Puling La, an awe-inspiring route through extremely remote areas
Puling La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.954m (16,253ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
The road to the summit is totally unpaved. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended. Facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets etc. are rare to find. West of the pass, the road tops out at 4.986m (16,358ft) above the sea level.
The road is pretty steep, hitting a 12% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Nabu Zelagebo, the road is 18.9 km (11.74 miles) long. Remember this is a mountainous area, climbing up a high mountain, with a notorius absence of oxygen. Altitude and extreme weather are always a factor.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson