Tandem paragliding in Saint-Leu, Reunion Island
An introductory paragliding flight is a tandem flight: the passenger flies with a state-certified instructor who keeps the controls from start to finish. In Saint-Leu, take-off is at 800 metres above the lagoon, from age 4 and 20 kilos, with no experience required.
What a first flight includes
- Supervision by a state-certified instructor
- EN-approved equipment, checked every day
- The shuttle from the meeting point up to take-off
- The operator's insurance
Who can fly, and from what age
A tandem paragliding flight suits anyone in good health, with no experience and no physical preparation required. In Saint-Leu, the school Air Lagon flies passengers from age 4 and 20 kilos, up to 120 kilos, with a legal guardian's consent for minors. A fear of heights is rarely an obstacle: it is triggered by visual contact with the ground, which the wing leaves as soon as the run begins. On the slope of Les Colimaçons, facing the conservatory of Mascarins, take-off asks for a short run, never a jump. The passenger sits in a harness with nothing to do; the instructor, who holds the state Brevet, keeps the controls throughout. Pregnant passengers, those recently operated on and those on cardiac treatment should mention it before booking. Helmet, harness and seat are fitted at the meeting point near Kélonia, served by the Kar'ouest bus network.
Where the flight launches
The flight launches from Les Colimaçons, at 800 metres above Saint-Leu, for the three most requested packages. It crosses the sugar cane fields and the Mascarins botanical conservatory, before reaching the turquoise lagoon and its coral reefs. Landing is at the water's edge, a few hundred metres from Kélonia. Two other launch sites exist: a private site operated by Air Lagon sits at 1,600 metres above the primary forest, reserved for the Vol Panoramique and its early morning departure; the Maïdo opens a third launch at 2,200 metres, facing the Mafate cirque and the Piton des Neiges, the highest point of the Indian Ocean. Les Colimaçons stays operational around three hundred days a year. Passengers reach the launch by shuttle from the meeting point, taken near Kélonia at the north entrance of the town, and no approach walk is required on this site. The landing field sits beside the beach.
When to fly in Saint-Leu
The site of Les Colimaçons flies all year round thanks to the south-east trade winds, which run up the west coast and meet the relief of Saint-Leu. The dry season, May to November, brings the steadiest conditions and the clearest view over the lagoon. Morning slots gather the calmest air and the sharpest colours, while late afternoon gives a low light that photographs well. The launch at Maïdo, facing the cirque of Mafate, stays reserved for the clearest mornings. Nine slots run every day of the week at the school Air Lagon. A flight is always decided on the conditions of the moment: no launch takes place if the pilot has any doubt about the weather, and rescheduling stays free of charge. That rule outranks the passenger's own timetable, high tourist season included.
Booking a first flight
An introductory flight is booked 24 to 48 hours ahead, and further out in high season from June to October. Morning slots fill fastest: the air is calmest and the view over the lagoon of Saint-Leu at its clearest. Online booking shows live availability and is paid straight away; phone and WhatsApp stay open seven days a week, from 7 am to 6 pm. The meeting point sits near Kélonia, at the north entrance of the town, fifteen minutes before the agreed time, where a shuttle takes over up to the launch at Les Colimaçons. Allow one hour to two and a half hours on site depending on the package. The flight is rescheduled free of charge if the weather prevents flying. Buses on the Kar'ouest network serve the meeting point.
Which package for a first flight
The Vol Découverte, at 90 euros, is the entry package: fifteen to twenty minutes aloft at 800 metres above the lagoon, launching from Les Colimaçons. It is the one most passengers who have never flown pick. Those who want longer in the air take the Vol Long, or the Vol Extra Long which runs to forty minutes and allows acrobatics. Two packages launch higher: the Vol Panoramique, from Air Lagon's private site at 1,600 metres above the primary forest, and the Vol du Maïdo at 2,200 metres, facing the Mafate cirque and the Piton des Neiges. The photo and HD video option can be added to any package. Every package shares the same supervision and the same equipment: only the launch altitude, the time aloft and the landscape below actually change.