Tandem Paragliding Flight over Chamonix

Plan Praz: the take-off above Chamonix

Plan Praz is a grassy shoulder of Le Brévent at roughly 2,000 m, reached by a gondola that climbs from the upper edge of Chamonix town in about ten minutes. It faces south-east, straight across the valley to the Mont Blanc massif, which is why it has long been the favourite launch site for tandem paragliding in Chamonix. You ride up with your pilot, watch the wing being laid out on the slope and get a calm safety briefing before you clip in.

The take-off itself is surprisingly gentle: a few steady steps downhill, the wing fills above you and your feet leave the ground almost without noticing. From that moment the pilot does all the work. If you are wondering whether a tandem paragliding flight in Chamonix is worth it, this first view of the glaciers from the air usually answers the question.

Flying over the Chamonix Valley

Once airborne you glide out over the valley with the Arve river, the rooftops of Chamonix and the forests far below. Ahead rises the whole Mont Blanc range: the snow dome of Mont Blanc itself at about 4,805 m, the needle of the Aiguille du Midi with its summit station, and the Bossons glacier tumbling almost down to the valley floor. Behind you stand the rocky Aiguilles Rouges.

On the classic flight you spend about 15 to 20 minutes in the air, losing roughly 1,000 m of height in slow, wide turns. Pilots are happy to take photos and videos with a pole camera, and if you feel confident you can even hold the controls for a moment. If you prefer a calm ride, simply tell your pilot: the flight is shaped around you.

Landing in Chamonix town

The flight ends on a large landing meadow at the edge of Chamonix, a short stroll from the town centre and the river. The pilot brings you in slowly over the field, and most passengers land standing up or sliding gently onto the seat of the harness. The whole experience, from meeting your pilot to touching down, takes about an hour on the classic option.

After landing you are free to continue your day in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the mountain town that hosted the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924. Its pedestrian streets, the church square and the riverside are all close by. Halal food is limited in Chamonix, so plan simple vegetarian or fish meals, or bring snacks, if this matters to you.

Le Brévent and the Aiguilles Rouges

Plan Praz is the middle station of the Brévent lift, which continues by cable car to the summit of Le Brévent at 2,525 m. This side of the valley is the Aiguilles Rouges massif, a nature reserve of red rock peaks and small lakes, and it offers what many visitors call the best face-on view of Mont Blanc in the whole area.

If you have time before or after your flight, you can ride on to Le Brévent with a separate lift ticket and enjoy the panoramic terrace. It is a good way to see the route of your flight from above and to understand how the valley, the glaciers and the summits fit together.

Higher take-offs and longer flights

In spring and autumn, when Plan Praz can be closed or not flyable, another option takes off from Plan de l'Aiguille at about 2,317 m, the mid-station of the Aiguille du Midi cable car. This launch sits right under the glaciers and gives a longer flight with an even closer view of the ice.

For guests who want more, the booking panel on this page also lists an acrobatic flight with spirals and wingovers, and XL and XXL flights of 30 or 45 minutes and more, when the air allows the pilot to climb in thermals. The best time of day for a smooth first flight is usually the morning, when the air is calm; afternoons in summer can be livelier.