Paragliding in the Alps, a tandem flight from the chalet
How a first flight with a certified tandem pilot really works, where the official tourist offices list take-offs near our chalets and villas, and what decides whether you fly on the day.
For a first time, paragliding means a tandem flight: you sit in a harness in front of a certified pilot, who launches the wing from a mountain slope, steers it and lands it, while you simply enjoy the view. No experience is needed. Around Courchevel, Verbier, Zermatt and St. Moritz flights run in winter and in summer, and on the French Riviera the hills above Grasse are flown all year, always subject to the weather on the morning.
This guide is for guests staying in one of our chalets or villas who want one memorable flight rather than a sport to take up. It covers how the flight unfolds, where the official tourist offices list take-offs, how wind and season shape the day, the weight and age limits pilots generally apply, and the safety checks worth making before you strap in.
Our concierge does the arranging. Nathalie Nguyen and Adam Haddad pass your weights, ages and dates to a certified tandem pilot in the resort, keep the slot movable around the forecast, and organise the drive or the lift to the take-off, so the only decision left to you is whether to keep your eyes open on the first strides.
Paragliding near our resorts, from the official pages
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
The Courchevel tourist office lists tandem flights in summer and in winter with a certified instructor, with no technical knowledge required; one listed pilot takes children from 5 years old.
Source: Courchevel TourismeIn Verbier, the take-off is at Les Ruinettes, at an altitude of 2,200 metres, and introductory flights are available all year round.
Source: Verbier TourismeA tandem flight listed by the Zermatt tourist office takes off from the Klein Matterhorn at 3,880 metres, lasts 35 to 40 minutes and lands back in Zermatt, like all flights from the resort.
Source: Zermatt TourismAround St. Moritz, tandem flights take off from Muottas Muragl, Corviglia, Corvatsch or Lagalb depending on weather and season, with landings close to the lake, in summer and winter.
Source: St. Moritz TourismIn Switzerland, special tandem liability insurance is a legal requirement for every tandem flight, and a commercial tandem pilot must log 50 tandem flights in three years, at least 10 of them each year, to keep that status.
Source: Swiss Hang Gliding Association (SHV/FSVL)The Côte d’Azur tourism board lists introductory tandem flights from the L’Embarnier take-off at Gourdon, open daily for most of the year, lasting about 20 minutes and postponed in bad weather.
Source: Côte d'Azur FranceHow tandem paragliding works on the day
A paraglider is a fabric wing with no frame and no engine: it inflates in the moving air, and the pilot steers it with two brake lines and by shifting weight in the harness. On a tandem, a short spreader bar links your harness to the pilot’s, so you sit slightly in front with nothing in your field of view but the valley. Keep the whole morning free: the flight itself is only a small part of the outing, between the lift up, the briefing and the drive back.
- The morning call
The pilot checks wind and cloud early and confirms, moves or cancels the flight. This is normal, not bad service: a pilot who flies in doubtful air is the one to avoid.
- Up to the take-off
Usually by lift, funicular or gondola, sometimes by car. In winter you ride up with the skiers; in summer with the walkers. You meet your pilot at the bottom or at the top.
- Briefing and harness
Helmet on, harness adjusted, and a short explanation of the one thing you must do: keep walking, then running, when the pilot says so, and never sit down before your feet leave the ground.
- Take-off
The wing rises overhead, you take a few firm strides down the slope and the ground falls away. In winter some pilots launch on skis, so tell us whether you ski when we book.
- In the air
You settle back into the seat. Ask for a calm flight and you get one; some pilots hand you the brake lines for a moment, and most carry a camera on a pole.
- Landing
On the final approach you sit up, legs forward, and stand when the pilot asks, finishing with a few steps on grass or snow. A driver brings you back to the chalet or villa.
