A Once in a Lifetime Drive to Zaka La

Zaka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.920m (16,141ft) above the sea level, located in Nyima County of the prefecture-level city of Nagqu, Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Zaka La

The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called 205 Provincial Road. Attempting it in anything but a High-Clearance, preferably 4-wheel drive vehicle is a recipe for disaster.

Located on the shore of lake Dangqiong Cuo (Tangshung Tso), the pass is 77.8 km (48.34 miles) long running from Wenbuxiang to Nyima. Plan about 2 hours to complete the remarkable drive without stops, although you may want to block out extra time to explore the region it passes through. The scenery is quite surreal.

Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson
Pic: 陈炜