Asia

Bhutan

Czech Republic

India

El Salvador

Hi there, Travellers,
There's a lot going on in the world that might make you hesitant to travel right now, or, at the very least, rethink your plans.
Fares have jumped on long-haul routes, US airports are battling huge security lines, European airports are still learning how to navigate&nbsp;<a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/will-the-new-ees-system-give-you-border-control-nightmares-this-summer">new EES protocols</a>, and the UK is hiking up its <a href="https://www.euronews.com/travel/2026/03/23/flying-from-the-uk-is-about-to-get-more-expensive-particularly-if-youre-travelling-long-ha">Air Passenger Duty</a>. Oh, and the airspace around the major hubs en route to Asia is an active war zone.&nbsp;
Yes, it's all a bit chaotic.&nbsp;But never fear; I'm here to remind you that travel brings us together, opens our minds, and broadens our horizons.
For those of you gagging to get away now more than ever, our flight ninja Navigators are still digging up gold every day. But if you'd rather stay closer to home and live vicariously through the Jack's Community, just keep reading&hellip;
Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

"I am looking to go to Bhutan next year after many delays have meant I have had to postpone. Do you have recommendations for tours as they are getting busier and busier? Thank you!" - Michelle, Jack's Traveler

With journeys spanning more than 30 countries and ten years, Akasha's best memories live in the pages of her passport. She always consults her tarot (and her cats) before any big trip. Currently based in Ireland, when she isn't travelling, she&rsquo;s probably drawing in a caf&eacute; somewhere.

Answered by Akasha

What a great question, Michelle! Bhutan is a firm must-see for so many adventurous travelers, so we're delighted that you're able to get planning despite those setbacks.
For those of you who don&rsquo;t know, the Himalayan kingdom is home to the iconic cliff-hugging <a href="https://www.earthtrekkers.com/ultimate-guide-hiking-tigers-nest-bhutan/">Tiger&rsquo;s Nest monastery</a> and is almost as elusive as its resident, the snow leopard.
Its terraced rice paddies, <a href="https://followalice.com/adventure-trips/discover-bhutan/posts/the-3-national-parks-in-bhutan-every-foreigner-should-visit">lush valleys</a>, and iconic Buddhist sites mostly remain inaccessible to travelers due to a lack of flight options and the idea that it's simply unaffordable to reach.&nbsp;

Photo from Jack's Traveler Karen in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/1049373075418553/">Facebook Community</a>
In fact, the country only started welcoming international tourism in 1974, with a mere 274 people visiting that year. Compare that to 209,376 tourists in 2025&mdash;wow!&nbsp;
We won&rsquo;t fib; the mandatory guide requirement and daily sustainable development fee (more on that later) don&rsquo;t exactly make this the cheapest or most flexible of trips. But with a bit of planning, it&rsquo;s no pricier than visiting other expensive destinations or places with similar sustainable practices, like the Galapagos.&nbsp;
One of Bhutan's <a href="https://jswlaw.bt/understanding-the-four-pillars-of-gnh/#:~:text=Bhutan's%20Gross%20National%20Happiness%20framework,cultural%20preservation%2C%20and%20environmental%20conservation.">4 pillars of GNH</a> (Gross National Happiness), the <a href="https://www.visitbhutan.com/page.php?id=68">Sustainable Development Fee</a>&nbsp;is meant to promote high-value tourism with a commitment to carbon neutrality and cultural preservation. Simply put, your money directly supports free healthcare and education for its citizens and environmental conservation.
Thanks to a COVID-era discount, the fee currently stands at $100 per night, paid before your travel permit is issued. If you&rsquo;re planning a trip for next year, note that the cost is jumping back up to $200 a night after August 31st, 2027. Keep in mind, this payment does not cover accommodation, food, or guide fees, although some agencies include it as part of their package.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve done a bit of digging in our community Facebook group and the deep recesses of the internet to find out which tour agencies come most recommended. Here's what the people are saying...

Photo from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shuotography/?hl=en">Jack's Traveler Shuo</a> in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10164439411700171&amp;set=gm.1229229984099527">Facebook Community</a>
<h3 dir="ltr">Excursion to Himalaya</h3>
Excursion to Himalaya&rsquo;s team consists of licensed guides, drivers, and local staff who know their country like the back of their hand. Tours last anywhere from 7 to 14 days,&nbsp;<a href="https://excursiontohimalaya.com/bhutan/">depending on the itinerary</a>.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ll find iconic cultural and festival tours on offer as well as trekking tours and even bespoke tours for luxury travelers. Their <a href="https://excursiontohimalaya.com/tour/7-days-bhutan-tour-package/">7-day private tour</a> costs $1840 for solo travelers, $1540 per person in a group of 2, and 3+ persons pay $1420 each. Costs include entire room and board and the SDF fee.
<h3 dir="ltr" id="thunder-dragon-tours">Thunder Dragon Tours</h3>
This tour agency wasn&rsquo;t recommended by our members, but a handful of Reddit threads like <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/1r6w4vs/trip_report_8_days_in_bhutan_in_february/">this one</a> sing their praises for both affordability and flexibility.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.thunderdragontours.com/pages">Their website</a> offers a few examples of popular itineraries, but like many smaller tour companies, they&rsquo;ll only quote a price upon inquiry.&nbsp;
I reached out to their coordinator, Biswa, to find out more: 
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Our small team has been in business since 2019 and offers guided tours with customized itineraries. While we cater to all types of travelers, we specialize in solo travelers, female travelers, and senior citizens. Since all of the tours are customized according to preference, we don&rsquo;t have a fixed cost as it depends on the number of individuals and the type of accommodation and activities they&rsquo;d prefer.&rdquo; 
</blockquote>
When pressed a bit more, I asked if they could use their 7-day tour without modifications as a base for pricing. They told me they charge $150 per day for solo travelers ($100 each for groups of 2, $80 for 3-4). This includes accommodation in 3-star hotels and homestays, breakfast each day, all transport (including pickup), immigration assistance, and the guide&rsquo;s food and lodging. It doesn't, however, include lunch or dinner, as they emphasized flexibility for their guests in choosing their meal locations. It also doesn&rsquo;t include the SDF fee (an additional $100 per day) or entry fees to attractions. 
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t include entry fees as we try to give the flexibility for the guest to change places in the itinerary last minute or to add new places along the way,&rdquo;&nbsp;wrote Biswa.&nbsp;
</blockquote>
A rough estimate including the daily SDF fee and a budget of $30 per day for food and $100 for all attractions brings the total to $1960 for a solo traveler, $1610 per person for two, and $1470 for a group of 3-4.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Luxury Holiday Nepal </h3>
This tour company came recommended by member Kristen:&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We went in 2022 with a tour company called <a href="https://luxuryholidaynepal.com/">Luxury Holidays Nepal</a> and were very happy with them. One of the things that we appreciated with this tour company is that they negotiated with the Bhutanese officials to respect the rate that the tourist tax was at the time we booked it.&nbsp;
We bought the package when the (SDF) rate was $60 per day, and post-pandemic it jumped up to $200 per day, which would've been a significant expense had our tour operator not gotten them to accept the original rate.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Many of their group tours include excellent options for trekking and camping among a broader itinerary. You&rsquo;ve also got the option to start your tour in Nepal and end in Bhutan or to choose a more typical itinerary, such as Bhutan&rsquo;s Golden Triangle. 
For&nbsp;<a href="https://luxuryholidaynepal.com/majestic-bhutan-a-seven-day-bhutan-tour#package-options">a 7-day tour</a>, prices start at $1899 for solo travelers, $1399 per person for 2, or $1325 for a group of 3-5. This includes the SDF fee as well as full room and board. Keep in mind that since this is a group tour, you&rsquo;ll be joining an average group size of 15-20 people.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr" id="bhutan-green-travel">Bhutan Green Travel&nbsp;</h3>
At the Destinations Holiday &amp; Travel Show in Manchester, I just so happened to meet the BGT team in person. They welcomed me into their booth and handed me a very detailed brochure of over 34 <a href="https://www.bhutangreentravel.com/itinerary-types/">different itineraries</a>, including festivals, cultural tours, trekking, birdwatching, and photography. 
They&rsquo;ve been in business since 2011 and cater to both independent and group travelers. While many of their dates are fixed, they&rsquo;re still happy to craft bespoke travel packages.&nbsp;
Prices vary between low and high season. A 7-day tour in high season costs $2770 for solo travelers (single supplement applies starting at $50/night) $2540 per person for two, or $2130 for 3-6 people. This includes all room and board, transport, and excursions, as well as the SDF fee.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Exodus</h3>
A firm favorite among our community, Exodus is well-known in the travel industry for their immersive, small-group tours that work with <a href="https://www.exodus.co.uk/leader-awards-2025">a network of expert local guides</a>.&nbsp;
With a &ldquo;nature first&rdquo; ethos and B Corp stamp of approval, it&rsquo;s clear that <a href="https://www.exodus.co.uk/destinations/asia-holidays/bhutan-holidays">their tours in Bhutan</a> are a great choice for ethically conscious travelers. They offer a mix of festival-focused tours, including colorful <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrAzM9wZmoo">Thimphu Tsechu</a> (October) and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKov17GDFQo">Paro Tshechu</a> (March), as well as traditional itineraries outside the busy festival season. Their shortest group tours to Bhutan are 10 days, with prices depending on activities. <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/breaking-down-bhutan-how-to-find-the-best-tours">Keep reading for more info on tours, how to get there &amp; when to visit...</a>

Reader's Corner

Once again, we're sharing some of our fave, most inspiring Postcards you have sent in this month. From the glistening blue Indian Ocean to sparkling city lights, you all really know how to travel.&nbsp;

A cheeky spa weekend in Prague. The savings on spa and massage even covered the cost of the flight &amp; hotel!

Postcard from NomadicDiscoverer23028

Not as isolated as you&rsquo;d expect but the Andaman Islands have some of the most stunning beaches and some absolutely amazing scuba opportunities on what is a fragile yet beautiful tropical island paradise.

Postcard from Nadim

El Salvador is a great country. Amazing food and people.

Postcard from DaringCosmopolitan88259

Head over to our Postcards wall to check out where the Jack's Community has been recently, or add your own Postcard or Travel Story to share your travel memories with the crew :-)

Tales from the Road

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel chatter from around the Jack's Community this month.
<ul>
<li>We've been <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DV8PWGIDJQR/?img_index=7">comparing passport stamps</a>. Where's your favorite from? (Instagram) </li>
<li>From crypts to castles and cloisters, Traveler Katy has been gathering some <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2758021577887019/">top Neapolitan tips</a> over in our Facebook Community. (Facebook) </li>
<li>It turns out, there's more to Barcelona than just Gaud&iacute;, seafood, and the seaside. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jacksflightclub/video/7612611676994637088?utm_campaign=tt4d_open_api&amp;utm_source=7055758955263295490">Skiing, anyone?</a> (TikTok) </li>
<li>The camper van crew showed up with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2751812515174592/">all their tips</a> to help Traveller Margaret plan an epic New Zealand trip. (Facebook) </li>
<li>Take a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWQyHB9DQ7_/?hl=en">volcanic sunrise hike</a> with Navigator Drew. (Instagram) </li>
<li>Mosquitoes&mdash;we've all got <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/detour-228-scotland-by-public-transport-the-creme-de-la-creme-of-cable-cars#comments">our own tricks for warding them off</a>, it seems! (Jack's Members Lounge) </li>
<li>We <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/2753016238387553/">swapped planes for cable cars</a> earlier in the month, with stunning pics pouring in from all over the world. (Facebook) </li>
<li>And finally, if you liked Jack's member Shuo's pics from Bhutan, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWWvPCOgFnw/?hl=en">this breathtaking compilation</a> from his recent trips&mdash;two of which he found through Jack's! Just sayin'... (Instagram)</li>
</ul>

Community News

Touring in Brilliant Bhutan & the March Community Buzz

Photo from Jack's Traveler Karen in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/1049373075418553/">Facebook Community</a>
In fact, the country only started welcoming international tourism in 1974, with a mere 274 people visiting that year. Compare that to 209,376 tourists in 2025&mdash;wow!&nbsp;
We won&rsquo;t fib; the mandatory guide requirement and daily sustainable development fee (more on that later) don&rsquo;t exactly make this the cheapest or most flexible of trips. But with a bit of planning, it&rsquo;s no pricier than visiting other expensive destinations or places with similar sustainable practices, like the Galapagos.&nbsp;
One of Bhutan's <a href="https://jswlaw.bt/understanding-the-four-pillars-of-gnh/#:~:text=Bhutan's%20Gross%20National%20Happiness%20framework,cultural%20preservation%2C%20and%20environmental%20conservation.">4 pillars of GNH</a> (Gross National Happiness), the <a href="https://www.visitbhutan.com/page.php?id=68">Sustainable Development Fee</a>&nbsp;is meant to promote high-value tourism with a commitment to carbon neutrality and cultural preservation. Simply put, your money directly supports free healthcare and education for its citizens and environmental conservation.
Thanks to a COVID-era discount, the fee currently stands at $100 per night, paid before your travel permit is issued. If you&rsquo;re planning a trip for next year, note that the cost is jumping back up to $200 a night after August 31st, 2027. Keep in mind, this payment does not cover accommodation, food, or guide fees, although some agencies include it as part of their package.&nbsp;

All travelers except those from SAARC countries need a visa to enter Bhutan, which you <a href="https://immi.gov.bt/">must apply for before your trip</a>. It costs $40 and is non-refundable.

Know before you go

I&rsquo;ve done a bit of digging in our community Facebook group and the deep recesses of the internet to find out which tour agencies come most recommended. Here's what the people are saying...

<h3 dir="ltr">Exodus</h3>
A firm favorite among our community, Exodus is well-known in the travel industry for their immersive, small group tours that work with <a href="https://www.exodus.co.uk/leader-awards-2025">a network of expert local guides</a>.&nbsp;
With a &ldquo;nature first&rdquo; ethos and B Corp stamp of approval, it&rsquo;s clear that <a href="https://www.exodus.co.uk/destinations/asia-holidays/bhutan-holidays">their tours in Bhutan</a> are a great choice for ethically conscious travelers. They offer a mix of festival-focused tours, including colorful <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrAzM9wZmoo">Thimphu Tsechu</a> (October) and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKov17GDFQo">Paro</a> (March), as well as traditional itineraries outside the busy festival season. Their shortest group tours to Bhutan are 10 days, with prices depending on activities.&nbsp;
Starting at $8325 (for solo travelers) for 11 days, their tours aren&rsquo;t exactly cheap. This is the lowest price we could find and includes the SDF tax, 3-star accommodations, listed activities, transportation, food, and a visa.&nbsp;Single room supplements are an extra $1170.

For even more suggestions, have a look at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BhutanTravels/comments/1r8r80i/bhutan_agencies_price_comparison/">this Reddit thread</a> with a detailed price analysis of smaller tour companies in Bhutan.&nbsp;

Photo from Jack's Traveler Karen in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub/permalink/1049373075418553/">our Facebook Community</a>
<h2 dir="ltr" id="getting-there">Getting There</h2>
There are only two options to enter the Land of the Thunder Dragon: flying in or crossing a land border. Paro is the country&rsquo;s sole international hub and just so happens to be one of the most beautiful <a href="https://members.jacksflightclub.com/articles/5-airports-you-never-want-to-land-at#:~:text=Paro%20Airport%2C%20Bhutan">(and thrilling</a>) airport landings in the world.&nbsp;
By Air: Only Drukair (the state-owned airline) and Bhutan Airlines (a private carrier) operate flights to and from Paro. For the most cost-effective route, consider flying from regional Indian cities, Nepal, or Thailand. Fares typically fluctuate between $300 and $600 round trip.
The following cities all offer flights to Paro: Bangkok, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Singapore, New Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bagdogra, and Dubai.&nbsp;
Bhutan also has three domestic airports linked to Paro (Bumthang, Gelephu, and Yonphulu), and depending on your itinerary, you might pass through them. Most tour groups include the cost of a regional flight in their prices, but it&rsquo;s always worth double-checking.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Overland: While the country shares 16 borders with India, tourists can only enter Bhutan through two land borders: one in the west at Phuntsholing and the other in the East at Samdrup Jongkhar. If you&rsquo;re planning a combined tour of Bhutan and India, traveling overland is a great way to tie your journey together.
<h2 id="when-to-visit">When to Visit</h2>
It&rsquo;s totally possible to travel to Bhutan year-round, but the weather is most favorable from March to May and September to November.
<a href="https://www.pettitts.co.uk/guides/bhutan-festivals">Lots of festivals</a> take place during these periods, and flights, hotels and tours can sell out pretty quickly, so we'd recommend booking well in advance.
 Hopefully this helps you wade through the options, Michelle. Regardless of which company you choose, here are a few questions to ask before you book.
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Is this a group or private tour?&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Is there a single-room supplement?&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How many meals are provided?&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Is the SDF fee included or separate in the quoted price?&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">What category of hotels are used? Can I see the names of hotels in the itinerary?</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Can I customize the itinerary to add hikes, festivals, or more time in specific areas?</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">What is your refund policy if my trip is cancelled due to travel restrictions or emergencies?</li>
</ul>
Keep us posted about your trip, and of course we&rsquo;d be delighted to hear all about it in our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/jacksflightclub">Facebook Community</a>&mdash;we can&rsquo;t get enough of Bhutan&rsquo;s prayer flags and peaks!

