Lefkada paragliding tandem flighs/ Kathisma beach

Kathisma Beach is one of the best places in Lefkada to try tandem paragliding. You run a few steps beside your instructor, the wing lifts, and suddenly you are looking down on the Greek coast from the air. No previous experience is needed, which makes this a simple way to try a serious-looking adventure.

I like two things here: the instructor, Stavros Kostoulas, has more than 30 years of experience and over 7,000 tandem flights, and the GoPro video is included in the $147 price. The main consideration is the short flight time. Fifteen minutes can feel wonderfully full, but the cost is high if you want a long airborne session.

Key points at a glance

• A few running steps start the flight: Your instructor handles the wing and tells you exactly what to do before take-off.
• Stavros Kostoulas brings serious experience: The provider identifies him as a certified instructor with more than 30 years in the sport and over 7,000 tandem flights.
• Kathisma Beach supplies the setting: You fly above one of western Lefkada’s most striking coastal areas.
• Your flight is recorded: A GoPro video is included, so you can keep a record of the short flight.
• The group is private: You fly with your instructor rather than as part of a large shared group.
• The limits matter: The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, vertigo, pre-existing medical conditions, recent surgery, or anyone over 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms.

Taking off above Kathisma Beach

The appeal of this flight is immediate. You arrive at Kathisma Beach, meet at the entrance of the Copla summer club, and prepare for a view that is impossible to get from the sand. The beach, sea, and western coast open below you as the wing carries you above the shoreline.

The meeting point is simple, but it is worth paying attention to the exact wording when you book. The start is in front of the entrance to Copla, a familiar beach club. The flight also ends back at this meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from another part of the beach.

Your instructor begins by helping you put on a helmet and get seated in the tandem harness. You receive a short explanation of the take-off process. The briefing is not presented as a long lesson, because you are not expected to fly the equipment yourself. Your job is mainly to listen, follow the instructions, and run for a few metres at the right moment.

That short run is the most active part of the start. The instructor lifts the wing and tells you when to move. Once you are airborne, the effort drops away and the flight becomes a seated ride through the air. This is useful for first-time flyers: you get the thrill of launch without needing to understand every part of the equipment.

What the 15-minute flight feels like

The advertised flight lasts 15 minutes. That is long enough to give you a proper taste of tandem paragliding, but it is not a half-day flying course or an extended aerial outing. I would treat it as a focused adventure that fits neatly into a beach day.

At first, your attention will likely stay on the basic sensation of leaving the ground. After that, the view takes over. From above, Kathisma Beach becomes a different place. You can look down toward the shoreline and out across the western side of Lefkada while remaining securely attached to the instructor.

The description of the activity emphasizes freedom, relaxation, joy, and the chance to see your friends from above. Those ideas make sense for a tandem flight. You do not need to manage the wing, plot a route, or learn a complicated control system. Your instructor takes care of the technical work while you concentrate on the view and the feeling of being airborne.

The flight is also private, which matters more than it might seem. You are not being packed into a large group with a fixed audience. The instructor can focus on you and your take-off, and the activity has a more personal feel from start to finish.

Still, keep the timing in perspective. A 15-minute flight may pass quickly, especially if you spend the first few minutes adjusting to the sensation. The $147 price reflects the specialist instruction, equipment, private format, and video, not a long period in the air. I would book it for the memory and the unusual view, not because it is the cheapest way to spend time at Kathisma Beach.

A certified instructor with thousands of flights

The strongest practical reason to consider this outing is the instructor’s background. Greece Paragliding, Fly & Fun, identifies Stavros Kostoulas as a certified instructor with more than 30 years of experience and over 7,000 tandem flights.

Those numbers do not remove every part of the adventure, but they should help first-time flyers feel more at ease. Paragliding looks dramatic from the ground. Your instructor is responsible for preparing the wing, attaching you correctly, choosing the right moment to launch, and managing the flight.

You should still take the briefing seriously. Listen for the instructions about your feet, your running pace, and when to sit back into the harness. The take-off involves a short run, so sports shoes are required. Sandals or loose beach footwear are a poor choice for an activity that begins on your feet.

Instruction is available in English, German, and Greek. That gives you a useful choice at the meeting point, especially if you are more comfortable receiving safety directions in one of those languages.

The activity is described as safe, but no adventure activity is risk-free. The health restrictions are important rather than decorative. Do not book if you are pregnant, have heart problems, vertigo, another pre-existing medical condition, or recent surgery. The published weight limit is 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms.

