Tandem Paragliding in Chamonix, France
Paragliding off of Le Brévent over the town of Chamonix is one of the most incredible experiences a person can have, no exaggeration. Surrounded by the snowcapped French Alps, flying through the open-air over the beautiful Chamonix Valley – it’s stunning, it’s serene, it’s thrilling – and it should be at the top of your bucket list.
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Also sometimes referred to as “parapente,” paragliding is when you free-fly through the skies harnessed into a paraglide (similar to a parachute, but it’s shaped like an ellipse instead of a circle). Running down a hilled cliff off the mountain you’ll get lifted by the wind caught in your paraglide and swept into the air, roughly 2050 meters (6725 feet) above the bottom of the valley below you.
To book this unforgettable experience, you have many local businesses to choose from: Absolute Chamonix, Chamonix Sport Adventure, Fly Chamonix, Les Ailes du Mont Blanc, Haut Vol, Fly Mont Blanc, and Summits to name a few. All options offer tandem flight packages with experienced flyers, and bookings can be made by phone, email, or the linked websites above. Expect to be able to share your weight (in kilograms) while making your reservation as some weights may be more compatible with certain weather conditions than others.
Tandem Paragliding Tours
Where To Go
On the day of your flight, you’ll meet your instructor near the “Meeting Point” sign facing the ticket office at the bottom of the Brévent Cable Car gondolas in Chamonix. Only a ten minute walk from the center of town, Brévent is easily accessible and the main cable car system in Chamonix. If you’re renting a car, there is also an underground carpark located just beyond the station as well.
Most companies will recommend that you arrive at your meeting point about fifteen minutes early to allow time to purchase your one way parapente lift ticket before boarding the gondolas. One way lift tickets should be about 20 euros but would likely be included in your paragliding package.
You can use the following address to get to Brévent:
Téléphérique du Brévent
29 Route Henriette d’Angevine
74400 Chamonix
The Gondola Ride Up Le Brévent
Tandem paragliding tours take off from the first gondola stop on the mountain – Planpraz – about 2000 meters (6562 feet) up Le Brévent. It’s a pretty steep ascent, completing the elevation gain in only around ten minutes, so you can expect your ears to pop a couple times on your ride up. With windows on all sides of the cable cars, this prelude to the big event is incredibly scenic in and of itself, and a great way to build excitement before taking to the skies.
If you’re interested in another gondola ride after paragliding, you can also take the cables farther up the mountain to Le Brévent’s peak at around 2525 meters (8284 feet) high. From here you can get a closer look at the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) glacier, go for a hike, or get some food at Les Plaques.
Preparing to Fly
Once you disembark from the gondola, you’ll have to walk another 50 meters (164 feet) or so up a large rock path to get to the field where you will take off from. Ultimately, when your feet leave the mountain you’ll be about 2050 meters (6725 feet) high, but you’ll likely get to go up even higher during your flight.
Your instructor will unpack the paraglide and lay it out on the mountain so that when it is time to run it will easily catch the air. You’ll also have some time to take in the gorgeous view of the Alps and watch other teams take off while waiting for your turn to fly (only one paraglide can lift off at a time so as to prevent collisions).
Paragliding
Your instructor will fit you into a helmet and harness you into the paraglide. If you have any questions you’d like to ask, this is a good last-minute opportunity to do so as it can be difficult to talk over the wind once you’re in the air.
When it’s time to fly, your instructor will shout “GO” and the two of you will run together down the grassy cliff of the mountain. It will get harder and harder to run as air starts filling the paraglide, so give it all you’ve got!
In a few seconds, your paraglide will sweep the two of you off of your feet – and your flight will begin!
Most tandem paragliding flights last around 20-30 minutes, but it’ll feel so much faster. You’ll get to fly right up next to Le Brévent and look out at the Mont Blanc massif on the other side of the valley, home to the highest peak of the entire Alps mountain range at 4808 meters (15,777 feet).
