Hang Gliding

Once you experience the complete freedom of flying high up in the bright blue sky with the wind blowing through your hair, and enjoy the magical view of the fertile plains, verdant mountain slopes, and enchanting beaches of Attica spreading out beneath your feet, paragliding is bound to become your favourite sport!

You will renew your confidence in yourself and your strength as the open air rushes by, giving you the thrill of a lifetime. Greece is the ideal setting for you to take flight, where the cloudless sky, the dry climate, and the thermals (rising currents of warm air) make it possible for you to paraglide to your heart’s content.

This remarkable extreme sport first appeared in the 1970s in the United States and Australia, and soon became very popular. It was introduced to Greece in 1978, and in 1979 the first Hang Gliding Association was founded in Athens. The Hellenic Paragliding Commission was founded in 1985, and in 1999 the Hellenic Air Sports Federation was founded, which now covers all air sports.

The hang glider (craft) is usually made of a rigid aluminium frame and a triangular fabric wing made of strong synthetic material (Dacron sail). All materials used are suitable for aircraft. “Paragliding” gets its name from the way the pilot is suspended from the frame of the glider in a harness. The pilot steers by displacing the weight of his body and taking advantage of the thermals, updrafts, and downdrafts, just like birds do. With no shortage of natural sources of lift, paragliders can fly for many hours (up to 10).

The best weather conditions for amateur paragliders are steady headwinds, ranging between 10 and 15 kilometres per hour. Only after a lot of practice can one start looking for greater adventure with some acrobatics in unstable weather conditions!

Before you take to the mountains and prepare to take off with your hang glider, you must first undergo regular training with experienced instructors at established Air Sports Clubs, so that you can safely and effectively pilot your glider.

Some of the hang gliding take-off points in Attica are on Kithairon, Anavyssos, and – less frequently – Parnitha.