Strap on your seat-belt and brush up on your driving skills. We’re sharing some of the world’s craziest and scariest roads to navigate.
Passo dello Stelvio, Ortler Alps, Italy
This mountain pass, the second highest in the Alps, is over 2,700 metres high. And while the altitude of this road makes for an interesting ride, it’s the many hairpin turns a driver needs to maneuver that make for an impressive feat.
Ice roads, Northwest Territories, Canada
In Canada’s Northwest Territories you’ll find what’s known as the ice roads or ice highway. Basically, it is a seasonal road made of ice that allows trucks to transport supplies to the region. Yes, you read that right: Giant transport trucks drive along on top of a frozen body of water.
Tremola, Airolo, Switzerland
Some say this road in Switzerland, with its bumps, swerving switchbacks and many bends, is one of Europe’s hardest to navigate. But the beautiful views along the way – and the bragging rights for driving it successfully – could make the ride worth it.
Passage du Gois, Beauvoir-sur-Mer, France
Your timing has to be pretty accurate to drive along France’s Passage du Gois. Why? Because the paved sandbar by the water gets flooded twice a day at high tide. It’s also slippery due to its twice daily flooding making it a nerve-racking drive.
Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
Although at first glance this might look like a fairly normal street, but Baldwin Street in Dunedin is actually the steepest street in the world.
Yungas Road, La Paz, Bolivia
It might only be 61 kilometres in length, but for what it lacks in length, Yungas Road in Bolivia more than makes up for in danger. This mountain pass is nicknamed “the road of death” for a reason. There is nothing separating your car and the more than 60 metre cliffs you’re driving beside, and there is no room for error.
The Amalfi Coast, Italy
The views are spectacular as you drive along the Amalfi Coast, but the blind corners and ultra-tight turns make this road a tricky one to navigate.
Taroko Gorge Road, Taroko National Park, Taiwan
This twisting, turning road that goes through Taroko National Park in Taiwan is known as one of the most dangerous in Taiwan, if not the world. The views are beautiful, but the narrow sections, steep drops alongside the road and blind corners make it pretty scary to drive on.
Lead photo: Irene Grassi used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
