Paro Airport in Bhutan is 1.5 miles above sea level and surrounded by sharp peaks of up to 18,000 feet tall.
So treacherous is the landing that only eight pilots in the world are qualified to land there. Until July 2011, just one airline, Druk Air, was allowed to use the facility.
The runway is just 6,500 feet long – one of the few in the world shorter than their elevation above sea level.
Planes have to weave through the dozens of houses that are scattered across the mountainside – coming within feet of clipping the roofs.
Strong winds whip through the valleys, often resulting in severe turbulence. Passengers who have been on flights to the airport have described the landing as ‘terrifying’.
Boeing has said that Paro airport is ‘one of the world’s most difficult for take offs and landings’.
Flights are only allowed during the daytime and under visual meteorological conditions – strict light allowances in which the pilot must make his judgements by eye rather than rely on instruments as is the case in nighttime flights.
Despite the perilous conditions, the views over the clear blue waters over the Paro river and the lush green foliage of the Himalayas are breathtaking.
An estimated 30,000 tourists use the airport each year, often for holidays in Bhutan. Yongphulla Airport in Trashigang District is the only other airstrip in the country, which is yet undergoing re-construction.
Buddha Air is the only international airline to use the airport. Anybody flying to Paro must first land in neighbouring countries then catch a connecting flight.
Paro Airport in Bhutan might look beautiful but it is one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
The approach to Paro is unbelievably complicated. It is flown visually through a valley with high mountains all around and no sight of the airport until the last moment..
Approach to runway 15, marked in red, is worse in this regard..
The approach to runway 33, marked in blue, allows a bit more of a straight final, but not by much. In either case the aircraft must emerge from the turn with correct altitude, speed and rate of descent. So the pilot has to know landmarks in the valley and how to judge correct approach profile by them. The approaches also often involve turning around higher in the valleys which again must be done by landmarks at places where it is known to be possible. It is this knowledge pilots have to demonstrate before they can attempt the approach. Pilots have to receive special training to be permitted to fly there .. and only 8 pilots in the world are qualified to get permitted.
Trekking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan (Paro Taktsang in Bhutanese Dzongkha), which sits literally on the edge of a cliff. The hike takes about 3 – 4 hours or so.
The trail, although steep, isn’t really dangerous in any parts, as long as you keep your eye on the trail and don’t try to get too close to the edge. At the top of Tiger’s Nest Monastery they don’t allow any photography, so you have to check in your bag. We walked around the monastery for a little while, ate some snacks, and then headed down.
Despite Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan being one of the most famous attractions and icons of Bhutan, it really is spectacular.
Round-Trip Taxi from Paro to Tiger’s Nest – 1,400 BTN ($20.99) It’s typically recommended that you visit Tiger’s Nest at the end of your trip to Bhutan so that you acclimatize better to the elevation.
Gangtey Palace Hotel – After returning from Tiger’s Nest, we checked into the classic Gangtey Palace Hotel for our final night in Bhutan!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to http://food.mybhutan.com to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
Newcastle upon Tyne
is a city known mainly for its industrial heritage, delicious brown ale,
vibrant nightlife, and distinct ‘Geordie’ dialect. To us, it’s certainly one of
the highlights of the North of England but why should you put in on your bucket
list? We’ve put together a list of facts to convince you to visit our
wonderful, colourful corner of the UK, close to your perfect accommodation in
Newcastle, PREMIER SUITES.
[1] FIRST SWING BRIDGE
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist tilt bridge spanning the River Tyne in England between Gateshead’s Quays arts quarter on the south bank, and the Quayside of Newcastle upon Tyne on the north bank. Opened for public use in 2001, the award-winning structure was conceived and designed by architect Wilkinson Eyre and structural engineer Gifford. The bridge is sometimes referred to as the ‘Blinking Eye Bridge’ or the ‘Winking Eye Bridge’ due to its shape and its tilting method. In terms of height, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge is slightly shorter than the neighbouring Tyne Bridge and stands as the sixteenth tallest structure in the city.
Did you know the
Millennium Bridge was the world’s first swing bridge? The bridge is fondly
nicknamed the blinking eye bridge due to the shape. The city actually has 7
bridges across half a mile of the River Tyne.
In 2016, the
beautiful Angel of the North Statue was decreed an official English Icon by the
Government. It was built in 1998 by sculptor Anthony Gormley to commemorate the
two centuries of coal mining in Newcastle and as a symbol of our hopes and
fears.
[3] WALL OF DEFENSE
Hadrian’s Wall (Newcastle upon Tyne) – 2019 All You Need to Know Before You Go (with Photos) – Newcastle upon Tyne, England | TripAdvisor
Hadrian’s Wall, which
was built on the orders of the Roman Emperor of the same name, was once a
defensive fortification dotted with Forts and spanning a huge 73 miles. It is
one of the largest Roman Artefacts still standing today and has earned its
badge as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the walls are still visible in
Newcastle.
[4] SPORT STADIUM
St. James ParkFootball stadium, Newcastle
St James Park, home of the Premier League club Newcastle United F.C. is one of the oldest football stadiums in the UK and has a capacity of over 52,000 people.
[5] TALENTS
IC : http://www.antanddec.com
Some of the world’s
best comedians, singers and presenters hail from Newcastle. Among those are a
renowned comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson (aka. Mr. Bean), former Girls Aloud
singer turned reality TV judge Cheryl Cole and award-winning presenting duo Ant
and Dec.
[6] CLIMATE LOVE
Newcastle Gateshead Quayside in Winter
It may not sound very
attractive, but Newcastle is known as the coldest city in the UK! Luckily due to
our geographical position and being in the rain shadow of the North Pennines,
we are also the driest with less rainfall than anywhere in the UK.
[7] GEORDIES
Locals are called
Geordies because the city was the only one in the North East that supported
George II during the rebellion of 1745.
[8] FRIENDLY ACCENT
Friendly- Source Video blocks
The Geordie accent
that we are so famous for has been voted one of the friendliest in Britain.
[9] PARK
Source-Right Move
Newcastle Town Manor, located in the city just 20-minutes’ walk from PREMIER SUITES, high-quality serviced apartments in Newcastle, is larger than most of the parks in London, including Hyde Park (363 acres) and Hampstead Heath (790 acres).
[10] ROLLING
RESIDENTS
Windscreen viper
The windscreen wiper
was invented in Newcastle, proving we have some very innovative residents!
[11] GINGER WHAT?
Dress Fashion Red Hair Ginger Woman Female
The North East has
the greatest variety of ginger hair in the world with over 47 shades in the
Tyne area.
[12] E-LIT STREET
by LVNWtransFoto Mosley Street Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Mosley Street was the
first street in the world to be illuminated by electric light.
[13] UP FOR SHOPPING
The largest shopping complex in Great Britain. The MetroCentre in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, England. IC: Article by Newcastle Chronicle
The Metro Centre, a
short drive from your accommodation in Newcastle, is one of Europe’s top 10
largest shopping malls and has a fantastic variety of shops and outlets.
Newcastle University
is officially one of the best universities in the world, ranking in the top 1%
according to QS World rankings, it’s also said to have the best student
nightlife in the UK.
Newcastle also has
some of the best food in the world (we may be biased about this one!). The
energy drink Lucozade was invented in Newcastle. The beloved Cadbury chocolate
bar, Wispa was launched here and Gosforth was home to the first-ever Greggs
Bakery in 1983.
>>>
Accommodation in the United Kingdom can be hit and miss with many properties promising a lot but delivering little. If you are looking for a serviced apartment in Newcastle that offers great value for money, enough space to comfortably house a family and a perfect central location then look no further than PREMIER SUITES Newcastle. Contact our friendly reservations team today to check availability and remember to book directly for access to our exclusive special offers.
AUTHOR BIO:
Katie McGarr is a daytime writer for PREMIER SUITES Newcastle, an exemplary traditional hotel alternative offering bright and spacious serviced apartments for locals and travellers. Travel and lifestyle make up a big portion of what she mostly writes about. For her, the beauty of this world is worth-sharing and appreciating.
1 Bora Bora: This place is at the top of my list. I would never miss a chance to visit this . It is the island in the French Polynesia having a beautiful turquoise color water and an overwater bunglows . Also this place is best if you are planning for honeymoon.
2. Inca trail trek: Located in South America , Inca trail is the most difficult hiking destination in the world. It is trek in Peru and terminates at Machu Picchu.
3. Alberta: It is the most impressive scenic beauty in Canada which attracts millions of tourist . The glaciers and turquoise lake has its own incredible beauty.
4. Pitvice lake national park: Located in the continent of Europe , it is considered one of the best places around the world. This park is known for 16 terraced joined for waterfalls. It has blend of oak forests, Meadows and limestone rocks makes it the best spot for photography.
5. Paris: The largest city in the France, has the best tower in the world the Eiffel Tower. Wanted to be at the top of the Eiffel tower at night and want to view the citylights of Paris.
6. Iguazu Falls: Separating the border of Argentina and Brazil, it has the incredibly beautiful waterfall and want to hear the noise of that. The falls lie split between Brazil and Argentina in a large expanse of national park, much of it rain-forest teeming with unique flora and fauna.
7. Bali : An island in the Indonesia is the relaxing and beautiful. And also is budget friendly. It is known forvolcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies and coral reef. Ulwatu temple is the best place in Bali.
8. Gardens by the bay in Singapore: Best tourist attraction in Singapore. There are 18 trees in the garden and 12 of them are clustered and named as super trees groove.
9. Valley of flowers: Located in Uttarakhand , India it has thousands of varieties of flowers and known for its Meadows and Alpine flowers and varieties of Flora.
10. Cape Town: A place in South Africa, which is crowned by the table mountain national park. From the national park there is a complete view of the city which is magnificent to see.
So, what are your top ten places you want to travel to and why?
Isha Arora, studies at LDRP Institute of Technology (2020)
