a cautious driver, you could take up this dare! And, did you know you could drive here with your Indian licence ? Check these other countries where you can drive with Indian licence.

Getting there: The road trip can start from the island of Noirmoutier, through the mainland in the department of Vendée, in France and can be accessed only when there is a low tide.

The Zoji Pass, India

The Zoji pass is situated in the Himalayan Mountain Range as the gateway to Ladakh. With an elevation of 3,528 m, it becomes really difficult to travel through, during and after a storm.With steep drops and narrow path, one must be extremely confident of the vehicle and his own driving skills to give it a try!

Getting there: The pass is traversed by the Indian National Highway 1D, the Uri-Srinagar-Leh Highway. It is at a distance of 9 km from Sonmarg.

North Yungas Road, Bolivia

Also known as the Death Road, it covers a stretch of 169 km between La Paz and Coroico in Bolivia. The road climbs up a mountain pass and raises as high as 4,650 m. While the rest of Bolivia drives on the right side, here vehicles drive on the left, for better view of the road. Also, descending vehicles never have the right of way . The absence of railing, narrow path and reduced visibility due to fog causes extreme adversity. When you decide to take this road trip, do check these really interesting places around Bolivia.

Getting there: It is an 80-90 kilometer stretch leading from La Paz to the small city of Coroico. From Coroico it eventually leads to the small town of Rurrenabaque, after passing through towns like Caranavi.

Tianmen Mountain Road, China

Tianmen Mountain Road in China offers breathtaking views as it ascends to height of over thousand metres above sea level. The road spirals up to the mountain peak rapidly in a few turns and requires very careful driving. Did you know you could travel to this amazing country under the price of an iPhone plus? Also, check other such destinations you can travel to, under the price of an iPhone.

Getting there: The road is stretches within Tianmen Mountain National Park, Zhangjiajie, in northwestern Hunan Province, China.

Karakoram Highway, Pakistan

Karakoram highway connects Pakistan and China, stretching over 1300 km and has an elevation of 4693 metres is said to have claimed many lives of workers when it was under construction. In addition to the challenging terrain, the road is prone to landslides and falls, making it one of the hardest alpine climbs. The highway runs through a number of mountain peaks and raging rivers, promising spectacular views.

Getting there: It connects Pakistan and Western China. The highway officially starts from Hasan Abdal, 60 kms from Islamabad and covers the Hunza Valley.

Rodovia SC-438, Brazil

Rodovia SC-438 in Brazil has the most extreme turns and hairpin bends that will test a driver’s skills. The oblique path descends past waterfalls, canyons and spectacular scenery. The driveway has innumerable curves and frosts and heavy snowfall are known to occur at the higher elevations – This one is definitely not for a novice driver.

Getting there: The road trip is from Serra do Rio do Rastro, a mountain range located in Lauro Müller, in the southeast of the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil.

Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand

The Skippers Canyon Road, is located in the south-west of New Zealand’s South Island. This gravel road 16.5 miles long, was carved by miners over 140 years ago. The road is extremely narrow and prone to slips, making it difficult to traverse. The road is so dangerous that insurance is not covered for vehicles when on this road. Upon taking up this challenging road trip, you will be rewarded with the amazing views along the gorge and of the Shotover River below.

Getting there: The road can be accessed from Queenstown via the road that leads to Coronet Peak ski field.

James Dalton Highway, USA

Though James Dalton Highway presents us with gorgeous scenery, it is better known for the high winds that blast in, carrying small rocks. This is the one of the most dangerous highways in the world stretching 414 miles from Fairbanks to the North Slope of Alaska. There are signs on the road which advise on risks and that the drivers should not halt under any circumstance. Since the temperature here can fall to as low as -80°F and the entire stretch lacks service and basic amenities, driving along this road can be quite a challenge!
Getting there: The nearest major airport to the highway is in Fairbanks. From the Airport, you can drive to the Dalton Highway or take a tour bus.