The 10 most turbulent flight routes in the world in 2025
If you think you've experienced a bumpy plane ride, think again.
The 10 most turbulent flight routes in the world in 2025, according to Turbli research, offer a picture of just how bad turbulence can be.
They're all situated in just two continents and four countries, and all involve flying over high altitudes.
Turbulence is measured in Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR), which describes turbulence levels without regard to aircraft characteristics.
This means the same levels of turbulence may be experienced differently depending on the size and build of the aircraft.
Click through to discover the rockiest plane routes of 2025.
10. San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina) to Santiago (Chile)
The flight route between Santiago, Chile's capital, and San Carlos de Bariloche, a town in Argentina's Patagonia region, is the tenth most turbulent in the world.
With a flight time of just two hours, this route is likely bumpy because it takes you over the Andes Mountains. Dramatic changes in land altitude, particularly mountain ranges, create eddies, or swirls of disrupted of airflow.
Flights travelling this route recorded an average of 18.475 EDR, with 0-20 being considered light turbulence.
This route is one of four on this list which includes Santiago as one of the stops, and one of five in South America.
9. Chengdu (China) to Xining (China)
Flying from Chengdu to the northwest Chinese city of Xining is an almost 14-hour flight that takes you over rocky and mountainous terrain.
It recorded an average EDR of 18.482.
8. Kathmandu (Nepal) to Paro (Bhutan)
Flights between Kathmandu and Paro are famously turbulent, largely thanks to the Himalayas mountain range stretching below the flight path.
This flight is just over an hour long, and recorded an average EDR of 18.563.
7. Santa Cruz (Bolivia) to Santiago (Chile)
Not to be confused with the Californian beachside area, Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Santiago, Chile, is the seventh most turbulent flight path in the world in 2025.
Flying between the two points takes around 3 hours, and records an average EDR of 18.598.
Like other turbulent flights to Santiago, this flight takes you over the Andes.
6. Chengdu (China) to Lhasa (China)
A flight from Lhasa to Chengdu became famous earlier this year after passengers recorded extreme turbulence while they were in the air.
The flight takes just over 2 hours, taking you over a highly mountainous region of southern China.
It recorded an average EDR of 18.644.
5. Kathmandu to Lhasa
Yet another flight path including Lhasa, this flight takes you between the mountainous areas of Nepal and Tibet.
It takes 2 hours and recorded an average EDR of 18.817.
4. Mendoza (Argentina) to San Carlos de Bariloche
Flying between these two Argentinian cities takes you along the seam of the Andes, making for a bumpy ride.
The flight between Mendoza in the country's west and San Carlos de Bariloche, just south of it, takes just under 2 hours and recorded an average EDR of 19.252.
3. Mendoza to Salta (Argentina)
Yet another Argentinian flight path, the Mendoza to Salta flight also takes you along the Andes mountain range.
The flight takes just uder 2 hours and recorded an average EDR of 19.825.
2. Córdoba to Santiago
The flight route between Córdoba, Argentina - not to be confused with Córdoba, Spain - and Chile's capital came in second for the most turbulent in the world.
Its no wonder this route is so bumpy - it requires planes to cross Andes, flying over Mendoza and the Argentina-Chile border.
It takes just an hour and a half, and recorded a huge average EDR of 20.214.
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