Paragliding
Soar over Europe’s largest canyon and its turquoise lakes: from the legendary Chalvet site at Saint-André-les-Alpes — a World Cup venue — to a tandem flight above the gorge. The Verdon is one of the great skies of free flight, accessible from age 4.
Free flight in the Verdon has two capitals. To the north, the Chalvet overlooks Lake Castillon: a high-altitude site, generous in thermals, where people have learned and competed since the 1980s. To the south, you take off above the gorge and Lake Sainte-Croix, for a tandem flight facing the canyon. Two different moods, the same happy vertigo — and schools that welcome the one-day curious visitor just as warmly as the future pilot.
The legendary free-flight site of the southern Alps. Overlooking Lake Castillon, Mont Chalvet (a summit close to 1,500 m) is renowned for learning to fly and hosts World Cup stages. Aérogliss has been training pilots and newcomers here since 1982: you fly above the villages, the Verdon river, the turquoise lake and the lavender fields.
The other great playground: flying above the spectacular meeting point of the canyon and Lake Sainte-Croix. The take-off points at Courchon, Mont Denier or Aiguines open onto the cliffs, the plateaus and the emerald water — an unforgettable tandem flight, facing Europe’s largest canyon.
It’s the simplest way to discover the Verdon from the sky: a flight alongside a qualified instructor, who does the flying for you. Nothing to know how to do, from age 4 — just breathe in the landscape. Expect around €100 for a discovery flight, more for a longer flight that gains altitude.
Professionals from the Verdon’s two hubs. We don’t publish their contact details until each one has been verified: book via their website or find them, as they’re validated, in our directory of operators.
The historic Chalvet school, since 1982: tandem introductory flights, beginner-to-solo courses, a training slope and take-offs facing every wind direction. A landmark of free-flight learning.
Free flight above the gorge and Lake Sainte-Croix: tandem introductory flights, courses for all levels, and “mountain” flights combining hiking and flying. Also climbing and via cordata.
Introductory flights and paragliding courses facing Lake Sainte-Croix, the canyon and the Valensole plateau, alongside canyoning and rafting — a multi-activity school in the heart of the Verdon.
The Verdon isn’t just a postcard view from above: it’s also one of the great free-flight training grounds in France.
A tandem flight with an instructor, from age 4: nothing to know how to do, just enjoy the view. The entry point into free flight for the whole family.
From the training slope to your first solo flights: the Chalvet is one of the best sites in France for learning, with its vast take-off areas and generous flying conditions.
Walk up, take off from a summit, glide back down: an adventure between hiking and paragliding, offered by the schools in the area for experienced pilots.
The season runs from spring to autumn. Take-offs are often in late morning, once the breeze sets in, or in late afternoon for a calmer flight at sunset. Combine your flight with a swim at Lake Sainte-Croix, a stop in Saint-André-les-Alpes or Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, and plan your visit with When to visit.
Two main hubs. In the Haut-Verdon, the Chalvet site at Saint-André-les-Alpes is a historic free-flight venue (Aérogliss school, World Cup stages), overlooking Lake Castillon. On the gorge side, you fly above the canyon and Lake Sainte-Croix from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and Aiguines (the Roc’N’Vol and Verdon Passion schools), with take-off points at Courchon, Mont Denier or Aiguines.
Yes: the discovery flight is done in tandem, alongside a qualified instructor who does the flying. You don’t need to know how to do anything, just enjoy the flight. It’s the simplest way to discover the gorge and the lakes from the sky. To fly solo, you need to take an introductory course.
The tandem discovery flight is accessible from around age 4, depending on the school (with parental consent and subject to the day’s conditions). It’s an activity the whole family can enjoy together.
As a guide, a 20-to-30-minute discovery flight costs around €100, and a longer flight (45 min to 1 hour, gaining more altitude) around €150. Prices vary by school and package: confirm when booking.
Paragliding is mainly practised from spring through autumn. Flying depends on weather and wind: take-offs are often in late morning once the breeze sets in, or late in the day for a calmer flight at sunset. Book ahead and stay flexible: a flight can be postponed if conditions aren’t right.
