Hang Gliding: the 10 Best Tandem Flights in the World

1.Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 760 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $229Our pick

Run from Rio’s 525-meter Pedra Bonita platform with an instructor such as Konrad, Klaus, Claudio, or Maurice, then glide above São Conrado, Sugar Loaf, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Guanabara Bay. The 2 to 3-hour outing includes training and equipment, but weather delays and a separate club fee are part of the deal. Optional camera footage captures the flight.

“It was such an amazing experience. There was a moment where I was a little nervous but my guide was so calm and professional, he made it easy for me to enjoy the activity.”

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2.Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding Tandem Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 426 reviews · 2h 30m · from $301

Meet your pilot in São Conrado, ride by jeep into Tijuca National Park, and launch from Pedra Bonita at 520 meters. Your 7 to 15 minute tandem flight ends on São Conrado Beach. Pilots such as Beto, Bebe, Renato, and Dudu provide calm instruction, while a front-facing HD video records the flight.

“Fantastic! My guide was AMAZING! Got to do the coolest tricks in the air. The guy who was handling my videos was super amazing and nice. I had an absolute blast. The 360 video was SO worth the upgrade. Truly a great time.”

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3.Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding or Paragliding Flights

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 132 reviews · 1 hour · from $381

Meet Ricardo Hamond’s team on São Conrado Beach, then ride to Pedra Bonita for a tandem hang-gliding or paragliding flight. Ricardo has flown since 1987 and completed more than 25,000 flights. Your pilot chooses the format based on weather, weight, and availability, with English, Spanish, and Portuguese support.

“Ricardo was a very good guide, I felt safe at all times. The logistics were very well planned.”

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4.Beginner Hang Gliding Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 3 hours · from $149Best value

At Kitty Hawk Kites, you begin with 30 minutes of ground school, then walk across Jockey’s Ridge with your helmet and harness for five low training flights. Instructors such as Larson, Brad, Ben, Drake, and Cooper have guided beginners through the process. Bring water, sun protection, and enough energy for soft sand and short runs.

“We had a great time! Michael and Josh were very informative and lead us "ole timers" through the procedure step-by-step. Would definitely do this again!”

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5.Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding or Paragliding Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · 2 hours · from $261

Meet your pilot at São Conrado Beach, ride into Tijuca Forest National Park, and launch from Pedra Bonita by hang glider or paraglider. You’ll receive training and safety equipment before flying over the forest, Rocinha, ocean, and Rio’s beaches. Pilots including Paulo, Felipe, Ricardo, and Marcos have guided flights here.

“Can’t think of any faults, the guides were super quick and informative, easy transport to the top & swift service”

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6.Birdlike Hang Gliding Lucerne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 3 hours · from $342

Join Fredy and the Birdlike team at Mt Stanserhorn for Switzerland’s highest tandem hang-gliding flight. After a short briefing, run three or four steps and lift off in a lying position above Lake Lucerne, with 20 to 60 minutes in the air. Cable-car fees and optional photos cost extra.

“Wonderful, thrilling experience hang gliding in the Alps!! Spectacular views, hearing cow bells and going through clouds while flying and soaring like a bird over such beautiful terrain was the best!!”

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7.Hang gliding in Valle de Bravo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes · from $208

Meet ViveValle at Sky Cafe in Temascaltepec de González, then ride through the forest to the launch area. A professional pilot, including the experienced Potro, guides your 30-minute hang-gliding flight around El Peñon. The private outing lasts about 2.5 hours and runs in English. Photos and video cost extra.

“The actual flying. "Potro" has a lot of experience doing his job, he gave me a lot of confidence. Definitely recommended.”

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8.Queenstown: Tandem Hang Gliding Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 2 hours · from $208

Meet the SkyTrek team at the Ziptrek Ecotours Shop, then head toward a Coronet Peak launch site for a tandem hang-gliding flight with a certified English-speaking pilot. You will see Queenstown’s mountains, forests, and lakes from above. The small group is limited to five, with optional photos and video available at extra cost.

“Den var helt i top. jeg forventede at skille flyve over Queenstown, men blev glædeligt overrasket over at vi skulle køre ud til er negrt højere bjerg og derved fik en længere flyvetur. Jeg er vildt begejstret 😄😄”

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9.Tandem Hang Gliding

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $222

Fly tandem from Coronet Peak with SkyTrek Tandems, accompanied by a qualified pilot and ground crew. After a safety briefing, you launch over Queenstown’s forests, lakes, and mountains, then land on the valley floor about 3.7 km away. The 1.5-hour experience includes central pickup, equipment, and a maximum of five people.

“everything was memorable.. it was one heck of an experience!! i felt safe during the flite!! thanks to Ian!! would recommend it to everyone thinkin of doing it!!”

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10.Grandy Tandem Hang Gliding 2000′ – Outer Banks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 1 hour · from $199

At Grandy, near the site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, you’ll take off in a tandem hang glider towed behind an aircraft to 2,000 feet. USHPA-certified instructors, including Charlie, handle the flight while you enjoy the views and try the controls. The experience lasts about an hour and welcomes first-time flyers.

“We had such a wonderful tandem hang gliding experience! It was truly a beautiful day, and we felt like we were flying like birds. The morning weather caused a short delay, but that was out of anyone’s control and well worth the wait. Overall, an unforgettable experience that we’re so glad we did!”

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