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Paro International Airport
Paro, Bhutan
Paro International Airport
One of the world's most challenging and scenic airport approaches.
- ›Only specially certified pilots with specific training are authorized to land at Paro due to its extreme terrain.
- ›It is one of the highest-elevation commercial airports in the world at approximately 7,332 feet above sea level.
- ›The airport can only operate under visual flight rules (VFR), meaning operations cease in poor visibility or at night.
- ›It is the sole international airport in Bhutan and handles the country's entire international air traffic.
- ›The surrounding Himalayan peaks, some exceeding 18,000 feet, create one of the world's most challenging approach corridors.
Paro International Airport is Bhutan's only international airport, nestled in a narrow valley at an elevation of approximately 2,235 metres above sea level, surrounded by steep forested mountains and the Paro River. Opened in 1968 and upgraded over subsequent decades, it is renowned as one of the most technically challenging airports in the world, requiring specially certified pilots to execute steep curved approaches between mountain ridges. It serves as the primary gateway to the Kingdom of Bhutan, handling both international and domestic flights through its single runway.
- Main Terminal — A single integrated terminal building combining traditional Bhutanese dzong architecture with modern facilities, handling all arrivals, departures, and transit passengers.
- Taxi services from the airport to Paro town and Thimphu city centre
- Pre-arranged hotel transfers organised through licensed Bhutanese tour operators
- Car rental with driver available through registered local agencies
- Shared minibus transfers to Thimphu coordinated by tour operators
- Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel, Paro
- Uma by COMO, Paro
- Tiger's Nest Resort, Paro
- Tashi Namgay Resort, Paro
- Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront
Inside the terminal, dining options are limited to a small café and a basic restaurant serving Bhutanese staples such as ema datshi and momos alongside simple international dishes. Paro town, just a few kilometres from the airport, offers a modest selection of restaurants and teahouses where travellers can sample authentic local cuisine. Most visitors dining near the airport do so through their licensed tour operator, as independent travel in Bhutan requires a pre-arranged itinerary.
- Only Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines are certified to operate into Paro due to its extreme approach requirements — check available flight options well in advance.
- All international visitors to Bhutan must hold a valid visa arranged through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator before arrival — independent tourist visas are not issued on arrival.
- The airport can close unexpectedly due to low cloud cover, fog, or mountain wind conditions, so build flexibility into your travel plans.
- Currency exchange and ATMs are available inside the terminal, but carry some Indian Rupees or US Dollars as backup as Ngultrum is not widely exchanged outside Bhutan.
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Paro International Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports in Bhutan. It is 6 kilometres from Paro in a deep valley on the bank of the river Paro Chhu. With surrounding peaks as high as 5,500 metres (18,000 ft), it is considered one of the world's most challenging airports, and only a very small number of pilots are certified to land at the airport.
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