Some roads try your patience. Mountain roads try your courage.
It is not only about height – it is about constant sharp turns, steep drops as well as hidden bends where one mistake can end the ride… and possibly your life. There are no simple routes or long gentle straight sections to rest on. It is simply you your vehicle along with a tough ascent.
Ready to test your limits? Welcome to the world’s most extreme mountain roads.
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Norway – The Viking’s Playground
Some roads speak softly. Trollstigen shouts.
Cutting through Norway’s Romsdal Valley, this demanding climb feels like a contest with the forces of nature. Eleven tight turns follow one another up the hillside along narrow edges that seem carved by nature itself. If the drive does not leave you winded, the view at the top from Stigrøra will.
But do not relax too much. The weather here changes quickly turning a pleasant drive into a fight with heavy rain, fog next to slippery surfaces.
If you have wondered how it feels to drive in a Norse legend, here is your chance.
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Pikes Peak, USA – The Race to the Clouds
This is not just a road. It proves you.
At 14,115 feet, Pikes Peak challenges both driver and machine with high altitude. The well-known Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has seen some impressive race cars handle this 12.4-mile stretch of challenge moving through 156 curves without safety rails and with steep drops on each side.
One moment you move quickly along tree-lined curves. The next you are above the trees, with less oxygen and weakening grip as you rise. If the thinner air does not affect you, the effort to manage your car likely will.
It is not for the weak-hearted. But for those who try this is the drive of a lifetime.
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Transfăgărășan, Romania – The Highway to the Sky
Winding through the Făgăraș Mountains like a large signature, the Transfăgărășan Highway is not merely a road – it is a work of skill.
Built during Ceaușescu’s time as a possible military route, it goes through Romania’s highest peaks offering long fast sections, sudden tight curves next to tunnels that seem lifted from a spy story.
The hardest part is the weather. Snow may appear even during summer, while fog turns curves into unknown turns.
Yet when the clouds clear and the sun touches the road, it becomes a joyful drive.
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Stelvio Pass, Italy – A Symphony of Switchbacks
Do you need to check your car’s handling? Try the Stelvio Pass.
With 48 sharp bends this Italian route marks where careful control matters. Each turn forces a choice between maintaining control and losing it, with high edges and steep rock faces beside you.
If you take risk the turns will make you pay. If you brake too soon you leave behind valuable speed. Get the timing right and it feels like working in tune with the mountain.
Do it well and you understand why people call it one of the best driving roads.
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Khardung La, India – The Roof of the World
Some roads are hard. Khardung La is very hard.
At 17,582 feet, it stands as one of the highest motorable roads running through the Himalayas with very thin air that challenges even your vehicle. The road mixes mud rocks, ice next to strict conditions, where military vehicles and daring travelers share the way.
If altitude does not affect you, the road conditions will. Landslides often occur. Cold drops below freezing. And if your engine stops, you will struggle to find help.
It is not just a drive – it is an expedition.
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Sani Pass, South Africa – Where Only the Brave Survive
If you expect mountain roads to have smooth surfaces, think again.
The Sani Pass linking South Africa with Lesotho, is a dirt path that defies modern paving. Loose rocks steep boulder climbs along with extremely tight curves mark this challenging route, which suits off-road drivers who understand the terrain.
When rain falls the track becomes very muddy.
Only true adventurers try this course and those who succeed earn the title of legends.
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The Unwritten Rules of Mountain Roads
Overcoming these challenges is not solely about having a powerful engine. It is about paying respect using skill along with choosing the right moments to push or ease up.
Know Your Brakes. Going down is not simply about speed; it also requires careful control.
Maintain Speed. On steep rises losing momentum can cost you dearly.
Expect Surprise. Sudden weather changes, in addition to wild animals may appear – prepare for every situation.
Respect the Height. Thin air slows both you and your vehicle. Adjust your pace.
Do Not Underrate a Sharp Turn. What appears simple may actually test your survival skills.