Paragliding in the Dolomites Italy: Complete Guide

If you’re wondering if tandem paragliding in the Dolomites is worth it, the short answer is – yes, most definitely.

Seeing these wonderful mountains from the top is, to be fair, quite a unique experience.

And even if you’re afraid of heights – I am, and the people who I was flying with were as well -, it still feels safe. The pilots are skilled and they make sure that you feel safe and secure. And they don’t do more than you can take.

I personally went paragliding in the Kronplatz holiday region, which is basically flying between the Dolomites and the Alps. The view from the glider is so incredible!

So let me tell you all you need to know about paragliding.

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Tandem Paragliding – general info

In the Dolomites, the tandem paragliding is basically jumping off a mountain with a pilot and a glider behind you.

The flights happen both in the summer and in the winter.

There are also different lengths – the shorter flights can be as little as 15 minutes and the longest – more than an hour. Depending on your choice, they can be beginner-friendly or more technical.

It’s for people of all ages – even kids can go! The kid needs to be at least 15kg heavy for that. The flight for them is shorter. In our opinion, just make sure your kid will properly enjoy and understand the flying part. Since I was going for a flight, Emma wanted to, too, but we decided that she was just too young for it (she was 5 years old at the time).

Where to go tandem paragliding in the Dolomites?

There are companies that provide tandem flights all over the Dolomites. I personally went paragliding in Kronplatz, as that’s where we were staying. If you go in winter for a ski holiday, you can add paragliding to your skiing plans, as Kronplatz is one of the best ski resorts in the Dolomites!

If one of us goes again, we’d probably do Seceda – there’s Gardenafly, for example, that does flights in Seceda among other places. Alpe di Siusi – Seiser Alm or Tre Cime di Lavaredo seem like interesting places, too.

Check out the different companies, where they’re located, and what flights they offer. The most popular ones are Gardenafly, Tandemflights Kronplatz, and Fly2.

Is it safe?

Paragliding is as safe as any other adventure experience – as you know, no one can guarantee complete safety. But overall, yes, it’s safe.

The pilots are usually experienced paragliders and know what needs to be done. The ones in the company that I used had 15 years of experience – and my pilot Chris was actually born in the area. He pointed his house out for me from up in the air!

They’re aware of the winds and the weather conditions. The company I flew with sent me a message with all the info I needed to know, and one of the things mentioned was that the flight could be cancelled if the weather didn’t cooperate.

Lucky for me, though, the weather was perfect for a paragliding flight! There was a blue sky and great wind, and it wasn’t really too hot or too cold.

I’m actually really terrified of heights. Up to the very point that I got my gear on I didn’t believe that I’ll be doing this. But honestly, once I was up in the air, it felt incredibly safe. You’re basically sitting on a chair with a person strapped behind you – in a way, it felt like watching a movie in a cinema.

How to prepare?

One good way to prepare is, of course, to read information about the flights and how they happen.

Read the reviews of the company that you’d like to choose and all the information that’s available on the website.

Watching videos from flights is a good idea, too.

If you still have questions, the best way to get answers is to actually write to the company that you’ve chosen – or call them.

What to expect from the tandem flight? How does it go?

First, you go to the meeting point where the basic information on the flight is given to you. Some companies offer pickups from the hotel, others don’t – find this info out on the website!

Then, there’s a cable car up to the take-off point on the mountain. Sometimes, you need to walk or hike a bit for the launch spot.

Then, you get your gear on – helmet and harness. Sometime around this time, the pilot will prepare the glider, too. When everything is on and ready, the pilot straps you to him so that you’re safe.

And then the main thing happens – the launch! At first, you walk quickly, and then, when the glider picks up, you run – continuing running a bit even after you’re up in the air. A bit of foot power, so to say.

The harness then tightens around you and you basically end up sitting in a comfy soft seat.

Then, during the flight, all you really need to do is sit peacefully and enjoy the ride. If you’re up to it, the pilot might do a little bit of acrobatics. But if you say no, don’t worry, they won’t do it.

The landing is much easier than I thought, too. Just keep your legs up so that the pilot can land. The touchdown is quite soft and you might need to walk a bit until the glider goes down.

And that’s it! There’s quite a bit of adrenaline involved, but really, the flight itself is surprisingly not that scary.

What to wear?

The company that I went paragliding with – Tandemflights Kronplatz – says to wear the same clothes that you’d wear if going hiking. So basically, wear pants, running or hiking shoes, and a jacket. It can get a bit cold in the high altitude. In the summer, you don’t need really warm clothes, but in the winter, make sure to have your scarf and gloves.

And make sure to have sunglasses or glasses on – the wind can be quite unkind to eyes during the flight.

All of the companies that I’ve checked provide helmets and harnesses.

What to take with you?

Tandemflights Kronplatz has a bit of a place in the glider where you can put a small backpack, so I made sure to take a bottle of water and my wallet (with ID, health insurance card, and payment card) with me.

Otherwise, really, you need just your clothes and the confirmation of the purchased flight.

Can you have your camera with you?

There are companies that do allow you to take your own pictures of the flight. You just need to have the camera or the phone attached to yourself – so that you don’t lose it.

I personally didn’t take any pictures, as the company provided high-quality GoPro images and videos to me. On the one hand, I wish I had taken my own pictures, too, but on the other hand, I was too afraid of losing my phone during the flight.

Last thoughts about tandem paragliding Dolomites

I enjoyed my tandem paragliding in the Dolomites quite a lot. It was a lot less scary than I thought it would be – and I have quite a paralyzing fear of heights! But the sense of freedom is quite intoxicating.

So if you’re wondering if to do it, my answer would be yes, definitely. It’s a fantastic experience.

Do you have any more questions? Let me know in the comments or drop me an email! Or you can join my facebook group as well – I’ll be happy to answer them.

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