Bicycling Qafa e Thorës

RB Road bike recommended / MTB Mountain bike recommended / GB Gravel bike recommended

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World's highest cyclable roads
	Overview v30 / January 2024

New in 2023
	Štulac Sedlo NEW	1,957m	GB
	Durmitor Sedlo NEW	1,908m	GB
	Sveti Jure NEW	1,762m	RB
	Qafa Thores NEW	1,681m	RB
	Visočica Sedlo NEW	1,625m	GB
	Galičica Sattel NEW	1,564m	RB
	Prevalac NEW	1,560m	GB
	Modré Sedlo NEW	1,500m	GB
	Vrbatova Bouda NEW	1,400m	RB
	Qafa Bordolecit NEW	1,355m	RB
	Krstac NEW	958m	RB
	Suur Munamägi NEW	318m	RB
	Gaizinkalns NEW	312m	GB
	Aukštojas NEW	294m	GB
	Cap de Formentor NEW	225m	RB

New in 2022
	Zillertal Höhenstr.	2,015m	RB
	Mt. Olympos	1,950m	RB
	Juvasshytta	1,851m	RB
	Monte Zoncolan	1,750m	RB
	Sliezsky Dom	1,670m	RB
	Dalsnibba	1,459m	RB
	Spindlerpass	1,200m	RB
	Kekestetö	1,014m	RB
	Flatruet	975m	MTB
	Trollstigen	866m	RB
	Ørnevegen	623m	RB

European Alps
	Theodulpass	3,332m	MTB
	Hohtälli	3,286m	MTB
	Col du Jandri	3,150m	MTB
	Hohsaas	3,142m	MTB
	Madritschjoch	3,123m	MTB
	Rothorn	3,103m	MTB
	Gornergrat	3,089m	MTB
	Gaislachkogel	3,040m	MTB
	Ortlerhaus	3,025m	MTB
	Wurmkogel	3,023m	MTB
	Colle Sommeiller	3,009m	MTB
	Festkogel	2,898m	MTB
	Eisjöchl	2,895m	MTB
	Stubai Glacier	2,889m	MTB
	Ötztal Glacier	2,822m	RB
	Cime de la Bonette	2,802m	RB
	Col de l'Iseran	2,770m	RB
	Viderjoch	2,763m	MTB
	Stilfser Joch	2,758m	RB
	Kaunertal Glacier	2,750m	RB
	Colle dell'Agnello	2,744m	RB
	Col du Chaberton	2,674m	MTB
	Gaviapass	2,652m	RB
	Col du Galibier	2,645m	RB
	Colle del Nivolet	2,612m	RB
	Großglockner	2,571m	RB
	Timmelsjoch	2,509m	RB
	Umbrailpass	2,503m	RB
	Nufenenpass	2,478m	RB
	Great St. Bernard	2,473m	RB
	Furkapass	2,436m	RB
	Hochwurtenspeicher	2,422m	RB
	Großsee	2,414m	RB
	Oscheniksee	2,394m	RB
	Col d'Izoard	2,360m	RB
	Albulapass	2,315m	RB
	Uina Gorge	2,309m	MTB
	Julierpass	2,284m	RB
	Kronplatz	2,275m	MTB
	Sellajoch	2,240m	RB
	Passo Pordoi	2,239m	RB
	Passo Giau	2,236m	RB
	Sustenpass	2,224m	RB
	Little St. Bernard	2,188m	RB
	Grimselpass	2,164m	RB

	Ofenpass	2,149m	RB
	Grödner Joch	2,137m	RB
	Pfälzerhütte	2,108m	MTB
	Passo Falzarego	2,105m	RB
	Jaufenpass	2,094m	RB
	Gotthardpass	2,091m	RB
	Col de la Croix de Fer	2,067m	RB
	Mangart	2,055m	RB
	Oberalppass	2,046m	RB
	Manghenpass	2,042m	RB
	Nockalmroad	2,042m	RB
	Silvretta / Bieler Höhe	2,032m	RB
	Kühtaisattel	2,017m	RB
	Col de la Madeleine	2,000m	RB
	Col de Sarenne	1,999m	RB
	Kitzbüheler Horn	1,996m	RB
	Malta-Hochalm	1,924m	RB
	Col du Glandon	1,924m	RB
	Lukmanierpass	1,914m	RB
	Mont Ventoux	1,912m	RB
	Alpe d'Huez	1,896m	RB
	Hahntennjoch	1,894m	RB
	Passo Campolongo	1,875m	RB
	Mortirolopass	1,852m	RB
	Furkelpass	1,789m	RB
	Villach Alpine Road	1,732m	RB
	Les Deux Alpes	1,650m	RB
	Col du Mollard	1,638m	RB
	Gerlospass	1,621m	RB
	Vršič	1,611m	RB
	Col du Telegraph	1,570m	RB
	Reschenpass	1,507m	RB
	Norbertshöhe	1,410m	RB
	Brennerpass	1,370m	RB
	Passwang Antenna	1,166m	RB
	Passo Predil	1,156m	RB

