Paragliding above Antalya. Photo by G.Ozcan via Flickr
In summer, the estimated 11 million visitors to Antalya tilt their faces to the sky both to enjoy the warmth of the sun and watch the skies fill with hang gliders, paragliders and other small aircraft. The wind patterns and air thermals flowing around the surrounding Taurus Mountains make the region ideal for paragliding and hang gliding in Antalya, while the setting provides a cinematic backdrop, as well as dozens of excellent take-off and landing spots. In ideal conditions, passengers and pilots can soar upwards of 6,000 feet.
East and west of Antalya, dozens of flight companies offer the chance to take flight and are not hard to find, in fact, they’ll probably come to you in the city’s tourist centers. Kas and Mount Olympos, about two-three hours southwest of Antalya are particular favorite spots.
For beginners and novices, tandem flights are strongly recommended. In addition to an experienced pilot at the helm, the coupling requires far less training before the flight as the pilot does most of the work. All passengers need are a pair of sturdy shoes, a bottle of water, and your camera. Sunscreen is also strongly recommended on some days as however cool the wind is, exposure to the sun is high.
A certain measure of able bodiedness is required for paragliding and hang gliding. People with epilepsy, asthma and heart conditions should not partake. Weight can also be an issue, especially on tandems, where only so much can be supported. Generally, anyone over 230 pounds may have difficulty finding a pilot. Age can be another factor, with minimum being 16 years old and maximum, 55 or so, but the upper ranges depend on the health of the person.
Most flights last about 20-30 minutes and cost around $100. Longer times are available, but this depends on weather conditions as much as cost. Should you want a more acrobatic experience in the air, ask your pilot but be ready for the result. If paragliding and hang gliding are old hat, other areal machines are often available including microlights and paramotors.