The flight partners are extremely experienced and the harnesses are secure, you should feel totally safe the entire time! (This coming from a girl who’s afraid of heights and was reprimanded mid-flight for leaning too far out of her harness 6500+ feet in the air!)
If you’re open to it, and the conditions are permitting, you may even get to do some tricks on your flight – like the spiral dive! If you’re not comfortable with tricks you can also choose to descend slowly as you glide over the town, just communicate this to your instructor.
Landing Back in Chamonix
When your flight time is coming to an end, your instructor will fly you back down towards the bottom of the valley. Specks will turn back into buildings and you’ll realize just how high up you’d been! In the words of my instructor, you’ll land like a “butterfly on a flower.” And it really is just that easy! There is no high impact, all you have to do is stand up when it’s time for your feet to hit the ground!
The landing point is a cleared field near the Brévent cable car station that you started at. From here you can either walk back to your starting point or head back into town!
Ready to get started? Book your adventure today!
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is it scary to paraglide? No! The scariest part about paragliding is likely just the anticipation you feel before you start flying. During the flight you should be strapped in very securely. Unlike skydiving, there are no free falls when paragliding. Your parachute has also already opened and caught air at the time of your lift off, so there’s no chance of it failing to open during your flight. The scariest part is just signing yourself up for the adventure!
2. How difficult is paragliding? I don’t know what it is like to paraglide on your own, but tandem paragliding as the passenger is a piece of cake! The extent of what you need to know how to be able to do is listen, run, sit, and stand. You got this!
Have any questions? Let us know in the comments below!
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
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I was really excited to hear about this adventure in the mountains of France. Having skydived over 150 times, I know the magic of floating through the air. But paragliding over Chamonix looks like an incredible time. I am sure the flight felt like it was over too fast. Linda (LD Holland)
Not sure that I would be brave enough for this activity. I do agree though that Chamonix would be an amazing place for this type of adventure.
This has to be amazing! What amazing views to go paragliding! I did my first ever paraglide in Grazelama, in Andalucia Spain a couple of months ago and I can’t wait to do my next. Might have to be Chamoniix.
What an incredible experience. I can only imagine how gorgeous those views must be while gliding through the air high in the sky. I went paragliding in Rio a few years ago and it was an incredible experience!
I’ve never been paragliding but it looks like fun (although also kinda terrifying, haha — I’m vaguely afraid of heights)! It definitely helps to read about what to expect though! I’d love to get to try this someday–your photos are amazing!
This must be so exciting to do! I never paraglided before! I hope I can try it one day! And the landscape looks mind blowing!
This looks like an absolutely unforgettable experience! The scenery is gorgeous and I’m sure paragliding is such a thrill! Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂
OMG paragliding is a total bucket list item for me! Not necessarily in Chamonix (that would be great though), but anywhere!
How exciting, this sounds like such an adventure. Thanks for sharing so much detail
Chamonix Valley looks absolutely stunning! I would love to go for a hike here one day
This looks like so much fun and it’s very scenic in Chamonix, brings back fond memories of visiting there more than 10 years ago
What a view (or many views) that is! I love that paragliding is more gentle than skydiving. I don’t think I could skydive, but would consider paragliding.
OMG this sounds amaaaaaazing! I would LOVE to see the views of Chamonix while flying! I saw something a bit like this as a recording on a VR headset and it made me want to do it for real sooo much!
You must have been buzzing with joy after this epic experience!
What an incredible experience! I’ve never tried paragliding as I am terrified of heights, but it looks like the most beautiful way to admire Chamonix! The views look incredible! Thanks for the great guide, I’d love to give it a try one day!
How fun is that!? Wow! I hope to be brave enough to Paraglide in Chamonix some day!
Oh my! What an experience! I absolutely agree with you – it would be stunning, serene, and definitely thrilling!
This looks so beautiful! I love that you were trying to escape your harness so high in the sky! That feeling of freedom taking over! Adding to my bucket list!