10 Hang Gliding Flights Worth Flying For

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 beside an experienced tandem pilot such as Klaus, Konrad, Claudio, or Maurice. After a short briefing, glide above São Conrado, Sugarloaf, Corcovado, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Guanabara Bay. The flight usually lasts about 10 minutes, weather permitting, with optional GoPro and 360-degree videos.

“It was an incredible experience. The drivers that picked us up was great but I wasn’t picked up from my hotel, I had to get an Uber to them so additional money. My instructor was nice and safe but I wish he had reassured me more as I was a bit scared, he didn’t show much emotion. I had to find him as there was no communication, unlike other instructors, they offered their clients water and updated them every time. But over, nice guy! Also we had to wait about 3 hours for the fog to clear and the wind to shift the right way on the day (this is…”

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2.Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding Tandem Flight

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

Fly tandem with an experienced pilot from Pedra Bonita, 520 meters above Rio, then glide toward São Conrado Beach with Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Guanabara Bay, and the Atlantic below. Beto, Bebe, Renato, and other pilots are known for calm instruction. The flight lasts 7 to 15 minutes, with front-camera video included.

“I enjoyed my pilot he was very nice and made the experience amazing! I do believe the meeting location can be better in letting us know exactly where to go and who and what to look for. Other than that, everything else was amazing.”

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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 at São Conrado Beach, then ride to Pedra Bonita for a tandem hang-gliding or paragliding flight. Your pilot chooses the craft based on weather, weight, and availability. Expect a 7 to 20-minute flight, clear safety practice, and wide views over Rio, beaches, and mountains.

“Felt totally safe from start to finish. Well organised and clearly explained safety brief”

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4.Beginner Hang Gliding Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $149Best value

At Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Kitty Hawk Kites teaches first-time hang gliders through a 30-minute ground class and five training flights. Instructors such as Ben, Larson, Brad, and Drake coach you from the sand while you use the included glider, helmet, and harness. The lesson lasts about three hours and suits most beginners who can walk over soft sand and run during takeoff.

“It was really fun. Though, it wasn’t quite as expected, in that, we thought we would glide higher and for longer, without being tethered to the ground. Aside from that, it was a fun experience as the instructors were all nice and enthusiastic, and the dune area was pretty fun and interesting.”

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5.Rio de Janeiro: Hang Gliding or Paragliding Experience

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

Meet your English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking team at São Conrado Beach, then ride up Tijuca Forest to Pedra Bonita. After a short briefing and practice, fly tandem by hang glider or paraglider above Rio, Rocinha, the ocean, and São Conrado. Pilots including Paulo, Felipe, Ricardo, and Marcos handle the flight and landing.

“An amazing experience, would strongly recommend! Everything was very well organised. Instructors are very nice and friendly”

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6.Birdlike Hang Gliding Lucerne

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $342

Meet pilot Fredy or another Birdlike professional at Stanserhorn-Bahn in Stans, then ride up toward the 2,000-meter launch point. After a short briefing and three or four running steps, you fly headfirst in a tandem hang glider over lakes and Alps for 20 to 60 minutes. Cable-car fees and optional photos cost extra.

“I could not recommend Birdlike Hand Gliding more! Such a unique and beautiful way to see lake Lucerne and the surrounding areas!”

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7.Hang gliding in Valle de Bravo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $208

Meet ViveValle at Sky Cafe in Temascaltepec, cross the forest by vehicle, then launch with a professional pilot for a 30-minute hang-gliding flight around El Peñon. Potro is the named pilot associated with the experience. Your private group flies in English, while 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. A certified English-speaking pilot handles the glider while you take in Queenstown’s mountains, forests, and lakes. The two-hour experience is limited to five people, with photos and videos available at an 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

Meet SkyTrek Tandems at 1/45 Camp Street, then ride 20 minutes to Coronet Peak for a tandem hang-gliding flight. Your pilot handles the flight while you follow a short launch briefing. You land on the valley floor 3.7 km away, then return to Queenstown. Andy, Pablo, and Ian are among the pilots named in guest feedback.

“Hang gliding is not scary, it's so serene. Skytrek Tandem hang gliding were extremely professional right from the start, responding promptly to emails so that we could plan our trip around the weather and other activities. Our guides made uRead more”

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10.Grandy Tandem Hang Gliding 2000′ – Outer Banks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $199

At Grandy, Kitty Hawk Kites takes you on a tandem hang-glider flight to 2,000 feet. You lie in a trapeze harness while a USHPA-certified instructor controls the glider. Charlie is one named instructor associated with the experience. No experience is needed, but you must be at least 14 and weigh 225 pounds or less.

“Up in the air flying with the kite/hang Gliding! I had been wanting to do this for a long time, but never had been to a location that provided the means to do it.”

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