Where to go paragliding near our residences
Every resort where we have chalets has take-offs listed by its tourist office, and the Riviera has its own sites inland. The setting changes the flight more than the price list does: a glacier start above Zermatt feels nothing like a gentle glide over the Grasse hills.
| Where | What the official listing shows | From our residences |
|---|---|---|
| Courchevel | Tandem flights in summer and winter with a certified instructor; one pilot takes children from 5 | Natural for a family week: at Chalet Erise, a ski-in ski-out chalet in Courchevel, a winter flight fits easily between two runs |
| Verbier | Take-off at Les Ruinettes, 2,200 metres, all year round | Chalet Ambre, Verbier, has a chauffeur on hand from morning until 10pm for the drive to the lift |
| Zermatt | Several take-offs around the resort, up to the Klein Matterhorn at 3,880 metres, all landing back in Zermatt | The high start is the top station of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise; Chalet Zeyr, Zermatt, sits two minutes on foot from the Sunnegga funicular |
| St. Moritz | Take-offs at Muottas Muragl, Corviglia, Corvatsch or Lagalb, landing near the lake | Chalet Nore in St. Moritz is close to the Chantarella funicular, which climbs to Corviglia |
| French Riviera | Introductory flights from L’Embarnier at Gourdon, open daily for most of the year, about 20 minutes | Our Cannes and Cap d’Antibes villas are the closest base; pair the flight with a morning in Grasse below |
Take-offs change with snow cover, wind direction and season, so the pilot confirms the site the evening before or on the morning.
Why paragliding flights get moved
Wind is the deciding factor. A tandem needs a light, steady breeze up the slope at take-off; too much wind, gusts or wind from behind keep the wing on the ground. Low cloud, rain and snowfall do the same, and in summer afternoon storms building over the peaks end the flying day early. The decision belongs to the pilot alone, and the best ones are cautious.
That is why we never fix a flight on your last morning. Book it early in the stay, keep two or three possible slots, and let the forecast choose.
| Season | What the air is usually like | What it means for your flight |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Cold, generally smooth air, few rising currents | Calm, scenic flights over snow, often shorter; very cold at altitude, so dress as for a chairlift in January |
| Spring | Warming slopes, livelier air by midday | Morning slots are gentler; some resorts change take-offs as the snow melts |
| Summer, morning | Stable air before the sun heats the slopes | The best slot for a nervous first flier or a child |
| Summer, afternoon | Rising warm air (thermals) and, some days, building storms | Longer flights are possible with an experienced pilot, but more turbulence and a higher chance of cancellation |
| Riviera, all year | Sea breezes and inland hill air | Flown all year, subject to weather; a winter flight above the coast is a good option when the Alps are closed by cloud |
Weight and age limits pilots generally apply
There is no single rule for passengers: each tandem pilot sets limits according to the wing, the take-off and the conditions. The official listings near our resorts show how much they vary. In Courchevel one pilot takes children from 5 years old; in St. Moritz one listed pilot asks for good health and a body weight of at least 30 kg; at Gourdon, one listing states that weight matters more than age and accepts passengers between 30 and 90 kg; one Zermatt listing simply says flights are for all ages.
So we give the pilot exact weights and ages before anything is confirmed. A heavier passenger can often still fly, but may need a different wing, a different pilot or particular conditions; a light child needs a pilot equipped for children. Honest figures avoid a refusal at the take-off.
- Tell the pilot about back, knee or heart problems, recent surgery, pregnancy or a tendency to motion sickness; they may decline or adapt the flight.
- You must be able to take a few running strides downhill on uneven ground, in boots.
- Wear closed shoes or boots with ankle support, layers, gloves and sunglasses; the pilot provides the helmet and harness.
- Children fly when they can follow instructions and want to: never push a hesitant child into the harness.
- Ask for a calm flight if you are nervous; spirals and acrobatics are only flown on request.
Is tandem paragliding safe? The checks we make
A tandem flight with a qualified, current pilot in suitable weather is a well-controlled activity, but it is still flying, and the margin comes from the pilot’s judgement. In Switzerland the national association requires commercial tandem pilots to keep up a minimum number of tandem flights, and tandem liability insurance is compulsory by law for every flight. In the French resorts, some pilots listed by the Courchevel tourist office present themselves as state-qualified instructors.
Before we confirm a pilot, we check the points below, and you are welcome to ask them yourself at the take-off.
- A current tandem qualification and the insurance that goes with it.
- A reserve parachute on the harness and a clear passenger briefing before take-off.
