Tandem Paragliding In Uzungol Trabzon

A Flight Above Uzungol Lake

Uzungol is a lake set among forested hills in the Trabzon highlands, and this tour turns its scenery into the backdrop for a short paragliding flight. Guests are driven up to a launch point above the tree line, where the ground drops away toward the water and the wooden houses scattered along its shore. The flight itself lasts only a matter of minutes, but the vantage point is one that walkers rarely reach on foot. Because the glide follows the natural contours of the valley, no two flights look quite the same, and the lake appears from an angle that photographs from ground level cannot capture.

Getting to the Launch Site

Reaching the take-off point involves a drive on mountain roads that climb steadily out of the Uzungol valley, passing tea terraces, pastures and small farming hamlets along the way. A Haqqi Tours vehicle collects the group and continues past the lake itself before the road narrows toward the ridge used for launching. Guides travel with the group throughout this stage, helping with harnesses and briefing everyone on what to expect once they reach the top. The final approach is usually made on foot for a short stretch, which gives first-time visitors a chance to take in the highland air and the view before their flight begins.

What the Tandem Flight Feels Like

Every flight pairs one guest with a single pilot, who carries all the equipment and takes responsibility for launching, steering and landing. Passengers are strapped into a harness alongside the pilot and simply run a few steps downhill before the wing lifts them clear of the slope. Once airborne, the sensation is closer to gliding than falling, with wide turns over the valley rather than any sudden drops. Pilots read the wind on the day and adjust the route accordingly, so the exact path taken over the lake and surrounding hills can vary between one flight and the next.

Certified Pilots and Safety Checks

Every tandem flight is flown by a pilot holding the certification required to carry passengers, and each harness, wing and reserve system is checked before guests are fitted into their equipment. Briefings cover how to sit during launch, how to hold the harness straps and what to do on landing, explained in Arabic or English depending on the group. Guides remain on the ground throughout the flight and are on hand again once guests touch down, helping unclip harnesses and collect any belongings left at the launch point. This groundwork is what allows guests with no aviation background to fly with confidence.

Who This Trip Suits

This excursion is built for travellers who want an adrenaline moment without training or prior flying hours, which makes it popular with families travelling together, couples marking an occasion and solo visitors looking to add something different to a Trabzon itinerary. Families travelling with children should check the pilot's own size and weight guidance for the day, since this determines who can be paired for a tandem flight. Nervous flyers are not left to manage anything alone, since the pilot is in control from the first step to the landing. Anyone with health conditions that could be affected by altitude or sudden movement should mention this to the desk before booking.

Uzungol Village After Landing

Once the group has landed and regrouped, there is time to explore the village that gives the lake its name, with its wooden chalets, cafes overlooking the water and a walking path that circles part of the shoreline. Many guests use this stretch of the day to sit by the lake, take photographs from ground level to compare with the view from the air, or simply rest after the flight. The pace here is unhurried, and the guide stays with the group to answer questions about the area before everyone is walked back to the vehicle for the return journey to Trabzon.

What to Wear and Bring

Comfortable, closed shoes are recommended for the short walk to the launch site and for the run at take-off, along with layered clothing since the highlands sit noticeably cooler than the coast. Even on a mild day, pack something warm for the glide itself, since altitude and the motion of flying make the air noticeably cooler than it feels standing at the lake. Guests are advised to secure loose items such as hats and sunglasses with a strap, since anything not fastened can be lost during the flight. Cameras or phones can usually be carried in a zipped pocket, and the pilot will advise on the day if anything needs to be left behind.

Weather and Timing on the Day

Paragliding depends on stable wind conditions, so the exact flight order and timing on the day are set by the pilots once they assess conditions at the launch site that morning. Guests should expect some flexibility in the schedule, as flights may be adjusted or guests reordered if the wind shifts while the group is on site. The guide keeps everyone informed of any changes and manages the waiting time so it does not feel wasted, often using it to point out the surrounding peaks and explain a little about the highland villages visible from the ridge.

Group Departure from Trabzon

This tour runs as a shared group excursion, with a Haqqi Tours driver collecting guests from hotels across Trabzon on the morning of the trip and bringing everyone together for the drive up to Uzungol. Travelling as a group keeps the day sociable, particularly for families or friends who enjoy sharing the experience with other visitors heading to the same launch site. The guide manages the group throughout, from the drive up to the paragliding itself and the time afterwards by the lake, so guests can focus on the flight rather than logistics.

Booking with Haqqi Tours

Haqqi Tours operates this trip with its own drivers, guides and vehicles, and agrees the group price in writing before any payment is taken, so guests know exactly what the day includes before they commit. For anything about this Trabzon excursion, from confirming your pickup time to checking if your child can join or what the highlands are doing weather-wise beforehand, the desk replies in Arabic or English whenever you message. Because the pilots, transport and guiding are handled directly rather than through a third party, changes on the day can be managed quickly and clearly.