Why Réunion is a great paragliding island
Paragliding at Saint-Leu, on Réunion Island, rests on a rare combination. The island is a volcano set in the Indian Ocean: on the west coast, the ground climbs from the shore to 2,200 metres within a handful of kilometres. The south-easterly trade winds run up that slope and feed steady lift. Les Colimaçons is flyable around 300 days a year, sea breeze and thermals taking turns from morning to evening.
The scenery does the rest. You take off facing the ocean, cross the sugar cane fields and the Mascarin botanical gardens, then reach the turquoise lagoon and its coral reefs. You land at the water’s edge, a few hundred metres from Kélonia, the sea turtle observatory. Few sites in the world link mountain and lagoon within a single flight.
The three take-off sites at Saint-Leu
Les Colimaçons, 800 metres. This is the historic site of Réunion paragliding: the island’s first flight took off here in November 1984, from the heights of Saint-Leu (the history of paragliding in Réunion). It remains the most reliable site on the island and takes most of the tandem flights. There is no walk-in: a shuttle drives up to take-off along the mountain road, in about ten minutes.
The Air Lagon private site, 1,600 metres. It overlooks the primary forest and opens only for the early departure of the Panoramic Flight, one rotation a day. The view reaches from Étang-Salé to Saint-Paul, across the whole west coast.
Le Maïdo, 2,200 metres. The most spectacular flight on the island. After a short walk through the forest to the rampart, the tandem takes off facing the Mafate cirque and the Piton des Neiges, which peaks at 3,070 metres. The flight lasts up to an hour, transport included, with a minimum of two people.
When is the best time to paraglide in Réunion?
Saint-Leu flies all year round. The dry season, from May to November, brings the steadiest conditions and the clearest view over the lagoon. From December to April the air is more variable, but morning departures remain possible most of the time.
The hour matters more than the month, and each part of the day gives a different flight. Mornings offer the calmest air and the sharpest colours — the moment for first flights and for anyone who wants it gentle. Around midday the thermals rise, and the air carries higher and longer: that is what the longer flights live on. Late afternoon gives a low, raking light that photographs well. The Maïdo departure asks for a clear morning.
No flight leaves if the instructor has any doubt about conditions. It is then postponed at no charge and moved to another slot — keep some slack in your stay.
Who a tandem flight is for
A tandem flight — the first paragliding flight — is open to anyone in good health. No experience is needed and no physical preparation either: the instructor, state-certified (Brevet d’État), keeps the controls from take-off to landing.
We fly passengers from age 4 and 20 kg, up to 120 kg, with a legal guardian’s consent for minors. There is no upper age limit: being able to take a few steps at take-off is all it takes. The Panoramic Flight is the exception on weight: above 90 kg it is not advised, without being forbidden, and the instructor judges at booking.
A fear of heights is not an obstacle. It is triggered by visual contact with the ground from a fixed point — something a paraglider leaves behind within the first few steps. Anyone pregnant, recently operated on, or following a heart treatment should tell us before booking. Equipment, approval and insurance are covered on the safety page.
How to prepare
- Closed shoes are required — trainers or hiking shoes — and clothes you can comfortably run a few steps in.
- A windbreaker or light jacket. It is noticeably cooler at 800 metres than by the lagoon, and cooler still at the 1,600 and 2,200 metre departures.
- Fifteen minutes early at the meeting point, near Kélonia, at the northern entrance to Saint-Leu. Parking is free and lines 30, 31 and 37 of the Kar’ouest network serve the area.
- A booking ahead of time, as early as you can: slots go all year round.
Allow one hour to two and a half hours on site depending on the flight, and the whole morning for the Maïdo Flight.
What a paragliding flight costs in Réunion
At Air Lagon, five flights cover a range from €90 to €299 per person. The price follows three variables: time in the air, take-off altitude and the landscape flown over. The HD photo and video option adds €20 to any flight. The full grid, with durations and take-off sites, is on our flights and prices.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to fly? No. The state-certified instructor holds the controls from start to finish.
How long does a flight last? From 15 minutes for the Discovery Flight to 1 hour for the Maïdo Flight, depending on the flight and the conditions of the day.
What if the weather does not allow flying? We let you know and postpone at no charge, to another slot or another day.
Can a flight be given as a present? Yes, as a gift voucher valid for twelve months.
The other questions — insurance, access, acrobatics, cancellation — are answered on the FAQ.
