Annecy
paragliding tandem thermal flight

Why the thermal flight ?

This is our best seller. According to our customers review, it is the one that offers the best compromise between the cost and the time that we spend in flight (around 30 minutes) and the experience.

How thermal lifts work ?

You wonder how it works so that a paraglider, without any engine and propeller can fly so long. We use the energy given by the sun, the heat differences on the ground, creating heat differences in the air. Like hot air bubble in which we go flying and turn around to gain altitude. So that we can fly higher that our starting point (Col de la Forclaz 1250 m) and spend a couple of hours in flight before landing in Doussard (450m).

How will your thermal flight happen ?

You will be told to come 30 minutes before we leave to our chalet at col de la Forclaz ( about 30 minutes drive from Annecy)(town of Montmin 74210) above Lake Annecy. We’ll drive you to the take off thanks to our shuttle. After walking two minutes, you’ll reach the green carpet that’s on the take off. Check our photo and video galerie to see how it is.
It is important to notice that contrary to parachute, we are not jumping of anything; a paraglider works more like a plane that we’ll take off with you on a gentle slope. You won’t have that feeling of standing on a cliff and have to jump of a step down.
A briefing will be done by the pilot to tell you what you’ll have to do. That can change depending on the wind conditions. No worries, there is nothing difficult.

After having you connected to the paraglider, in a very comfortable harness, in front on him, the instructor will ask you to walk forward, you will feel a resistance in your back, it is the wing that starts to inflate. A couple of seconds later, you feel yourself becoming lighter. He will then ask you to run on a couple more meters sot ha we have a bit more speed and you’ll be gently lifted off the ground. You’ll never have the feeling of jumping or falling down. The take off is a great feeling of lightness. Then just have to enjoy the rest of the flight ! For the thermal flight, the pilot will fly in the best spots to find thermal lifts, and then spiral to stay in the lift and gain altitude. After a few minutes, you will take direction of the lake for a nice long glide. He will then propose you to take the control handles so that you can pilot the paraglider on you own. Before landing, he can propose you a couple of sharper turns, but no obligation if you want to finish it quiet.
A few second touching the ground, he will ask you to stand up again in the harness. Do a couple steps as we touch the ground. As if you were walking down stairs, recovering your weight back on your legs. An easy and funny feeling.
Count on about 1h30 until we have it all finished and you leave from the chalet.