OUR DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR TANDEM FLIGHTS
FREE AEROBATICS AND MANOEUVERING TASTER*
*available in Discovery, Thermal, Prestige and Majestic flights only, weather conditions permitting.
KID’S FLIGHT (< 12 years old)
10-15 min
80
Even the young ones will leave with stars in their eyes !
They loved their paragliding experience with Bauges Parapente!
What to expect from a tandem flight ?
Your adventure begins at the landing spot, our meeting point (except at the Semnoz, where we will meet directly at the launch). We will then take our shuttle to reach the launch. Once there, your instructor will explain the launch process in detail and will provide you with a helmet and a harness, the seat used in paragliding. Once securely attached, your pilot will get ready and prepare the wing for take off.
After attaching yourselves together and to the wing, your instructor will give you a few last instructions based on the wind conditions and he will position the paraglider above both of your heads. After a short 10 to 20 meters run, you will feel held up by the paraglider and gently glide into the air in front of you. At no point will you feel a jumping or falling sensation.
You will be seated like in a suspended chair, enjoying the breathtaking views all around you. Depending on the type of flight you selected, we may gain altitude by using thermals. If so, you will discover a 360-degree panorama of the mountains and vast lakes of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, such as Lac du Bourget and Lac d’Annecy. If visibility is clear, you might see Mont Blanc and its majestic glaciers on the horizon. Your instructor will be your guide, naming the various peaks and mountain ranges you see while answering any question you might have.
Later, we will gently glide towards the landing area. This is often the moment when we offer passengers the opportunity to manoeuvre the paraglider, weather conditions permitting. It’s very simple, with only two controls: one for turning right and one for turning left. Children will be offered to do this too.
If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, aerobatics can be performed at the end of the flight. Otherwise, we will conclude your flight in a smooth and mellow way.
As we approach the ground, we will ask you to get ready to take a few steps for a gentle landing. After removing the equipment, it will be time for you to share this magical moment with your loved ones.
How long is a tandem flight ?
The magic of paragliding lies in the fact that it doesn’t have an engine! We use upward air currents, much like large birds do when they fly up in circles into the sky. It all starts in the morning, when the sun rises and warms up the face of the mountain on which it is shining. The ground that is heated by the sun transfers its warmth to the air. This creates a layer of air near the ground that is warmer and less dense than the surrounding air. This mass of lighter air rises, pushed upward into the sky, almost like a lava lamp. We use these upward currents, also called thermals, to extend the duration of the flight.
Each season offers its own conditions and landscapes: in spring and summer, with longer days, some paragliding enthusiasts can fly over 10 hours and cover hundreds of kilometers. In autumn, the scenery changes to orange hues, providing particularly stunning views. In winter, the pristine white mountains offer a completely different atmosphere, usually with calm flying conditions.
At Bauges Parapente, we offer paragliding tandem flights with different durations: the Discovery flight (or the Kid’s flight) lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, the thermal flight, our best-seller, has a duration of 25 to 30 minutes, and the Prestige flight, lasts about 40 minutes.
For those who have already experienced a tandem flight or for paragliding pilots looking to get into cross-country flying, we also offer the Majestic flight. This option allows you to discover the Bauges mountain range between Chambéry and Annecy during a long distance tour of at least 1.5 hours.
Finally, for those who like hiking, we offer a hike & fly option. You and your instructor will walk together to one of the summits of the Bauges mountains, and you will enjoy a well-deserved tandem flight back to the valley.
Mornings are best for kid’s and discovery flights (short flights). Longer flights can usually be offered from late morning until sunset.
Of course, weather and air conditions are natural elements that may surprise us despite our daily forecast analysis. If, unfortunately, the flying conditions on the day of your paragliding tandem do not allow us to stay in the air for the planned amount of time, we will only charge you for the airtime that we actually did.
Semnoz, Aix-les-Bains, Combe de Savoie: How do we choose the location for your paragliding tandem ?
It could be at the Semnoz near Annecy, over the Lac du Bourget in the Chambéry/Aix-les-Bains area, or Montlambert and Chamoux-sur-Gelon in the Combe de Savoie area, because each location requires specific conditions to allow us to fly.
We choose the best location for your tandem flight based on the weather forecast for the day. The forecast for wind direction and speed is particularly important.
As for wind direction, we select a location so that the wind is facing the launch. For example, if the wind is supposed to come from the West, we will choose a launch that is oriented towards the West. We also consider local aerology, such as the circulation of valley and slope breezes, to select the location that will give us the best flying conditions on the day of your flight.
In a way, paragliding can be compared to the “bicycle of the sky”; it is the lightest of all aircrafts, therefore the most sensitive to air circulation. Because of that, wind speed needs to be moderate. Beyond 25 to 30 km/h, it becomes difficult to take off and manoeuvre a paraglider, which would leave us no choice but to postpone the flight. However, when the wind is strong, the diverse landscape and elevation of the different launch sites allow us to have favorable conditions on some sites, while others may be impossible to use.
This is why even though we can give you a general estimate of where we will be flying on the day of your flight a few days in advance, the launch site can only be confirmed the night before. Please remain flexible so that you can join us at the right location on the day of your flight.
How old do you have to be to go on a paragliding tandem adventure?
There is no age limit for paragliding, only conditions adapted to different passengers. Almost anyone can fly, which is what makes paragliding so awesome!
For children, we recommend a minimum age of 4 to 5 years old for them to fully enjoy the experience. When children show enough curiosity and interest about paragliding to ask about trying it themselves, it’s usually because they will enjoy flying like a bird! We prefer morning time slots for them in order to have calm conditions for their flight.
There is no age limit for older passengers either. If you can jog a few steps, you can fly. There are usually moments in a day where the air conditions can make for an easier take off. If you have any doubts about your physical ability, please contact us so that we can select together the best moment for your tandem.
The only determining factor for flying is weight. Our equipment is designed for a maximum in-flight weight of 220 kg, including all equipment. Therefore, we are limited to a maximum weight of 120 kg per passenger. However, from 100 kg and up, we recommend calling us to choose the ideal time together based on air conditions.
Is it safe to jump off a mountain?
In paragliding, there’s no jumping involved, only flying! Unlike skydiving, there’s no need to jump to take off with a paraglider. These are two completely different activities.
Similar to an airplane gaining speed for takeoff, we need to build up speed to take off with a paraglider. Rest assured, there’s no need to run the 100 meters in record speed! Technological advances have made the paragliding takeoff process increasingly accessible. With only a small running start, we will be able to create enough speed for the wing to lift up in the air and hold us up as we soar into the sky.
Once comfortably seated in your harness, your only job will be to admire the scenic landscapes all around you !
You might just get hooked !
As we often say to our clients, “the biggest risk in paragliding is to get addicted to it!” Indeed, if it’s your first tandem flight experience, you will discover a very unique sensation. Few leave without a smile on their face and stars in their eyes after their flight.
It’s common that this experience sparks a true passion! If that is your case and you want to give the next step a try, the beginner training course is the gateway to making your first radio-guided flights. In just 4 or 5 days, you will be in control of your aircraft, with your instructor guiding you and ensuring your safety.
How to book your paragliding tandem flight in Savoie ?
To book your flight, it’s very simple: visit our booking platform below, where you can choose from our various flights and book the time slot that suits you best. If you want to purchase a tandem as a gift, you also have the option to order a gift voucher to give to the person of your choice.
Of course, if you would like to talk to us in person before booking, you can reach us by phone. We will be happy to advise you and answer all your questions.