There's a place on Earth where you can lie in wildflower meadows and stare up at a peak so dangerous that locals once called it "Killer Mountain."

Getting there requires nerves of steel and a stomach for heights. The final approach involves driving along what's often called one of the world's most dangerous roads: a narrow, unpaved track carved into cliffsides with no guardrails, where one wrong turn could mean a thousand-foot plunge into the valley below. Those who make it describe the journey as equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

But here's what makes the terror worthwhile: you emerge into an alpine paradise so pristine and beautiful that early explorers who arrived upon it couldn't believe their eyes.

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Imagine: The rolling green meadows are dotted with wildflowers, and crystal-clear streams meander through the grass. The air is thin and crisp at 10,800 feet above sea level, and the silence is profound, broken only by the occasional tinkling of cowbells as local herders move their cattle through the pastures.

Then you look up.

Towering directly above this peaceful scene rises the world's ninth-highest mountain, measuring in at 26,660 feet. Its massive bulk dominates the entire northern horizon, a wall of ice, rock, and snow that stands in awesome contrast to the green gentle meadow below.

Where in the world can you find this dramatic juxtaposition of paradise and peril?

Welcome to Fairy Meadows in northern Pakistan, a basecamp destination that offers some of the most spectacular mountain views on the planet ... if you can survive the journey to get there. The meadow sits in the Karakoram range, accessible only after a white-knuckle drive followed by a three-hour hike through forests and valleys.

The mountain of Nanga Parbat, which German climbers nicknamed "Killer Mountain" after it claimed dozens of lives in early expedition attempts, dominates the horizon, while idyllic pastures full of wildflowers and ponds fill the valley below. It's a place of stark balance between extremes, where soft meets jagged, and comfort gives way to peril.

Would you brave the journey to Fairy Meadows? Share your thoughts below!

Senior writer Chris DeWeese edits Morning Brief, The Weather Channel’s newsletter.