What are the most spectacular roads in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan is a landlocked country, located on the Iranian Plateau, at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Despite its natural wonders, right now is better to avoid all travel to Afghanistan, due to terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and crime.

The country is 652,864 km2 (252,072 sq mi), and bordered by 6 countries: Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. We advise against all travel to and within Afghanistan. Border crossing points may be closed without notice, especially during increased border tensions or concerns about increased risk of a terrorist attack. There are Taliban checkpoints on roads throughout the country and in Kabul.

Despite the risks, the country features many spectacular roads, some of them among the most challenging in the world, on a landscape characterized by rugged mountains, vast deserts, and fertile valleys. Navigating the Kabul-Jalalabad Highway is a difficult drive in Taliban territory following the Kabul River Gorge for 64 kilometers (40 mi). This two-lane highway runs through 600-meter-high cliffs. Salang Pass is a mountain pass at 3,878m (12,723ft) on the boundary between Parwan and Baghlan provinces. Back to war times, Highway 1 is the Afghan Highway to Hell. And the hostile and toxic Salang Tunnel sits at 3,400m (11,154ft) above sea level, with limited lighting, inadequate ventilation, and marred by potholes.

The historic Grand Trunk Road is an ancient route in South Asia that stretches over 2,400 km (1500 miles) from Kabul to Kolkata. This iconic road passes through Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India through busy lanes, heavy traffic, and rich history. Known as Uttarāpatha in ancient times, it has existed for over two thousand years.

The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway is a challenging road located in Afghanistan, following the Kabul River Gorge for 64 kilometers (40 mi) in Taliban territory. This two-lane highway runs through 600-meter-high cliffs, and fatal traffic accidents are common due to reckless driving

Salang Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,878m (12,723ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Parwan and Baghlan provinces, in Afghanistan.

Running from Kabul to Kandahar, NH0101 is the name of a very challenging drive located in the heart of Afghanistan. It was nicknamed the Highway to Hell.

Khost-Gardez Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.897m (9,504ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Paktia and Khost provinces of Afghanistan.

The historical Pamir Highway (M41) is an excellent challenge for 4x4 adventure travelers. Most of the road is paved (in very bad conditions) and stretches more than 1,200km between Osh (in Kyrgyzstan) and Dushanbe (in Tajikistan) through the Pamir Mountains. The road is heavily damaged in places by erosion, earthquakes, landslides, and avalanches.

Salang Tunnel is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 3,400m (11,154ft) above sea level located in Afghanistan. The tunnel has limited lighting, inadequate ventilation, and is marred by potholes.

Dorah Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,538m (14,888ft) above sea level, located on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Tangi Tashkurgan is an amazing gorge located in the Balkh province of Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Anjoman is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,430m (14,534ft) above sea level, located in Badakhshan Province, in Afghanistan. The road to the summit—or lack thereof—is extreme.

Wakhjir Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.836m (15,866ft) above sea level, located on the border of Afghanistan and China. China has finished building a military road to the pass.

Kōtal-e Shibar is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) above sea level, located in the Koh-e-Baba mountains of central Afghanistan.

Kōtal-e Yāghardā is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,525 m (11,564 ft) above sea level, located in the Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan. It's best to avoid the drive if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong suit.

Saricha Road is an extreme drive located in northeastern Afghanistan. Expect rough gravel conditions and the need to drive primarily in 1st and 2nd gear.

Kotal-e Lataband is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,154m (7,066ft) above sea level, located in Kabul Province, in Afghanistan.

Kotal e Hajigak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3504m (11,496ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Maidan Wardak and Bamyan provinces of Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Tirah is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.895m (9,498ft) above sea level, located in Afghanistan.

Located in the Wakhan Valley of Badakhshan Province, in north-eastern Afghanistan, the high mountain road from Eshkashem to Gaz Khan runs entirely over 2,700 m above sea level.

Unai Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,000m (9,843ft) above sea level, located in Maidan Wardak Province of Afghanistan.

Located in Baghlan Province, in Afghanistan, the road linking Dowshi (also known as Dushi) and Puli Khumri is a very challenging yet scenic drive.

The Ghudar bridge is a hanging bridge spanning the Lazir River in Ghodar, also known as Ghudar, a small town in the Nili district, in Daykundi Province, Afghanistan. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Pazhuk Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.160m (10,367ft) above the sea level, located in in north-eastern Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Korgah is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.204m (10,511ft) above sea level, located in Daykundi, also spelled as Daikundi, Daikondi, or Daykondi, one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan.

Shah Tigh Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.316m (10,879ft) above the sea level, located in Daykundi province, in the central part of Afghanistan. Drive with care as this is a mountain road with hairpin curves and dangerous dropoffs.

Tagab-e Anjuman is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.013m (9,885ft) above sea level, located in the north-eastern part of Afghanistan.

Kōtal-e Sabzak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.552m (8,372ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Herat and Badghis provinces, in north-west Afghanistan.

Palphi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.885m (9,465ft) above the sea level, located in Baghlan Province in north eastern Afghanistan.

Wighnaan pool is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.600m (8,530ft) above the sea level, located in Takhar Province, northern Afghanistan. It’s definitely not for anyone suffering from vertigo or a fear of landslides. One mistake and it's a free fall to your death. In many places the road is bordered by a drop of hundreds of meters (many hundreds of feet) unprotected by guardrails.

Kawak Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.671m (12,043ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Panjshir and Baghlan provinces, in Afghanistan.

Kōtal-e Sabzak is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.274m (10,741ft) above the sea level, located in the Samangan Province in the district of the same name in the northern part of Afghanistan.

Peiwar Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.615m (8,579ft) above the sea level, located between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Kotal-e Ghar Jawin is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.769m (12,365ft) located in Badakhshan Province in north-eastern Afghanistan.

Kotal-e Qonaq is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.407m (11,177ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Daykundi and Bamyan provinces,  in the central part of Afghanistan.

Pereval Munara is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.535m (8,316ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan.

Pereval Faramoz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.143m (10,311ft) above the sea level, located in Yakawlang District, Bamyan Province, Afghanistan.

Garmabeh-ye Bala Gardan-e is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.860m (9,383ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan.

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