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Complete guide

The complete guide to paragliding in Reunion Island

Everything you need to know about tandem paragliding in Saint-Leu: flight sites, conditions, packages, practical tips. By Air Lagon, pioneers since 1984.

Why Reunion Island is one of the best paragliding spots in the world

Reunion Island is internationally recognised as one of the best paragliding destinations in the world. The island enjoys exceptional weather conditions: the steady south-easterly trade winds and the microclimate of the west coast make it possible to fly around 300 days a year — a ratio very few sites in the world can match.

Paragliding in Reunion Island offers landscapes found nowhere else. Within minutes of take-off you fly over a turquoise lagoon fringed with coral reefs, sugarcane fields, a primary forest listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and spectacular volcanic cirques. No other paragliding site packs so much diversity into such a small territory.

Saint-Leu, on the island's west coast, is the historic and most renowned flight site. Its aerological conditions are among the most stable in the Indian Ocean. It is here that John Jourdain made Reunion Island's first paragliding flight in November 1984, and where the pilot community grew to make the island a world reference.

300days/year
flyable
3sites
take-off
2,200m
max. altitude
12months
of season

The take-off sites in Saint-Leu

Saint-Leu offers three distinct take-off sites, each providing a different flight experience. From an introductory flight accessible to all, to an exceptional flight for enthusiasts, there is an altitude for every wish.

Les Colimaçons (800 m)

800 m

Saint-Leu's main site. Take-off facing the lagoon with a stunning view over Kélonia, the coral reefs and the sugarcane fields. Accessible by car and by bus (Kar'ouest lines 30, 31, 37, 42). It is Reunion Island's most reliable take-off site, operational around 300 days a year thanks to the south-easterly trade winds.

Air Lagon private site (1,600 m)

1,600 m

Above the Saint-Leu primary forest. A unique early-morning departure offering an exceptional panorama from Étang-Salé to Saint-Paul. This site is reserved exclusively for Air Lagon's Panoramic Flight package. Take-off takes place in a preserved natural setting, overlooking the entire west coast of Reunion Island.

Le Maïdo (2,200 m)

2,200 m

The most spectacular flight on the island. After a walk through the forest to the edge of the rampart, you take off facing the Mafate cirque and the Piton des Neiges (3,070 m), the highest point in the Indian Ocean. An exceptional thermal flight that can last up to 1 hour, reserved for enthusiasts and adventurers.

The different flight packages

Air Lagon offers 5 tandem flight packages suited to every profile, from 90 to 299 euros. Each package is led by a state-certified instructor.

Vol Découverte

90€
Duration : 15-20 min
Altitude : 800 m

Ideal for a first flight or for children

Vol Long

100€
Duration : 25-30 min
Altitude : 800 m

To enjoy the scenery a little longer

Vol Extra Long

Populaire
115€
Duration : 30-40 min
Altitude : 800 m

Our best-seller, the best quality/duration ratio

Vol Panoramique

140€
Duration : 25-30 min
Altitude : 1600 m

For lovers of thrills and wide-open spaces

Vol du Maïdo

Premium
299€
Duration : 45-60 min
Altitude : 2200 m

The ultimate experience, for enthusiasts

The best season to fly

Dry season (May - November)

The most stable conditions of the year. The trade winds blow steadily, offering optimal visibility and long flights. This is the high tourist season and the ideal time to discover paragliding in Reunion Island.

Wet season (December - April)

Conditions are more variable, but morning flights remain possible most of the time. The 7am-10am slots are the most reliable. It is also the period when the vegetation is at its most lush, offering verdant landscapes.

All year round

Thanks to its exceptional microclimate, Reunion Island allows flying around 300 days a year. There is no bad season for paragliding in Saint-Leu. Tip: morning flights (7am-10am) offer the calmest conditions in any season.

Practical tips for your first flight

A few recommendations to make the most of your paragliding experience in Reunion Island.

  1. 1

    Book 24 to 48 hours ahead, especially in high season (June to October). Morning slots are the most in demand.

  2. 2

    Wear closed shoes (trainers or hiking shoes) and comfortable clothing you can run a few steps in.

  3. 3

    Bring a light jacket: it is noticeably cooler at altitude, particularly for flights from 1,600 m or 2,200 m.

  4. 4

    Eat light before the flight. Avoid heavy meals in the 2 hours before take-off.

  5. 5

    Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time at the meeting point (46 Rue Général de Gaulle, Saint-Leu).

  6. 6

    There is no particular contraindication: vertigo is not felt in paragliding, and people with ear problems can fly without difficulty.

  7. 7

    The video and photo option is a great souvenir. Your instructor films with an onboard GoPro and hands you the files after the flight.

Why choose Air Lagon?

Air Lagon has been the benchmark for tandem paragliding in Reunion Island since 1984. Here is what sets us apart.

Pioneers since 1984

John Jourdain made Reunion Island's very first paragliding flight in November 1984 from the heights of Saint-Leu. Air Lagon is the island's oldest school, with 42 years of uninterrupted experience.

50,000+ flights completed

Air Lagon is the largest tandem paragliding school in Reunion Island by number of flights completed. A unique experience, built on over four decades of passion and dedication.

Qualité Tourisme label

Air Lagon is the only paragliding operator in Reunion Island to hold the Qualité Tourisme label, awarded by the French Ministry of the Economy. Winners of the Reunion Island Tourism Trophy in 2008 for the quality of their services.

4.9/5 on TripAdvisor

219 glowing reviews on TripAdvisor with a 4.9/5 rating. Passengers highlight the passion, professionalism and kindness of the state-certified instructors.

Frequently asked questions about paragliding in Reunion Island

Answers to the most common questions about tandem paragliding in Reunion Island and Saint-Leu.

Ready to fly?

Book your tandem paragliding flight in Saint-Leu and live a unique experience above the Reunion Island lagoon.

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06 92 87 52 877h00 - 18h00, 7j/746 Rue Général de Gaulle, 97436 Saint-Leu, La Réunion