The GoPro video adds real value

A free recording is included, made with a GoPro camera. This is one of the best details in the package because the person flying usually has no spare hands for photos or video.

The video gives you a record of the take-off and flight, although the supplied information does not specify the exact format, delivery method, or how long the camera records. Ask the provider about those details if the video is a major reason for booking.

You should bring a charged smartphone anyway. That is specifically listed among the things to bring, and it is sensible for meeting your instructor, staying reachable, or handling any arrangements around the activity.

The video also makes the price easier to assess. At $147 per person, this is not a low-cost beach activity. The charge covers an instructor, tandem equipment, a private group arrangement, a 15-minute flight, and the recording. If you value a permanent souvenir of the flight, the package becomes more attractive than a simple short ride with no record.

Why Kathisma Beach works for this activity

Kathisma Beach gives this flight its character. You are not simply sitting in the air above an anonymous launch site. You begin at a well-known beach on the western side of Lefkada, with the coast as the main visual feature.

The activity description focuses on the sensation of greeting friends from a bird’s-eye view. That makes the flight a fun option for couples, families with eligible adult participants, or small private groups who want to watch one another take off and land.

You should remember that the flight itself is the central event. The activity does not list a separate beach tour, sightseeing stop, meal, or transport service. If you want to spend more time at Kathisma Beach, plan that separately around the flight.

The beach setting also means practical footwear matters. Bring sports shoes, not just the footwear you use for swimming or walking on sand. The provider also asks you to bring a charged smartphone, so keep it accessible before and after the flight rather than trying to carry it loosely during take-off.

Who will get the most from the $147 price

I would recommend this for someone who wants a first tandem paragliding experience without committing to a full lesson. You receive direct instruction, a short flight, and a video, with no need for previous experience.

It also suits people who care about scenery. Kathisma Beach is the reason to choose this particular outing over an indoor or land-based adventure. You are paying for height, open coastal views, and the unusual memory of seeing the beach from above.

The private-group format should appeal to people who dislike crowded activity tours. It gives the outing a more personal rhythm, though the provided information does not state how many people can be included in each private group.

I would be more cautious if you are mainly looking for value by the hour. Fifteen minutes is a short activity, and $147 is a substantial price for that amount of flying time. The cost makes more sense if you place a high value on the instructor’s long record, the coastal setting, and the included video.

People with vertigo should not book this activity. The same applies to anyone with a listed medical restriction, recent surgery, or a body weight above 100 kilograms. These conditions are not minor footnotes. Check them before paying.

Timing, cancellation, and the meeting point

The activity lasts 15 minutes, but you should allow extra time around that for meeting the instructor, getting fitted with a helmet and harness, and receiving the take-off briefing. The available starting times depend on the date, so you need to check availability when selecting your slot.

You meet in front of the entrance to the Copla summer club on the beach. The activity ends at the same place, which keeps the plan simple for anyone spending the day at Kathisma Beach.

The booking terms are flexible. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the scheduled activity for a full refund. That is helpful when your Lefkada plans depend on weather or changing beach days, though the information provided does not give a separate weather policy.

The provider offers the activity in English, German, and Greek. The group type is private, and the listed provider is Greece Paragliding, Fly & Fun, operated by Stavros Kostoulas.

My final call: book it for the view, not the duration

I would book this tandem flight if you want a memorable first taste of paragliding above Lefkada and are comfortable paying $147 for 15 minutes in the air. The certified instructor’s long experience, private format, and free GoPro recording make the package easier to justify.

I would skip it if you are unsure about heights, have vertigo, need a longer activity, or are trying to keep your beach day inexpensive. For the right person, though, a few running steps at Kathisma Beach lead to a rare view and a story you can replay on video afterward.

FAQ

Do I need previous paragliding experience?

No. The activity is designed for participants without previous experience. The instructor gives you a short take-off tutorial and manages the tandem flight.

How long does the flight last?

The flight lasts 15 minutes. Check availability for the starting times offered on your chosen date.

How much does the tandem flight cost?

The listed price is $147 per person.

Where do I meet the instructor?

Meet in front of the entrance to the Copla summer club on Kathisma Beach.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Is a video included?

Yes. A video of the flight, recorded with a GoPro camera, is included.

What languages are available?

Instruction is available in English, German, and Greek.

What should I bring?

Bring sports shoes and a charged smartphone.

Who should not take this activity?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with heart problems, vertigo, pre-existing medical conditions, recent surgeries, or anyone over 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms.