The sun
South face: the sun sets off the thermals early
The site faces due south: it catches the first rays of the sun early in the morning, which set off the slope breezes and the first thermals, in winter too.
Winter · French Riviera
Winter paragliding on the French Riviera: fly and learn in the sun
Yes, you can paraglide in winter. At Gréolières, 50 min from Nice, the south face catches the sun early in the morning and you fly facing the Mediterranean and the snow-capped Mercantour. Courses in November-December and from mid-February to March, Prestige flight, ski flights when there is snow.
- South face, sea and Mercantour views
- Courses November-December and mid-February-March
- Ski flights from age 10
- 1,291+ reviews ★★★★★
Winter, facing the sea- Winter coursesNov.-Dec. · mid-Feb.-March
- ClosedJanuary to mid-February
- The siteGréolières · 50 mins from Nice
- Ski flight€100 · depending on snow
- ClothingWarm, bring your own
Can you paraglide in winter? Yes. The winter sun heats less: thermals are generally weaker, the air calmer and the days shorter. In the Alps, winter means snow and ski flights; on the French Riviera, you also fly above the sea.
At Ailéments, at Gréolières, we fly and train our students in winter, except from January to mid-February, when conditions are too uncertain. The rest of the winter, it is a little colder, but a course runs just as in any other season.
In this guide: why Gréolières flies well in winter, winter courses and their dates, what to wear, ski flights, a first flight in winter, and answers to the most common questions.
The site
Why Gréolières flies well in winter
Three assets of the Gréolières site when the days get shorter.
The wind
Sheltered in a light north wind
The Loup valley breeze carries the flight, and with a light north wind on the ridges, you fly sheltered in the aerological « bell ». Pierrot explains it on our Gréolières 1400 page.
The view
The sea and the snow-capped Mercantour
From Gréolières, the view stretches over the Mediterranean, the whole French Riviera and the Mercantour, white with snow in winter. More than 250 flyable days a year in the region.
Learning in winter
Doing a paragliding course in winter
Our courses run from September to December and from mid-February to June: November, December, late February and March are course months. No courses from January to mid-February, when conditions are too uncertain, or in July and August, when they are too strong.
In winter, groups are smaller and the programme follows the conditions of the day; the session is confirmed or postponed 4 days before the first day, and a day without flying is spent on theory and ground exercises. All our paragliding courses are in the schedule, from the Discovery day to progression courses.
Coming from Nice, the Var or elsewhere in the region? See our Nice paragliding school, our Var paragliding school or our PACA paragliding school. The whole path, up to the licence: our paragliding training page.
Next Beginner course dates (5 days, €700)
- 22–26 March 2027, Gréolières (06), €700: 5 places left · Sign up
Next Progression course dates (5 days, €750, or 3 days, €450)
- 10–14 May 2027, Gréolières (06), €750: 7 places left · Sign up
What to wear
What to wear for a paragliding course in winter
The flying equipment is provided; warm clothes are up to you.
What to bring
Warm trousers, down jacket, gloves
Dress as for a winter day in the mountains: warm trousers, a down jacket and gloves, with closed shoes. We do not provide clothing.
Provided
Wing, harness, helmet, radio
Aerotech A1 school wing, harness with reserve parachute, helmet and radio are provided, serviced by Aerotech at Gréolières.
Why
Why wrap up: it is colder in flight
At the 1,800 m take-off and under the wing, the air is colder than down below: hands and body cool down quickly if you are not well covered.
In the snow
Flying in the snow: ski flights at Gréolières-les-Neiges
Can you paraglide in the snow? Yes, in tandem with an instructor: take-off on skis from the Gréolières-les-Neiges ski resort, a flight over the slopes with a view of the Mediterranean, then a gentle landing.
The ski flight costs €100. It runs in winter, when there is enough snow, from age 10 and up to 90 kg; you need a valid ski pass and to be able to run a few metres at take-off.
Book a ski flight
On video
The ski flight on video
A take-off on skis at Gréolières-les-Neiges.
A first flight
Making a first paragliding flight in winter
A tandem flight with an instructor, from November to December and from mid-February to March.
Gréolières · €250
The Prestige flight, facing the sea and the Mercantour
45 minutes to 1 hour of flying, longer and further, above Gréolières with a view of the Mediterranean and the snow-capped Mercantour; the video is included. The details: our Prestige flight.
Christmas · valid for 1 year
Give a flight at Christmas
To give a flight at Christmas, think of the paragliding gift voucher, valid for 1 year.
More rarely, in winter, in December then from mid-February to March, we also fly at Mont Gros, above Monaco and the sea: see our paragliding Roquebrune Cap Martin page.
Pilots
Licensed pilots: a course or a supervised day in winter
Not stopping for several months keeps your reflexes sharp for spring.
5 or 3 days
A winter Progression course
€750 for 5 days or €450 for 3 days, open to pilots trained at another school: see our paragliding progression course.
1 day · €180
A day à la carte
At least one Beginner course and a last flight less than a year ago: join a course for a supervised day, bookable in the course schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Winter paragliding: your questions
Season, January, rain, snow, clothing and sign-up conditions.
Is it possible to paraglide in winter?
Yes. Thermals are generally weaker and the days shorter, but you can fly in winter: at Gréolières, we fly and train our students in November-December and from mid-February to March, facing the sea and the Mercantour.
Can you do a paragliding course in January?
Not with us: the school is closed from January to mid-February, when conditions are too uncertain. Winter courses take place in November and December, then resume in mid-February.
What is the ideal period for paragliding?
For a course at Gréolières: from mid-February to June and from September to December. No courses in July and August, when conditions are too strong. To read the weather for a flying day, see our flying conditions page.
Is it possible to paraglide when it rains?
No. Rain, storms and wind that is too strong are unflyable conditions, in winter as in summer. On a course, a day without flying is spent on theory and ground exercises; a tandem flight is postponed free of charge.
Can you paraglide in the snow?
Yes, with the ski flight: tandem take-off on skis from Gréolières-les-Neiges, €100, in winter when there is enough snow, from age 10 and with a valid ski pass.
How should you dress to fly in winter?
Warm trousers, a down jacket, gloves and closed shoes: it is colder at take-off and in flight. The flying equipment is provided, not the clothing.
What are the conditions for a winter course?
The same as in any season: aged 14 to 55 (beyond that, we check together by phone), 30 to 90 kg, a medical certificate less than 3 months old and the FFVL licence, taken out by the student with the federation.
The essentials
Winter paragliding: what to remember
Four pointers before booking.
1
You can fly in winter on the French Riviera
South face, shelter in a light north wind, a view of the sea and the snow-capped Mercantour.
2
Courses in November-December and from mid-February to March
Closed from January to mid-February; dates in the schedule, session confirmed 4 days before.
3
Warm clothing not provided: trousers, down jacket, gloves
Warm trousers, down jacket, gloves; the flying equipment is provided.
4
Prestige flight and ski flight
Prestige at Gréolières (€250, video included), ski flight at Gréolières-les-Neiges (€100) when there is snow.
