Gora La is a truly outstanding 4x4 adventure
Gora La is an international high mountain pass located on the border of India and China.
The pass links North Sikkim (a district of the Indian state of Sikkim) and Yadong County (in the Tibet region of China, part of its Shigatse Prefecture). There are 2 separates roads to the summit, but the road does not cross the border.
Set high on the scenic Yumthang Valley, on the Indian side, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. A 4x4 vehicle is required. It tops out at 5.118m (16,791ft) above the sea level. The road is very steep, hitting an 8% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Dambung, the ascent is 39 km (24.23 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 2418 meters. The average gradient is 6.2%. It’s a military road, and the access is closed to civilians. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
On the Chinese side, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. A 4x4 vehicle is required. It tops out at 4.945m (16,223ft) above the sea level. The road is brutally steep, hitting a 28% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Naibai, the ascent is 14.3 km (8,88 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 1226 meters. The average gradient is 8.57%. It’s a military road, and the access is closed to civilians.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson