Drive Above The Clouds: 8 Highest Motorable Roads In The World

Rooplekha Das

Umling La, Ladakh

At 5,799 metres, Umling La is among the world’s highest motorable roads. The rugged pass offers dramatic views of Ladakh’s barren mountains and valleys, with Hanle and Tso Moriri nearby.

Umling La Pass, Ladakh Shutterstock

Dungri La (Mana Pass), Uttarakhand

Rising to 5,610 metres, Dungri La sits near Mana village in Uttarakhand, close to the Tibetan border. The remote pass offers spectacular Himalayan landscapes, with Badrinath and Vasudhara Falls nearby.

Mana Pass, Uttarakhand Wikipedia

Marsimik La, Ladakh

At 5,582 metres, Marsimik La is one of Ladakh’s highest motorable passes. Its rugged route offers sweeping views of the Changthang Plateau and lies close to the famed Pangong Lake.

Pangong Lake, Ladakh Shutterstock

Photi La, Ladakh

Standing at 5,524 metres, Photi La is a remote high-altitude pass near Hanle and Tso Moriri. The challenging route crosses Ladakh’s stark Trans-Himalayan terrain, with sweeping mountain and valley views.

Photi La, Ladakh Chris Piason/Shutterstock

Semo La, Tibet

Semo La reaches 5,565 metres across the Tibetan Plateau, offering vast views of snow-capped mountains, high-altitude deserts, and remote settlements. The route also provides access towards sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.

Semo La, Tibet Unsplash

Dongkha La, Sikkim

At 5,486 metres, Dongkha La is a remote pass connecting Sikkim’s Lachen region with Tibet. Its high-altitude landscape offers spectacular Himalayan views, including vistas towards Mount Khangchendzonga and nearby Gurudongmar Lake.

Dongkha La, Sikkim Shutterstock

Khardung La, Ladakh

At 5,359 metres, Khardung La is one of Ladakh’s most famous high-altitude mountain passes. The dramatic route offers sweeping views of snow-capped peaks and connects Leh with the remote Nubra Valley.

Khardung La Shutterstock

Suge La, Tibet

Suge La stands at 5,430 metres on the Tibetan Plateau, surrounded by high-altitude deserts, glacial rivers, and snow-capped peaks. The remote pass lies along routes towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.

Suge La, Tibet Shutterstock

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