Breaking down Bhutan: How to find the best tours

Lesotho

Nepal

Norway

Saba

We might roll our eyes when people clap on a plane, but sometimes it&rsquo;s well-deserved.
We&rsquo;re not just talking about <a href="https://youtu.be/Z7JKt0jwuXc?t=10">a bumpy landing at Heathrow</a>. We&rsquo;re talking about the airports out there that give a good roller coaster a run for its money.&nbsp;
Whether it&rsquo;s because of wild terrain, crazy weather, or just the way they&rsquo;re built, these airfields have become notorious for serving up some of the toughest challenges a pilot could encounter.
<h2>Matekane Airstrip, Lesotho</h2>
When it comes to taking off, Matekane Airstrip is a genuine hair-raiser.
Things start out looking pretty normal as your plane picks up speed on the ground. It&rsquo;s only when you reach the end of the 1600 ft long grass strip that you&rsquo;ll notice something weird.
You know that feeling you get in your stomach when you&rsquo;re on a rollercoaster?
Yep. You&rsquo;re free falling.&nbsp;
 <img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/e672a4774cc225b3011a6f113e3579ad4dff7790" alt="Matekane Airstrip" width="512" height="341">
Matekane Airstrip&rsquo;s short runway ends abruptly at the top of a 1900 ft-tall cliff, leading to a very thin margin-of-error for taking off and landing.&nbsp;
It means that most planes start free falling before they&rsquo;ve even generated the lift required to actually start flying.&nbsp;
Hold onto your seat and pray that your pilot isn&rsquo;t fresh out of flight school.&nbsp;
<h3>Why You Would Fly There</h3>
The strip is found in the heartlands of Lesotho, a small country <a href="https://www.worldatlas.com/enclaves/countries-that-are-enclaves.html">completely enclaved</a> by its only neighbour, South Africa.&nbsp;
Lesotho is mostly rural, and because its transport infrastructure is underdeveloped, people need to use small planes to get around.&nbsp;
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kUfbCA-xyws?start=60" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Typically, you&rsquo;d be a doctor or someone from an aid organisation using the airstrip to reach communities that would be otherwise inaccessible. Hopefully they also don&rsquo;t mind a bit of a rush!
<h2>Paro Airport, Bhutan</h2>
You&rsquo;ve done your research on Bhutan. You&rsquo;ve arranged the visa, tour operator and hotel stay required to even be allowed in. But that&rsquo;s not the most difficult part.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The most difficult part is&hellip;actually getting there.
Paro, Bhutan&rsquo;s only international airport, sits over 7300 ft above sea level. Complicating things further is the fact that you are literally in the Himalayas.
This means that pilots dance around several 18,000 ft peaks to simply find the runway - with less than 30 seconds to then stick the landing!
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SbLHah4XUwk?start=591" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
At one point, you&rsquo;ll be so close to the locals&rsquo; houses (the pilots use them as reference points) that you could practically wave to them - very briefly.
This landing is so difficult that, at any given time, there are only eight to twelve people qualified to even attempt it!&nbsp;
<h3>Why You Would Fly There</h3>
Don&rsquo;t let us put you off visiting Bhutan! The <a href="https://www.oneworldeducation.org/our-students-writing/bhutan-the-worlds-happiest-country/#:~:text=Bhutan%20has%20continually%20been%20ranked,their%20environment%20and%20cultural%20identity.">happiest country in the world</a> is famous for its uniquely Buddhist culture, complete with <a href="https://www.tribes.co.uk/blog/bhutan-thimphus-tshechu/">colourful festivals</a> and temples all over the place.&nbsp;
The most breathtaking of these is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esddmLk4feI&amp;t=276s">cliffside Tiger&rsquo;s Nest</a>, though you do have to climb up about 10,000 ft to reach it. Guess the Bhutanese happen to be fans of heights&hellip;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/0e989108246b4d05711f9f623fc27c1cb94161f0">
<h2>Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Nepal</h2>
Most people know Mount Everest is only for real pros. What they don&rsquo;t know is that the danger starts before you even get there.
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, initially built to serve the small Nepalese town of Lukla, is now infamous for being one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/b1b398f7b225c2adc11402e8c992e4771de28a86">
In 2008, a plane trying to land here got caught on the runway and crashed. Out of the 19 people on board, only the pilot survived - Tenzing-Hillary&rsquo;s worst disaster so far.
So, what makes a safe landing so difficult?&nbsp; Well, the airport has a one-way airstrip, with a cliff on one side and a mountain on the other, making a go-around impossible.
