Cassis residents and visitors, treat yourselves to an exceptional free-flight experience. Our state-qualified instructors take you flying from the Préalpes d'Azur, 2 hours 30 minutes from the pearl of the calanques — flights of 20 to 60 minutes. From €140.
Cassis, pearl of the calanques, is 2 hours 30 minutes from the Préalpes d'Azur, where you can discover paragliding. From the village, you head to the Gréolières site in the Préalpes d'Azur, our main site.
Why go all the way up there? For the vertical drop, up to 1,000 m depending on the take-off: flights of 20 to 60 minutes, optimal aerological conditions, and a panorama from the Mercantour to the French Riviera coastline — see our paragliding in the Var page to find out more.
The round trip is done in a day, and the excursion combines very well with the canyoning near Cassis For a day’s ride: 100 % thrills. Ideally, make this the sporting highlight of a weekend on the French Riviera.
The pearl of the calanques, Cassis is 2 hours 30 minutes from Gréolières — the chance for a real French Riviera weekend: swap the coves for the mountains, with up to 1,000 m of vertical drop and flights of 10 to 60 minutes over the Préalpes d'Azur, between the Cheiron ridges, the Gorges du Loup and the peaks of the Mercantour.
This guide : the site, what we really see, the options, the process and the complete FAQ.
Take-off
Where to fly from Cassis?
To be completely transparent: we don't fly over the calanques. But 2 hours 30 minutes away, Gréolières offers real vertical drop (up to 1,000 m) and long flights.
Mont Lachens (1,714 m) is a fine free-flight site, with tandem flights available from La Roque-Esclapon.
At Ailéments, we fly at Gréolières: that is where our tandem flights and courses take place.
The Gorges du Loup, 700 m below
The hilltop villages The Préalpes d'Azur
La Mediterranean on the horizon, from Mercantour to the French Riviera coastline
A different kind of calanques spectacle — but flights of 20 to 60 minutes
The secret of Gréolières comes down to one thing: vertical drop. The Cheiron offers up to 1,000 m depending on the take-off, with a due-south aspect and over 250 flyable days a year. The result: long flights and reliable conditions, as reassuring for a first tandem flight as they are rewarding for anyone wishing to progress towards piloting.
Given the distance, many make it the active highlight of a weekend on the French Riviera. And back in Cassis, the flight pairs well with local pleasures: the calanques by boat or on foot, the colourful harbour or a tasting in the AOC Cassis vineyards. A canyon descent can also round off the programme. The neighbours are not to be outdone: people also come to fly from La Ciotat. The whole of the Bouches-du-Rhône (13) is covered on our Bouches-du-Rhône paragliding page.
Once in the air, the view stretches far: from the snow-capped Mercantour to the Mediterranean, taking in the limestone ridges of the Cheiron and the villages clinging to the mountainside. In a single flight, you take in both the sea and the peaks. Many make the outing a full day: a stop in a hilltop village, a picnic by the water, or an outdoor activity in the hinterland for those who want more.
In flight
The Azur Prealps from the sky
What awaits Cassidans on arrival: a preview of the Gréolières flight. Souvenir video option available (+€30), included in the Prestige and Educational flights.
Upon arrival, the change of scenery is complete: beneath the wing, the ridges of Cheiron, the Gorges du Loup, and the Mediterranean in the distance — the sea rediscovered, but from a mountain perspective. The onboard camera, held by your instructor, captures every moment. HD footage to relive and share once you're back at the calanques.
Our options
Our paragliding flight packages for Cassis
From gentle child fares to long-haul premium flights, an option for tandem flight For every craving. Identical prices regardless of your home county.
Educational flight €250Paragliding on skis €100Video option +€30
Each package caters to a wish: the Child flight (morning, from age 5) for a gentle start, the Ascending flight, our best-seller, for riding thermals, the Educational flight (45 min to 1 h, video included) for a taste of piloting, Ski paragliding in winter from Gréolières 1400, and the Prestige flight, a long flight with HD and 4K video. Everything is included — certified equipment, a state-qualified instructor, insurance — whichever department you come from.
On the day
How does a paragliding flight work?
A simple and reassuring experience, guided from start to finish by your state-certified instructor. Confirmation text message the day before – essential to avoid a pointless journey from Cassis.
Confirmation the day before
A text message with the time, depending on the weather. Meet at the Gréolières landing field, at the Ailéments school.
Scenic route
2h30: A8 towards Nice, Grasse, then the routes of the Pre-Alps. To be combined with an Azurean weekend.
Briefing & equipment
Safety instructions, harness, helmet. A few running steps into the wind and you are flying.
Flight & landing
20 to 60 mins depending on the option, then gently dropped off at the school gates.
In flight, nothing is mandatory: one can take control a few turns, request some stunts, or simply enjoy the peace and quiet. Upon landing, the instructor takes time for a debrief and gives you the video if you've ordered it. No physical fitness is required: a short run is all that's needed, and the flight is tailored to your mood on the day.
Gréolières operates flights almost all year round, with optimal conditions in spring and autumn, early-morning flights in summer and lovely clear days in winter. As we’re coming from Cassis, the flight is confirmed the day before by text message depending on the weather, and rescheduling is free — you only pay for your flight once you’re back on the ground.
Tandem flight is truly for everyone: families with children as young as 5, couples, groups for a birthday or a bachelor/bachelorette party, with dedicated slots. No physical preparation is required — the instructor pilots you along — and everyone adjusts their speed, from a smooth flight to tricks for those who enjoy sensations. It's often a revelation: many go away with the desire to start again, and some take the step of a progression course towards independent flying. All without commitment: you confirm the day before based on the weather, and you only pay once you've landed.
