Paragliding, Parahiking (like X-Alps), Speed Riding Holidays and Courses

The Giffre Valley and and its surroundings are a paradise for paragliding. There is no other word for it but the scenery is stunning - waterfalls, alpine flowers, lakes, glaciers...and flying about looking at it is nothing short of spectacular. The thermals and weather are almost guaranteed to be good during the summer with consistent valley winds and resident thermals that follow the sun.

The Giffre Valley and surrounding Alps really are a fantastic place to fly. You can learn to fly at one of the three schools in the valley, take a tandem flight or if you are a qualified pilot enjoy the valley on your own from up high.

Tandem flight - Discover the valley from up high with a certified instructor. This really is a fantastic experience. They do two different flights: top to bottom lasting about 30 minutes or on a thermal day the Valley tour which lasts about 2 hours. You also get to take the controls and fly it yourself if you ask nicely. We recommend Pegase for your Tandem flight experience.

Fly yourself - Attend one of our courses (see below) and have things organised for you or stay in our chalets on a self catered basis and organise yourself with some help from us about sites, retrieves, etc. There are two main take off points at about 1600M within 15 minutes drive from the Chalets. The Valley has many rocky outcrops which are great thermal sources and it is easy to fly cross country within the valley or beyond to places like Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Mieussy and Annecy. There are several sites between 15 minutes and 30 mins drive including Samoens, Mieussy, Les Gets, Morzine, Avoriaz, Brison, L'Agy and Chamonix. For real details on the sites please contact us as we are pilots. We can provide a site familiarisation and retrieve service should you wish at extra cost.

Learn / experience flying - the main School in the Valley who we work with and highly recommend is  Pegase Air Samoens paragliding  +33 450349580 www.parapente-samoens.com as they are larger, very professional and run excellent courses. You can use the experience towards your CP or get the FFVL qualification.

We also run the following courses:

• French Northern Alps XC course with French champion and English retrieve

  • Fly Chamonix to Annecy PG alpine spineback motorway!

  • Thermals to 4000m+

  • Learn how to fly the mountains, understand valley winds and find thermal sources

  • Qualified Instructor and member of French Team with fluent English

  • English pilot host and retrieve driver

  • Local Knowledge of many sites (there is always somewhere good to fly)

  • Stay in luxury Chalets (10 mins from nearest site and within 30 mins of 12 sites)

  • Great weather for big distances in May / June. Typically flyable everyday.

  • So if you have your CP and want to go XC with great views...

  • Make it your first long cross country flight having qualified as CP or add lots of miles to your experience

  • Only £695pp including XC course and Chalet Bed and Breakfast

  • Flights to Geneva from £40 inc taxes on budget airlines, 1 hour transfer to Chalet or drive.

  • 7 days flying with 5 days XC tuition
     

• X-Alps like paragliding and hiking course with light paraglider / harness included

  •  Learn about parahiking in the beautiful high French alps near Mont Blanc

  • Small hikes into the stunning mountains and fly places you would not normally get to

  • Light glider and harness provided (6kg - Advance Hike or similar)

  • Only £845pp including parahiking course and Chalet Bed and Breakfast

  • Flights to Geneva from £40 inc taxes on budget airlines, 1 hour transfer to Chalet or drive.

  • 7 days flying with 5 days parahiking tuition

   

• Speed Riding Course or Taster

  • Latest adrenaline sport that combines flying with skiing.

  • It is easy to learn and you should have the basics cracked within a few hours. Don't believe the critics it is easy, great fun and when taught professionally safe.

  • The school we have teamed up with have both French and English speaking instructors and are at the forefront of promoting this new sport.

  • Gain the FVFL (French Paragliding association) speed riding qualification (first association to offer qualification in the world)

  • You need to be able ski red runs well and having some paragliding experience helps to do the course.

  • Only £395pp Catered Chalet plus taster (1/2day) £70 or £400 (5 * 1/2 Days course)

   

• Paragliding on skis

  • I/2 day course. Easy to learn

   

• Paragliding Expeditions

  • these can be arranged easily

  • They can be single days or whole weeks

  • For example day trip to Aguille de Midi. Highest Cable car in Europe. Take off at 4000M and fly down the Valley Blanche Glacier next to rocky cliffs that make you feel like a speck. See photos below in picture gallery

Paragliding, Parahiking, Paragliding on skis and Speed Riding Photo Gallery

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