Paragliding from Mount Tahtalı

At 2365 metres, the summit of Mount Tahtalı is one of the highest commercial tandem paragliding launch points in the world. You ride the cable car to the top, get strapped into the same wing as an experienced pilot and take off after a few running steps down the mountainside. The flight glides over the pine forests of the Beydağları, the ancient city of Phaselis and the Mediterranean coast, and ends on Tekirova beach.

How does the flight work?

• Transfer: Operators usually pick you up from hotels in Tekirova, Çamyuva, Kiriş and Kemer and take you to the cable car's lower station.
• Summit: The cable car reaches the top in about 10–12 minutes, and the pilot gives a short safety briefing.
• Take-off: You run a few steps downhill with the pilot; once the wing fills, your feet leave the ground.
• Flight: On average 30–40 minutes depending on the weather. With a descent of over 2000 metres, it is noticeably longer than at many paragliding sites in Turkey.
• Landing: You land on Tekirova beach; for large groups, landing on the hotel's beach can sometimes be arranged if the weather allows.

Good to know

• Weight limit: Most operators apply an upper limit of about 110 kg.
• Weather: Flying depends entirely on wind and visibility. If the summit is in cloud or the wind is wrong, the flight is postponed, so booking it early in your holiday leaves room to reschedule.
• Clothing: The summit is 15–20 degrees cooler than the coast; wear closed trainers and bring a windbreaker. You can't fly in flip-flops.
• Photos and video: Pilots usually film with a camera on a pole and charge separately for it.
• What's included: Always ask whether the cable car ticket, transfer and video are included in the price.

The cable car's official website lists ESCAPE as the operator of flights from the summit, and various agencies in the area also sell packages with transfers. You don't need any previous experience: in a tandem flight the pilot is in full control.