Paro International Airport, Bhutan

What an utterly spectacular, yet terrifying approach to an airport. Paro International Airport in Bhutan requires sharp banking and twisting and turning through the majestic Himalayas.

You will fly so close to them that sometimes you will think the wing tip is caressing the mountainside.

A dramatic arrival is an understatement and much deep breathing is required as the pilot negotiates his way around the 18,000ft jagged peaks and down into the deep valley.

Navigating the terrain is so tricky, there are only 20 pilots qualified to fly into one of the world’s happiest countries, the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan.

The airport sits in the beautiful, pristine Punakha Valley and was originally built as an airstrip for the Indian Armed Forces until Bhutan formed its own airline, Drukair, in 1981.

The runway is only 3,900ft, meaning only smaller planes can be accommodated. And it is around 30 miles from the capital Thimphu, reached by travelling along glacial rivers, through tiny villages and past 16th and 17th century dzongs, which are fortified monasteries.