TOP 10 Most Dangerous Roads

Yungas Road (Bolivia)

The North Yungas Road in Bolivia, also known as "El Camino de la Muerte" or "Road of Death", ranks highest amongst the most dangerous roads with an annual death toll of 200 to 300 over a 69 km distance. In 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank named it the "world's most dangerous road".

The Road to Yakutsk (Russia)

Built between 1925 and 1964, the 1,235 km federal highway that connects the Siberian city of Yakutsk, considered the coldest city on earth, with the rest of Mother Russia isn't much more than a dirt track. Driveable when frozen in winter, the road turnes into a swamp when rainy in summer and traffic is cut. No wonder it is also known as "Highway from Hell".

Dalton Highway (Alaska)

The Dalton Highway - or Alaska Route 11 - is a 667 km long road, built in the 1970s to support the oil exploitation in the region. Passing through only three settlements, it crosses the polar circle, is one of the loneliest tracks to drive in North America and requires good preparation. Car and driver face inclinations of up to 12%, an endless bumpy dirt road and harsh arctic temperatures.

Friendship Highway (China)

The Friendshp Highway, built between 1963 and 67, is a 800 km long section of the Chinese national highway connecting Lhasa in Tibet with Nepal. The road leads through spectacular scenery and past iconic peaks such as the Mount Everest, climbing to hights of 5,260m. The road is especially dangerous during the rainy season due to landslides.

Guoliang Tunnel Road (China)

The Guoliang Tunnel is actually an amazing story of villagers building a tunnel to connect their remote village with civilization. From 1972 to 1977 a group of thirteen men carved the 1.2 km long tunnel into the stone using only simple tools. The road measures only four to five meters and 30 windows open to the landscape.

Trollstigen (Norway)

The Trollstigen (or Troll's Ladder) in Norway is a driver's challenge with its 11 hairpin curves and a 12% inclination. Building the road lasted 8 years and still today no vehicles longer than 12.4 metres are allowed to drive here. The street is barely wider than one lane and rock slides are a real danger. Due to the weather, the road is closed from November to April.

Karakoram Highway (Pakistan)

The Karakoram Highway (KKH) leading to the Nanga Parbat, with 8125 m the ninth highest mountain on earth, may be described as rather rocky. Signs indicating the "killer mountain“ prepare visitors for what to expect from their trip. The KKH itself is 1,260 km long and leads through steep gorges, passing 500 m above the riverbed below and to high altitute deserts.

Transfăgărășan (Romania)

The Transfăgărășan, an originally military road built by Ceaușescu between 1970 and 1974, stretches over 90 km and is Romania's highest national road leading up to 2042 meters. Topography only allows an average speed of max. 40 km/h and the harsh winter usually cuts off all traffic between November and June. Passing the castle of Vlad III. Drăculea, the trip here might also hold dangers of a different kind...

Skippers Road (New Zeeland)

Skippers Road is a scenic road passing through the Skippers Canyon north of Queenstown. Rental cars are not allowed here as insurances refuse to cover the risk driving on the one-lane path bordered by steep cliffs and slopes of hundreds of meters. Route highlights are the Skippers Bridge and Hells Gate (image).

Taroko Gorge Road (Taiwan)

Passing through the Taroko National Park, the Taroko road leads through spectacular, hundreds of meters deep gorges of marbel stone. The narrow street is mostly carved into the slope passing above the riverbed and crossing adventurous bridges.