- A pilot who is comfortable cancelling: a firm no on a windy morning is a good sign.
- A take-off and landing chosen for the day’s conditions, not for the photo.
- Your own travel insurance: check that it covers air sports as a passenger.
Learn to paraglide, or simply fly once?
A tandem passenger needs no licence. Learning to fly solo is a different commitment: several days of ground handling and short flights on a gentle slope, followed by a course leading to a licence (in Switzerland, through the national association’s exams). The Courchevel listings include pilots who teach as well as fly tandem, so a week in the mountains can be the start, but most of our guests are happy with one flight and the photos.
If you want the mountain without leaving the ground, our guides to Zermatt in summer and to ski touring cover gentler ways to reach the high country.
Chalets and a villa for a paragliding stay
Residences close to the lifts and take-offs listed by the official tourist offices, in the Alps and above Cannes.
The residences side by side
Bedrooms, bathrooms, space and wellness, to match the house to your group.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet EriseCourchevel | 12 | 6 | 7 | 600 m² | Ski-in / Ski-out, Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Sauna |
| Chalet AmbreVerbier | 10 | 6 | 7 | 700 m² | Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Sauna, Massage Room, Jacuzzi |
| Chalet ZeyrZermatt | 12 | 6 | 7 | 565 m² | Sauna, Massage Room, Jacuzzi, Gym, Elevator |
| Chalet NoreSt. Moritz | 15 | 6 | 7 | 467 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room |
| Villa ElarisCannes | 10 | 5 | 5 | 500 m² | Heated Pool, Sea View, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Massage Room |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
How our concierge arranges the flight
A flight is easy to book and easy to get wrong: the details below are what we take care of.
The right pilot
A certified tandem pilot in your resort, chosen for the passengers: one who flies children, one equipped for heavier adults, one who launches on foot if you do not ski.
A movable slot
Flights booked early in the stay with back-up mornings, so a windy day costs you nothing but a change of plan.
Door to take-off
Chauffeur or electric taxi to the lift, lift passes if needed, and the meeting time sent to your phone the evening before.
The rest of the day
A late lunch at the chalet, a massage booked for the afternoon, or on the Riviera a morning in Grasse before the flight.
Paragliding questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamHow does paragliding work?
A paraglider is a frameless fabric wing that inflates in the airflow. The pilot launches it by running down a slope into a light headwind, then glides gently down towards a landing field, steering with brake lines and weight shift. Rising air, from wind meeting a slope or from warm thermals, lets an experienced pilot stay up longer. On a tandem, the pilot does all of this and you sit in front.
Do you need a licence to paraglide?
Not as a tandem passenger: you fly with a qualified pilot and need no experience. To fly solo you need proper training and a licence. In Switzerland the Swiss Hang Gliding Association runs the exams and also sets the rules tandem pilots must follow to fly commercially. If a first tandem flight gives you the taste, a local school can tell you how the course is organised.
Can you go paragliding in winter?
Yes. The Courchevel, Verbier and St. Moritz tourist offices all list tandem flights in winter as well as summer. The air is usually smoother, flights are often shorter and it is much colder in the air, so wear full ski clothing and good gloves. Some pilots launch on skis in winter; if you do not ski, ask for a take-off on foot.
Is there an age or weight limit for tandem paragliding?
It depends on the pilot. Official listings near our resorts show the range: one Courchevel pilot takes children from 5, one St. Moritz pilot asks for at least 30 kg, and one Gourdon listing accepts passengers between 30 and 90 kg. We send exact ages and weights to the pilot before confirming, so you know in advance whether the flight is possible.
How much does paragliding cost?
Fares vary with the resort, the take-off, the length of the flight and options such as photos, and each pilot publishes their own. When you book through us, the flight is quoted on request together with transport to the take-off, so you see the whole arrangement in one proposal before you decide.
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Add a tandem flight to your stay
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your dates, the resort or coast you have in mind, and the ages and weights of those who want to fly. They will suggest the right chalet or villa, line up a certified tandem pilot and keep a back-up morning in case of wind, usually replying within the day. Some residences are available without being published online. WhatsApp +33 7 80 98 05 43 or contact@lutetia-group.com.