The buddhist kingdom of Bhutan has one international airport, its located in Paro, a narrow valley surrounded by 18,000 ft (5,500 m) peaks. I didn’t know it at the time but landing and flying out of Paro is considered to be one of the most dangerous in the world and only a select few pilots (like 8) are certified to land there.

We left Bangkok first thing in the morning, with a stop in Kolkata (Calcutta), India before landing in Paro. The flight provided a nice view of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest.

Paro is located 1.5 miles above sea level (2,235 m). We stayed here for a few days before heading to Thimphu. Although Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital and largest city, its geography does not permit an airport for passenger jets.