Top 12 Highest Motorable Passes or Roads in the world
Now, going by the above definition, let’s brief ourselves with Top 12 Highest Motorable Passes in the world or Roads in the world whose altitude data points are measured in compliance with SRTM or with modern age GPS systems based on the reports present over the Internet and some of them are linked in the references outlined below in the article.
1. Road to Uturuncu – 5,777 Mtrs or 18,953 Feet
The road to Uturuncu above col is situated in Potosi, Bolivia which is actually considered as world’s highest motorable road at a staggering altitude of 5,777 Mtrs or 18953 Feet. This route has attracted many cyclists all over the world being the highest cyclable road in the world for sure. The road was built to service a sulphur mine. However, if you live in India and have been to high villages of Ladakh and Spiti, then by looking at the pictures of roads to Uturuncu, you can judge that such roads are driven mostly by many of local natives as well as tourists who are experienced drivers in such terrains of trans-Himalayas. You can read more on it at the wiki link here and reference links mentioned in this article below where it has been reported that a landslide blocked the road for motor vehicles at 5,550 Mtrs a few years back. But, in the article linked here, it states that the road (up to the year 2013 at least) was motorable from Quetena to the col between Uturuncu’s two summits at 5,760m.
2. Shipki La Pass in Himachal – 5,669 Mtrs or 18,599 Feet
Shipki La Pass is situated at the border between Tibet and India in the state of Himachal. Civilians are not allowed to travel up to Shipki La and getting the permit from the army to travel to it is extremely difficult. If what Wiki says about is altitude is true, it can be called as India’s Highest Motorable road and second highest motorable road in the world, also provided if we assume Uturuncu road as motor vehicle motorable with landslide cleared as per the report shared in the above link. Otherwise, this road to Shipki La Pass is the highest motorable road in the world. You can read more information about Shipki La Pass at the Wiki link here. Special thanks to Navneet for pointing it out in the comments section. I just could not believe it ever every time passing so close to it … I have been as close as to Namgia village to Shipki La pass.
It has been mentioned by DB in the comments section below that they consistently measured Shipki La pass to be around 14000 feet odd only.
This proves my apprehensions were correct … So, it seems a lot of corrections are required over Internet references. Even, Elevation Map website proves that too. So, taking it out of the list and keeping it as originally posted.
3. A Road uphill Mana Pass or Dungri La – 5,610 Mtrs or 18,406 Feet
Mana Pass or Dungri La is situated at the border between Tibet and India in the state of Uttarakhand. Civilians, though native to India, with prior permits from the army can travel up there and reach India’s Highest Motorable road and second highest motorable road in the world. Mana Pass or Dungri La, in itself, is at an altitude of 5,545 Mtrs or 18,192 Feet which is less than the altitude of Marsimik La (number 4 below). However, as per the wiki link referenced here “The well-graded gravel-dirt road is higher on the Indian side than the new road on the Tibetan side, and rises to 5,610 Mtrs (18,406 feet) on the Indian side of the border, 250 Mtrs west of the low point of the 5,545 metres (18,192 ft) Mana Pass“. Hence, it can be considered as India’s second Highest motorable road and world’s third highest motorable road after the road to Uturuncu based on above assumption that it is still open. You can read more information about Mana Pass at the Wiki link here.
A DoW-ed Bull (bike) at Mana Village of our devil Jiwesh who shared this picture
4. Marsimek La or Marsimik La – 5,582 Mtrs or 18,313 Feet
Marsimek La or Marsimik La is situated in Ladakh, India where civilians, though native to India, with prior permits from the army can travel and scale this daunting pass at an altitude of 5,582 Mtrs. Getting a permit to Marsimik La is a little easier in comparison to getting a permit to that highest road to Mana Pass or Dungri La road. The road to Marsimik La bifurcates through Pobrang on the way to Pangong Tso Lake and is about 20 odd KMs from there at a steep climb. People have scaled Marsimik La by their own normal SUVs (4×2) or average powered bikes in the past. The altitude mentioned here is according to SRTM though you will find different sources of altitude for this pass in various articles over the Internet and its own signboard in the image I shared below. Hence, you can say that Marsimek La or Marsimik La is the highest motorable mountain pass in the world because the other two in the list above it are high altitude roads not passes (assuming that the road to Uturuncu mentioned above is not a pass). You can read more about the Marsimik La at the Wiki link here.
5. Semo La – 5,565 Mtrs or 18,258 Feet
Semo La is situated in the central part of Tibet and boasts an altitude of 5,565 Mtrs or 18,258 Feet. According to wiki link here, “Travellers use this route as an alternative access route to western Tibet and Mount Kailash, especially when mud makes access by the more southern route difficult“. Prior to the opening of Marsimik La and road to Mana Pass or Dungri La, Semo La was used to be quoted too as world’s highest motorable road to clear the myths which always surrounded Khardung La Pass
6. Photi La – 5,524 Mtrs or 18,124 Feet
The latest unknown entry into the world’s top five highest motorable passes or roads is Photi La pass which is situated in India – Ladakh region at an altitude of 5,524 Mtrs or 18,124 Feet. Photi La is about 30 odd KMs from an amazingly beautiful place on this earth called Hanle that present in Changthang region of Ladakh further away from Tso Moriri lake. You can read the amazing account of ascend to Photi La of an amazing traveler from India I highly admire named “The Kaushik Da” at the link here … Thanks to him for allowing the use of the pictures of Photi La below which he took on his trip up there in the heaven couple of years back.
7. Dongkha La or Donkia La Pass – 5,486 Mtrs or 17,999 Feet
On number six, we have Dongkha La or Donkia Pass situated at an altitude of 5,486 Mtrs or 17,999 Feet connecting Sikkim in India with Tibet. This pass is located in North Sikkim having Tso Lhamo Lake or Cholamu Lake (14th Highest lake in the world) very near to it. Tso Lhamo Lake or Cholamu Lake is considered as one of the origins of Teesta river along with glacial lake Khangchung and Gurudongmar Lake which is located about 10-12 KMs (if I am not wrong) away from the Dongkha La or Donkia La Pass. The pass is basically controlled by Indian Army and you need to get special permits in order to visit this mountain pass and due to the proximity of this pass with the Tibet border, the permits are mostly hard to get much like Mana Pass. Also, the roads are not best in shape towards this pass so a High GC vehicle, preferably 4×4 is required to drive up there with good driving skills.
8. Kaksang La – 5,438 Mtrs or 17,841 Feet
Next in the list, we have another least known surprise entry by the name “Kaksang La” pass which is situated in Changthang region of Ladakh at an altitude of 5,438 Mtrs or 17,841 Feet. It comes on the route from Mahe to Nama – Chusul – Pangong Tso when going over Hora La Pass that comes first as you start ascending from Mahe ahead of Chumathang or near Tso Moriri. On this route from Mahe to Nama – Chusul – Pangong Tso, there are two amazingly beautiful lakes by the names of Yaye Tso and Mirpal Tso as well which will take your soul away by their first sight itself. Again, you need an Inner Line Permits in Ladakh to visit the region of Nama – Chusul but at least Indian Nationals always have fair chance to get these permits. Please note at times, even after having permits, the army does not allow you to travel on this route and can send you back from the checkpoint in case they deem unsafe to travel further for civilians.
9. Suge La – 5,430 Mtrs or 17,815 Feet
Suge La is situated at an altitude of 5,430 Mtrs or 17,815 Feet present in Tibet about 110 KMs northwest of Lhasa. The road to the top is in decent condition and after reaching the top, you get an amazing view of Chomo Gangtse mountain which boasts an altitude of 7,048 Mtrs.
10. Chang La – 5,360 Mtrs or 17,586 Feet
surprise, surprise, surprise !! … Well, yeah, those of you who have been to Ladakh will be in a surprise to know that Changla pass is higher than Khardung La too as per the readings in compliance to SRTM or with modern age GPS systems. Chang La is quite a beautifully located pass on the way to majestic Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh, India which is visited by thousands of tourist every year as soon as the season in May – June starts after the opening of Manali – Leh Highway or Srinagar – Leh Highway. Since Leh has connectivity through the air as well, so nowadays loads of tourists have also started visiting frozen Pangong Tso over snow buried Chang La pass in winters too. Do not miss a black tea or tomato soup up there at the Canteen.
11. Khardung La – 5,359 Mtrs or 17,582 Feet
Number ten on the list is the falsely claimed highest motorable pass in the world named Khardung La pass, situated in Ladakh, India at an altitude of 5,359 Mtrs or 17,582 Feet. I am thankful for the stars that at least it made it in the Top 13 on this list after having so much of hype around … Thousands of tourists travel every year to this mountain pass and I assume that it may be one of the most clicked passes in the world for sure with may be thousands of photographs produced every year by tourists over the Internet who visit Ladakh. Almost, everyone who visits Ladakh, do visit Khardung La pass and get a picture clicked up there with its signboard, see mine too in the article first picture ;)… Almost all kinds of bikes or cars have traveled up there as the ascend to it is not that treacherous as compared to some other even less altitude passes. Do not miss a black tea or tomato soup up there at the Canteen similar to Chang La. You can also get some souvenirs of world’s highest motorable road too from the shop up there at Khardung La
12. Taglang La or Tanglang La – 5,328 Mtrs or 17,480 Feet
Second last on the list is Taglang La or Tanglang La pass at an altitude of 5,328 Mtrs or 17,480 Feet which is located in Ladakh, India. It comes on one of the most beautiful & the adventurous road of the world that is Manali – Leh Highway. It is one of my favorite passes in Ladakh. Like Khardung La, Taglang La is also incorrectly claimed to be the second highest motorable pass in the world followed by Chang La pass. However, now you are aware what exactly is the order of Chang La, Khardung La and Taglang La …
13. Wari La – 5,312 Mtrs or 17,428 Feet
Last on the list is a desolated pass situated in Ladakh, India which is connecting the direct route from Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso and falls under Nubra Valley at an altitude of 5,312 Mtrs or 17,428 Feet. The climb to Wari La is so desolated that one can feel completely disconnected or lost from the civilized world while traversing the route all the way from Agham village to Sakti village at the base of Chang La pass. Not even a single human soul to spot in miles. It is one of my favorite passes that I have ever been too.
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