There’s nothing like hitting the road, little on the agenda but scoping the sites. It’s one of life’s simplest pleasures, and a terrific way to see a location up close. However, that’s not to say every wild road deserves a visit.
Some roads are so hazardous even seasoned pros will try to avoid them, while others demand the practiced patience of a zen master, their paths are so treacherous to drive on. Wherever you decide to venture, be sure to check conditions beforehand and do your best to keep your car and companions safe. A twisting and turning highway may sound enticing, but, as the list below proves, some of the craziest roads in the world can be downright deadly.
1. Millford Road, New Zealand
Built by workers hard hit by the Great Depression, Milford Road, a New Zealand state highway that connects Southland Gore with Milford Sound, is one of the highest — and most dangerous — roads in the world, with a peak elevation of over 3,000 feet. Avalanche hazards are a constant issue and at times can keep the road closed.
2. Keylong Kishtwar Road, India
Located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, the road is a mind-numbing vertical drop of thousands of feet, so you might want to give this one a miss on a windy day. It is one of the most dangerous roads and a true test of your ability. The wonderful views of the mountains spread out before you are just some of the few scenic views you will encounter. Weather conditions such as wind and rain can make the road muddy and slippery, making it a challenge to get through, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
3. North Yungas Road, Bolivia
If you don't want to travel on a road nicknamed “The Road of Death,” stay away from this one! Leading from La Paz to Coroico, the Road of Death is almost 50 miles of one-lane road, featuring vertical drops of as much as 3,000 feet into the Amazon rainforest below. Astonishingly, the road has over 200 hairpin turns. Up until 1994, nearly 300 travelers died on the road every year. Numerous makeshift memorials can be seen in places where hapless folks have plunged over precipices and gone crashing down into the jungle ravines below. Fortunately, the worst part of the road has now been bypassed by a two-lane paved road, so vehicle traffic on the road has diminished. But cyclists still challenge the Road of Death, some dying in the process.
4. Khardung La, India
Built in 1976, this mountain pass in the Ladakh region is home to several expeditions, from motorbiking to mountain biking. From October to May, the road is usually closed due to snow, and it’s known for long delays caused by traffic. The road is well kept, but watch out for snow melt, washouts and falling rocks.
5. Fairy Meadows Road, Pakistan
Located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, this spectacular and dangerous mountain track consists of a length of 16.2km. Combined with unstable gravelled roads, treacherous high altitude and narrow turns. A drive along Fairy Meadow means that you’re certainly in for a ride. Although it is a picturesque destination the absence of guardrails and barriers means there is nothing preventing a vehicle from falling off the cliff. This road is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