All in all, from Cassis, paragliding at Gréolières offers the finest of contrasts: you leave the coast in the morning to glide over the Préalpes d'Azur in the afternoon, between the Cheiron ridges and the Mediterranean. A first tandem flight, a gift or a big family first: all that's left is to choose your package, book your date and let yourself be carried away. Sea and mountains together in a single flight — an experience you will be talking about long after you have returned to the coast. The same getaway works for paragliding from Marseille, 2 hours 40 minutes away.
Our expertise
A family school, expert in websites since 2013
Not a tourist factory: a family-run school, based in Gréolières right by the landing field. State-qualified instructors, equipment checked every season at the workshop. Trainees coming from the Var can stay in partner accommodation on site.
Over 10,000 flights completedwithout serious accident, +1291 5/5 reviews. Free weather rescheduling, payment on site after the activity, no upfront fees.
Give a paragliding gift voucher: valid for 1 year, with no extension, the recipient chooses their date, for a Child, Ascending or Prestige flight. Ideal for a birthday, Christmas or a hen or stag do.
Frequently asked questions about paragliding in Cassis
Site, real panorama, season, journey, visit to Cassis, accessibility, weight, outfit, weather, video, training.
Where is the take-off site from Cassis?
Gréolières, in the Préalpes d'Azur: about 2 hours 30 minutes via the A8 towards Nice, then the scenic roads of the Préalpes. The drive crosses beautiful Provençal landscapes
GPS sent by SMS the day before.
What can you really see from Gréolières?
The Gorges du Loup 700 metres below, the hilltop villages, the Mediterranean on the horizon — from Mercantour to the coast.
A different show from the calanques, but of 20 to 60-minute flights in optimum conditions.
When is the best time to fly from Cassis?
+250 flyable days In PACA. Spring: regular temperatures. Summer: morning flights. Autumn: ideal visibility.
How long is the journey from Cassis?
About 2 hours 30 minutes: the A8 towards Nice, then Grasse and the roads of the Préalpes. Parking at the landing field, then a 4x4 ride up to take-off (about 20 min).
And on the village side: the calanques By boat or on foot, the colourful harbour, a tasting in the AOC Cassis vineyards.
Is paragliding accessible to all?
Yes, right from 5 years option Child flight At €100, flights are in the morning). No special physical condition required: instructors adapt their approach for young and old alike.
What is the maximum authorised weight for flying?
90 kg (Tandem equipment certification). Close to the limit? Contact us to discuss it.
What should I wear for a paragliding flight?
Even in summer in the Var, it's cooler at 1 800 m Closed shoes, long trousers, windbreaker jacket. Helmet and harness provided.
What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate?
Free rescheduling to another date that we will offer you, nothing to pay until the flight has taken place. Text message the day before – essential to avoid an unnecessary trip from Cassis.
Can I give a paragliding gift voucher?
Yes: a gift card valid for one year, with no extension, for a Child, Ascending or Prestige flight.
Can I film my paragliding flight?
Yes, there is a GoPro video option at +€30 (included in the Prestige and Educational flights): take-off, flight over the ridges, landing. Transferred to your phone.
Can I take a paragliding course after my first flight?
Yes Discovery course (1 day, €260), Beginner course (5 days, €700), Progression course (5 days, €750), up to certification. See our paragliding school in the PACA region.
PY
Guide written byPierre-Yves Fenet · Ailéments
Free flight DEJEPS instructor canyoning, founder of'Ailéments in 2013. Over 20 years of free flying experience. The school regularly hosts Cassidians for weekend trips on the French Riviera.
Vol en parapente en cadeau d'anniversaire de mon fils de 9ans. Super expérience, super accueil, vraiment adapté aux enfants! Une très belle expérience a renouveler !
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hannah khel yasa
It was a great experience for us especially for our first time in paragliding. Very friendly and accomodating staff. Would definitely go there again next time
C
Christel VINCENT
Accueil top, super vol en parapente avec une vue magique sur les montagnes à couper le souffle. Merci Pierrot pour cette expérience et à toute l'équipe pour l'encadrement ! Toujours trop court, on aimerait que ça dure encore un peu.
A
Anne Marie Bottoni
Cadeau très apprécié par mon petit fils Pierrot l’a accompagné en toute confiance, un vrai professionnel et de plus très sympathique
Remy Salmieri
Magnifique super équipe vraiment rien à redire
Pascale Pflieger
Très pro!!!
Vanessa Leskinen
Un superbe baptême de parapente en tandem avec ma sœur, chacune accompagnée d’un pilote. Sympas et détendus, Pierrot et Pierre-Yves nous ont tout de suite mises en confiance : aucune appréhension. Nous avons été agréablement surprises par la douceur du décollage et de l’atterrissage. Et entre les deux, des paysages magnifiques ! J’ai même pu prendre les commandes et diriger le parapente pendant quelques minutes… un vrai régal. Deux pilotes très professionnels, que nous recommandons sans hésiter pour un premier vol.
Jack White
Best day out, we did paragliding and then the canyoning. Great value for money and our instruction was excellent we always felt very safe.
I have done canyoning in a few countries and this was the best I have done by far. It was a beautiful gorge and had the clearest water.
We would book again if we ever came back to the area for sure!
Katell Briand
L'activité était vraiment incroyable, merci aux pilotes de nous avoir mis à l'aise et fait vivre ce moment !!
Warda Tahir
Peirrot and his team were amazing! I had a lot of fun. The experience was far more comfortable than I had expected
Paragliding tandem flight Bar-sur-Loup : prices from €140, views of the Gorges du Loup and the French Riviera, Sites 15-25 mins away, state-qualified instructors.
Book your first-time paragliding experience Gréolières : prices from €140, take-off at 1,800 metres on the Cheiron, Panoramic views of the French Riviera and Mercantour.
Cassis → 06