Spanish Sierra Nevada
	Mulhacen	3,482m	MTB
	Pico del Veleta North	3,394m	RB
	Pico del Veleta South	3,394m	MTB
	O Sel Ling	1,462m	MTB

Canary Islands
	Roque Muchachos	2,426m	RB
	Pico del Teide	2,362m	RB

Majorca
	Puig Major	879m	RB
	Coll dels Reis	718m	RB
	Coll d'Honor	550m	RB
	San Salvador	510m	RB
	Coll de Sóller	497m	RB
	Port de Valdemossa	323m	RB

Cyprus
	Olympos NEW	1,950m	RB

Serra da Estrela
	Pico ToRBe	1,993m	RB

Pyrenees
	Col du Tourmalet	2,115m	RB
	Col d'Aubisque	1,709m	RB
	Col de Peyresourde	1,569m	RB
	Col d'Aspin	1,489m	RB
	Col du Soulor	1,450m	RB

Carpathians
	Transalpina	2,145m	RB
	Transfagarasan	2,042m	RB

United Kingdom
	Great Dun Fell	848m	RB
	Lowther Hill	724m	RB
	Cairnwell Pass	670m	RB

Rila Mountains (Bulgaria)
	Kalin reservoir	2,550m	MTB

Great Caucasus
	Abano Pass	2,865m	MTB
	Gergeti Trinity	2,170m	MTB

Rocky Mountains
	Mount Evans	4,307m	RB

Hawaii
	Mauna Kea	4,200m	MTB

Germany
	Osterfelderkopf	2,032m	MTB
	Nebelhorn	1,932m	MTB
	Alpe Schlappold	1,740m	MTB
	Eagle's Nest	1,716m	MTB
	Roßfeld-Höhenring	1,540m	RB
	Riedbergpass	1,420m	RB
	Feldberg	1,493m	MTB
	Fichtelberg	1,215m	RB
	Brocken	1,142m	RB
	Salwert	11m	MTB

Other Europe
	Sniezka	1,602m	MTB
	Klinovec	1,244m	RB
	Botrange	694m	RB
	Kneiff	560m	RB
	Vaalserberg	323m	RB
	Møllehøj	171m	MTB

Andes
	Uturuncu	5,768m	MTB
	Chacaltaya	5,300m	MTB
	Salar de Uyuni	3,650m	MTB
	Yungas Death Road	3,200m	MTB

Himalayas
	Khardung La	5,602m	MTB
	Taglang La	5,358m	MTB
	Potokonkga La	4,900m	MTB
	Namshang La	4,800m	MTB
	Lamayuru Monastery	3,714m	MTB

Ethiopian Highlands
	Tulluu Dimtuu	4,377m	MTB

Alborz-Range (Iran)
	Dizinpass	3,257m	RB
	Emamzadeh Davod	2,929m	MTB

Marathon (European Alps)
	Ötztal Cycle Marathon	5,209Hm	RB
	La Marmotte	5,180Hm	RB
	Maratona Dolomites	4,190Hm	RB
	Dreiländergiro	3,546Hm	RB
	Alpenbrevet	3,643Hm	RB
	Alpen-Challenge	2,499Hm	RB

Qafa e Thorës 1,681m
Albania's highest mountain road

The highest pass road in Albania leads south from Qafa Bordolecit deep into the Albanian Alps. The villages behind the pass are only accessible via this road and are probably inaccessible for months in winter. Images on Google Street View and even current travel guides show the eastern part of the pass as a dull gravel track in 2023. In fact, the road has now been completely tarmaced all the way down to Theth and further south to Nderlysai.

Start: Boga 972m
Altitude difference: 714m
Distance: 11km
September 2023

700 metres altitude gain over a short distance is no problem for experienced cyclists.

Start early in the morning shortly before 7am in the village of Boga. The pass road actually starts much further down in Koplik and climbs around 850 metres in altitude over 30 kilometres. However, the road is very narrow, mainly single-lane and is used by many cars and coaches - hence the start up here in Boga.

The ascent is leisurely in the light of dawn.

Turn-offs to various places of interest

The road offers excellent conditions without much traffic.

View back from the so-called "Theth Balcony" into the valley through which the ascent winds.

Viewpoint at the same place

A few nice hairpin bends follow.

View up

Shortly before the finish

And then we reach the top of the pass.

To my astonishment, the tarmac road continues downhill towards Theth. I had expected something completely different. Only when I get back to my accommodation do I realise that the road is now completely paved (it's worth taking a look at the outdated Street View Images).