About this tour
When Mia from our team strapped in for a tandem paraglide above Davos, the Alps opened up in a way no chairlift could match. You're tethered to a certified pilot who handles the kit and landing; your job is to show up fit enough and game for it. The flight lasts roughly two hours door-to-door, though actual airtime depends on thermals and conditions. It's the kind of thing that rewires how you see a mountain range—less postcard, more 'I'm actually floating above it'.
Highlights
- Launch from a ridge with zero runway; stomach stays behind briefly
- Pilot banks hard enough to spot your own shadow on the slopes below
- Video and stills captured in-flight; proof you actually did this
- Thermals lift you higher than the surrounding peaks on good days
- Land softly in a designated meadow; anticlimactic in the best way
- Views stretch to peaks you couldn't name but definitely won't forget
- Pilot narrates conditions and points out landmarks mid-flight
What to expect
You'll meet your pilot at their base near Davos and get a brief chat about technique—mostly how to position yourself and what to expect during launch. The walk up to the take-off spot is steady but not brutal. Launch itself is a controlled jog downhill while the pilot inflates the canopy; your legs leave the ground almost casually, which is unsettling in the best way. Once airborne, you're in the hands of someone who reads wind and altitude for a living. Expect smooth glides, sharp turns if thermals line up right, and quiet stretches where the only sound is fabric and air. The landing is gentler than you'd think—more controlled descent than crash.
Mia's run was crisp autumn conditions, which meant steady air and clear sightlines to valleys and ridgelines. On a hazy day or when thermals are weak, you might spend more time descending than climbing. The whole experience from base to landing-zone walk-back runs about two hours.
Good to know
This beats any mountain view you'll get from solid ground. You need moderate fitness—not gym-rat level, but you should manage a brisk uphill walk without gasping. Weight limits (30–110 kg) are strict for safety, not negotiable. Anyone with a solid heart, intact spine, and decent core strength will find it manageable.
It's genuinely thrilling, which means genuine risk; pilots are trained but conditions matter. Pregnant travellers and those under 11 shouldn't go. Poor cardiovascular health is a disqualifier. Cable car to the launch zone costs extra and isn't included. You'll want layers—altitude drops temperature fast. Ground winds can cancel flights, so book flexibly. Group sizes are small (just you and your pilot), which keeps things intimate but means no mate to hold your hand during launch.
Bring water, sturdy shoes, and warm layers. All equipment provided. Aim for late morning or early afternoon when thermals are most active. Peak season is September–October.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.