Beginner paragliding course: 5 days to learn to fly
An intensive week in Gréolières to discover paragliding and learn the basics: full theory, training-slope exercises, daily briefings, a video debriefing after each flight and, if all goes well, your first high flights on the last two days. €700, equipment provided, groups of 7 students at most.
The beginner course is the first real paragliding training: five days to go from discovery to your first high flights, if all goes well, with state-qualified instructors (DEJEPS and BEES). No flying experience is required: it is for motivated beginners.
We run it over 5 days only, the time a real progression takes. To try paragliding before committing, the discovery day (€260) is on our paragliding courses page.
In this guide: the next dates, the day-by-day programme, the conditions to sign up, what comes after the beginner course and your questions.
The dates
Next beginner course dates
Dates, place, price and places left, taken from our course schedule. A session is confirmed from 5 participants.
22–26 March 2027, Gréolières (06), €700: 5 places left · Sign up
The programme
A 5-day paragliding course for beginners
The week day by day, from the first inflation to the first high flights.
Monday
Day one: welcome and introductions
Welcome, introduction to the school and the team, then a round of introductions in the group.
The first three days
The training slope
The first three days, in the morning, training-slope exercises to learn to handle the wing, with a video debrief to progress quickly.
The afternoons
Theory and preparing for the high flight
Theory lessons and step-by-step preparation for the high flight: introduction to the high-flight equipment, theory on every phase of flight, scouting of the take-off and landing.
The last two days
The first high flights
If all goes well, the last two days are those of the first high flights, supervised by your instructors. Equipment is provided.
Sign up
Who it is for, and how to sign up
For whom
Who can sign up: aged 14 to 55, 30 to 90 kg
Aged 14 to 55 (above that, we check together by phone), 30 to 90 kg, with a medical certificate less than 3 months old. No flying experience is required.
Licence
FFVL licence
The FFVL licence is compulsory to fly on a course. It is not included in the price: you take it out yourself with the federation before the course starts.
Booking
Booking: 25% deposit, decision 4 days before
A 25% deposit by bank transfer when you sign up. The session is confirmed from 5 participants; below that, you are on the waiting list, with no deposit. The decision is taken 4 days before; the balance is paid on site on the first day.
After the Beginner course
Next: the progression course
Independence is then built up on paragliding progression courses (5 days at €750, or 3 days at €450), first in calm conditions on the site you learnt on, then with active piloting and thermal flying, adapted to your level. With your own wing, you can also join the course at the Dune du Pilat.
Group accommodation possible during the 5 days, to arrange with us when booking.
To find out how you become independent and what the licence covers, read our guide to paragliding on your own.
The basics
Learn to paraglide
The steps, from the first flight to independent pilot: our guide to learning to paraglide.
Frequently asked questions
Beginner paragliding course: your questions
Price, duration, dates, licence, conditions and what comes next.
How much does a beginner paragliding course cost?
€700 for 5 days, equipment provided. The FFVL licence, which is compulsory, is not included: you take it out with the federation before the course.
Is there a 3-day or weekend beginner course?
No: the beginner course lasts 5 days only, the time a real progression takes. To try paragliding before committing, the discovery day (€260) lasts one day.
How does the course week go?
On Monday, welcome, introduction to the school and the team, and a round of introductions in the group. The first three days, training slope with a video debrief; in the afternoons, theory lessons on every phase of flight, an introduction to the high-flight equipment and a scouting of the take-off and landing. The last two days, if all goes well, the first high flights.
Do you fly solo on your first course?
Yes: after three days of training slope and theory, the last two days are, if all goes well, those of the first high flights, supervised by your instructors. Independence is then built up on progression courses.
When do the beginner courses take place?
The dates are in our course schedule, at Gréolières. We run courses in winter too: no courses from January to mid-February, when conditions are too uncertain, or in July and August, when they are too strong.
What are the conditions to sign up?
Being 14 to 55 years old (above that, we check together by phone), weighing 30 to 90 kg, providing a medical certificate less than 3 months old and taking out the FFVL licence. No flying experience is required.
How does booking work?
A 25% deposit by bank transfer when you sign up. The session is confirmed from 5 participants; below that, you are on the waiting list, with no deposit. The decision is taken 4 days before, and the balance is paid on site on the first day.
How many students per group?
7 students at most, with State-qualified instructors (DEJEPS and BEES), and a video debrief after every flight.
And after the beginner course?
The next step is the progression course (5 days at €750, or 3 days at €450), first in calm conditions on the site you learnt on, then with active piloting and thermal flying, adapted to your level.
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Written by the teamAiléments, paragliding & canyoning instructors
Based in Gréolières since 2013, we train student pilots from the beginner course to the progression course. State-qualified instructors (DEJEPS and BEES), more than 20 years of experience and 10,000 flights.
DEJEPS and BEES instructorsGroups of 7 at most1291+ reviews 5/510,000 flights
The training slope
