Film Crew For World’s Most Dangerous Roads
If you are looking for film / photography crew that have extensive experience in working in dangerous road conditions contact us for local referrals. We also have local production support teams to ensure you are taking all necessarily precautions so that your shoot is safe and on budget.
For travelling productions researching dangerous road options, counting down, below are our top 10 picks for the world’s most dangerous roads…
10. Atlantic Road, Norway
What: 5 miles of coastal highway in Norway. The rollercoaster-like road has 8 bridges connecting a chain of islands.
Dangerous: Waves are constantly crashing over the bridge causing cars to hydroplane.
Producer’s Notes: Truly a spectacular film location worth shooting your next big-budget car commercial.
9. Guoliang Tunnel Road, China
What: A chiseled mountain tunnel located high in the Taihang Mountains of China measuring only 15ft high by 12ft wide with 30 windows cut out of the cliff.
Dangerous: The tight fit means even a small car will barely pass through the tunnel.
Producer’s Notes: Cadillac filmed a commercial at this location showcasing their car’s suspension and manoeuvrability in tight spaces.
8. Skippers Canyon Road, New Zealand
What: 16.5 mile gravel road in Otago, New Zealand.
Dangerous: Very narrow cut gravel road through the middle of a sheer cliff face. The exposed views and loose gravel give the impression of danger that a vehicle just might slide off the road and plunge into the canyon below. If two vehicles need to pass, one will need to reverse until a safe passing place is found.
Producer’s Notes: Beautiful photography all the way up. One of New Zealand’s less explored film locations.
7. Karakoram Highway, Pakistan
What: The Karakoram highway links China and Pakistan at the Khunjerab Pass.
Dangerous: Altitude sickness, heavy snow, flash floods, avalanches and landslides. The Pakistani part of the road is unpaved.
Producer’s Notes: Far away from any film infrustructure or other services. Plan ahead for everything.
6. North Yungas Road, Bolivia
What: North Yungas Road is a 12 foot wide path cut into the side of Cordillera Oriental Mountain, Bolivia. It is one of the world’s longest stretches of continuous downhill road.
Dangerous: Narrow and winding gravel dirt track with overloaded local trucks and overcrowded buses. The rainforest climate brings heavy rains and fog, keeping the rocky surface slick. Prolonged rains lead to mudslides, rockslides and waterfalls pouring on to the road. Descending vehicles do not have the right of way, so they must move to the outer edge of the road, with wheels parked close to the canyon drop.
Producer’s Notes: A new highway built nearby has reduced the amount of traffic on this road, making it more manageable as a film location. Several “Death Road” mountain bike tours head down this road so you need to plan around these.
5. Los Caracoles Pass, Chile
What: Los Caracoles “Snails Pass”, is a mountain pass through the Andes between Chile and Argentina.
Dangerous: Steep slopes. Rockslides. 20 hairpin turns. Switchbacks have no guardrails. Covered in snow almost all year round. Freezing temperatures with ice on road. Busy with traffic, particularly heavy transport trucks.
Producer’s Notes: Impressive location but very busy with traffic and therefore difficult to control.
4. Dalton Highway, Alaska
What: 414-mile gravel highway through the Alaskan wilderness.
Dangerous: Subzero winter temperatures down to -80°F. Strong winds fling gravel at your vehicle. Large pot holes slow the long journey. Pack for cold climate survival. If you get stuck you may freeze to death. Very few vehicles use this road and there are even fewer opportunities for gas and warmth.
Producer’s Notes: Plan for extreme cold weather filming and short daylight hours.
3. BR-116, Brazil
What: 2,700-mile stretch of highway up the coast of Brazil.
Dangerous: Poorly maintained surface, unstable weather, steep cliffs and aggressive Brazilian driving lead to many major accidents. The road runs through several dangerous neighbourhoods where gangs lie in wait.
Producer’s Notes: A rarely filmed part of Brazil makes for a unique shoot.
2. Trans-Sahara Highway, Africa
What: 2,800-mile highway from Algiers, Algeria, through Niger, to Lagos, Nigeria. 85% of the route is paved. The rest is sand.
Dangerous: The Trans-Sahara Highway travels through the largest sand desert on Earth. Fuel and water are unavailable for much of its length. Sand storms can move immense drifts and dunes onto the road, blocking the route for days at a time. Pack for desert survival. Political instability in the area means you are at risk of extortion, kidnapping, or worse.
Producer’s Notes: Plan for extreme heat and desert filming. Have all country’s visas in place. Hire a reliable local fixer to make sure you are covering all bases and being smart about safety.
1. Highway 1, Afghanistan
What: Highway from Jalalabad to Kabul, Afghanistan.
Dangerous: Taliban mortar attacks, roadside bombs, and kidnappings. The rugged, narrow, winding road means you are slow moving and an easy ambush target.
Producer’s Notes: Best not to film there but bragging rights if you do.
