Paragliding in Megève

The canopy billows behind you, a gentle lift-off, then the valley opens beneath your feet, with the village of Megève below and Mont-Blanc on the horizon. From the summit of the Rochebrune cable car, at 1755m, tandem paragliding is available year-round, and in winter sometimes with skis on. Here are the schools that fly from Megève, the launch sites, how a first flight unfolds, and what you need to know before taking to the air.

Four schools offering flights from Megève

The tourist office confirms that all tandem flights in Megève are supervised by state-qualified instructors. Four schools offer flights, with different seasons.

• Evolution 2 Megève flies in winter from the summit of the Rochebrune cable car, with departures at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3.30pm and 5pm. Its entry at the tourist office also mentions a “Performance” flight of 40 minutes and a sunset flight at 6pm, landing in the Cassioz plain near Praz-sur-Arly.
• Megève Aventure Parapente, whose instructors claim between 18 and 38 years of experience, launches in winter near the picnic tables between the cable car summit and the Le Super Megève restaurant. It also flies from Praz-sur-Arly, departing from the Crêt du Midi and Ban Rouge.
• The Bureau des Guides de Megève offers tandem winter paragliding from the Rochebrune cable car or from the Praz-sur-Arly pistes: a discovery flight of 15 to 25 minutes over the valley.
• Megève Parapente, which has offered first flights since 1990, operates in summer from the opening of the seasonal cable car (4 July to 6 September in 2026), and in spring and autumn by phone reservation. Its flights descend from Rochebrune to the Praz-sur-Arly plain at 1000m: 755m of altitude loss, for a flight of roughly one hour.

Flying in winter, skis on your feet

In winter, take-off is from the snow at Rochebrune’s summit. At Evolution 2, you arrive in ski boots with your skis, or in après-ski boots depending on conditions: departure with skis on only happens if the snow and terrain allow. Warm clothing, gloves and a hat are mandatory.

At Megève Aventure Parapente, the winter flight lasts 10 to 15 minutes for roughly 600m of altitude loss above Megève. You land at the foot of the Rochebrune cable car, outside the ski area, in an unprepared zone near the Pioupiou beginner area: you thus land at the starting point for the lift.

How a first flight works

Depending on the school, you meet at the Rochebrune cable car ticket office 10 to 15 minutes before departure, or directly at the summit. All equipment is provided, including helmet. There is no freefall sensation: take-off is gentle, then you glide over forests, valleys and the village below.

Packages vary between schools: discovery flights in calm air, “sensation” flights with tight turns, or longer flights in thermals in summer. If conditions permit, the instructor may hand you the controls briefly; Megève Parapente even offers a series of three piloting initiation flights, from age 10. At Evolution 2, you can request video of your flight from the instructor.

AEC’s tip. Flights only depart in good weather: book early in your stay to have spare days in case of postponement. In winter, pack a pair of après-ski boots even if you plan to take off with skis on: instructors request this when snow conditions don’t allow it.

Age, weight and qualifications

Evolution 2 accepts passengers from age 6 or 25kg, Megève Parapente from 6 to 66, and the Bureau des Guides from age 8 and 20kg. At Megève Parapente, adult packages have a 90kg limit, children’s flights start at 15 or 30kg depending on the package: best to state your height and weight when booking.

In France, a paid tandem flight can only be operated by a pilot holding a professional state qualification (state certificate, BPJEPS or DEJEPS), with insurance covering the passenger. The tandem qualification issued by the French federation of free flight allows only non-paid flights. Megève Parapente does publish online the qualifications, licences and 2026 insurance of its two instructors.

Where to stay

The Rochebrune cable car is a fifteen-minute walk from Megève’s centre, with underground parking beneath the station: a chalet on the Rochebrune side puts the launch within minutes. For a more contemplative experience, early in the morning, see our page on hot-air ballooning in Megève, where balloons depart from Praz-sur-Arly, our page on Megève’s ski area, and our guide What to do in Megève in winter. Our agents can guide you according to your group: find our chalets and apartments in Megève.

A few minutes of silence above snowy rooftops, Mont-Blanc on the horizon, then snow underfoot once more at the cable car base: the kind of flight you’ll still be telling people about over dinner that evening.

Frequently asked questions