Tenzing-Hillary is also notorious for losing power to its navigation equipment, meaning that pilots often have to rely on looking out the front window when attempting a landing.
That&rsquo;s easier said than done in the Himalayas, as the weather can change at the drop of a hat. In fact, more than 50% of flights get cancelled because of bad weather!
<h3>Why You Would Fly There</h3>
Despite its reputation, Tenzing-Hillary still sees plenty of hikers landing here on their way to Everest&rsquo;s base camp. If you ever fancy conquering the world&rsquo;s tallest mountain, chances are you&rsquo;re heading here.&nbsp;
The good news is that there&rsquo;s a dedicated tea station in the departure lounge. <a href="https://www.letsdrinktea.com/types-of-tea/black-tea/nepal-black-tea/">Nepalese tea</a> is delicious, apparently :-)
<h2>Svalbard Airport, Norway</h2>
Landing in Svalbard will make your blood run cold - literally, in this case - as you&rsquo;ll be deep inside the Arctic Circle at the world&rsquo;s northernmost public airport.&nbsp;
It gets so cold there that the airport designers had to factor this in during construction. The only solution was to build the main runway on permafrost, with further insulation against the ground below.&nbsp;
This leaves the airport permanently frozen - even throughout the summer - so that the yearly melting of the ice won&rsquo;t wreak havoc with the tarmac layer&rsquo;s structural integrity.
That said, this presents an extra challenge for pilots as an icy runway can be very slippery. Definitely can&rsquo;t afford a slip up here, though.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CvBKs8ts7i0?start=586" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
If that wasn&rsquo;t enough, being so far north means that there are also wild variations in day length, from the so-called &lsquo;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S59sYxX-tCc">midnight sun</a>&rsquo; of the summer to the permanent darkness of the winter.
Imagine trying to land here in pitch black conditions with nothing but your instruments to guide you&hellip; let&rsquo;s just say it&rsquo;s gonna take a cool head.
<h3>Why You Would Fly There</h3>
The Svalbard Archipelago is owned by the Kingdom of Norway, which has traditionally used it for mining and fishing purposes.&nbsp;
These days, Svalbard is often visited by researchers and tourists eager to discover the <a href="https://cruise-handbook.npolar.no/en/svalbard/wildlife.html#:~:text=This%20includes%20polar%20bears%2C%20walruses,favourable%20around%20Svalbard%20%E2%80%93%20in%20summer.">wildlife </a>and the <a href="https://www.earthtrekkers.com/svalbard-travel-guide-itinerary/">local landscape</a>. Many consider it one of the last untouched places on Earth.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/7144edc84d7e3cb5f9ad3b15fb08516d4cb6f5fe">
Plus, the town of Longyearbyen is home to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_OEsf-1qgY">Global Seed Vault</a>, an emergency backup deposit of all the world&rsquo;s grain seeds. You know, in case of a global apocalypse. Good to know someone is worried about this stuff!&nbsp;
<h2>Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean</h2>
When you land at Saba, &ldquo;X&rdquo; definitely does not mark the spot, unless you want to end up on the cliffs below.
<img src="https://cdn.jacksflightclub.com/id/6df6bb094b8ab2d1028d7db0a00bd44ee3064f91">
With a runway only 1300 ft long, Saba has the world&rsquo;s smallest commercial airport. For comparison, a standard runway is usually anywhere from 8,000 to 13,000 ft long!&nbsp;
Only specially trained pilots are allowed to fly here, as the final descent requires them to line the plane up perfectly.&nbsp;
The island&rsquo;s volcano complicates this even further by forcing pilots to take a sharp turn just before landing - not the easiest thing to do when facing tough Caribbean crosswinds.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LwgCuaedyfc?start=153" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h3>Why You Would Fly There</h3>
Saba Island is known as &lsquo;the unspoiled Queen&rsquo; of the Caribbean because of its pristine natural <a href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/attractions-and-activities-on-saba-1488582">beauty.</a>&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s becoming especially popular for ecotourism, with plenty of scuba diving, climbing and hiking options on offer. The volcano, named Mount Scenery, is actually the tallest peak in the whole Kingdom of the Netherlands!
Traditionalists can take a ferry there, but we would (obviously) prefer flying. Both leave from the island of Sint Maarten, whose airport also almost made this list (<a href="https://youtu.be/bMIgcHbqTZY?t=9">for one fairly obvious reason</a>).

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