Paro International Airport — Paro, Bhutan

Ringed by Himalayan peaks that rise beyond 18,000 feet, PBH holds a reputation as one of the most demanding airports in the world to fly into, a challenge severe enough that only a small, specially certified group of pilots is cleared to operate the visual approach required to land safely in the narrow Paro Valley. As Bhutan's only international airport, it forms the near-exclusive entry point for the country's tightly managed, high-value tourism model, welcoming visitors bound for the cliffside Taktsang Monastery, commonly called the Tiger's Nest, and other sites across the small Himalayan kingdom. Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines operate the limited scheduled service, connecting Paro to regional hubs across South and Southeast Asia. Weather and mountain winds can close the airport with little warning, and flights typically operate only during daylight hours under visual flight rules rather than the instrument approaches used at most major airports.