Paragliding in Reunion Island at Saint-Leu: 3 tandem flights, 2026 prices

This is the most tried-and-tested paragliding flight on the island, with 5 out of 5 from 69 verified Manawa reviews and consistently happy customers. You take off from the Le Maïdo cliffs at 1,800m, glide in a full circle above Saint-Leu bay and land gently on the beach. Expect about 20 to 30 minutes in the air, and allow an hour in total for arriving at the base, gearing up, the shuttle up to the cliffs and the return.

Saint-Leu is one of the three best paragliding spots in the world, alongside Ölüdeniz in Turkey and Interlaken in Switzerland, and that's no coincidence: the Le Maïdo cliffs create exceptionally stable thermals, and Saint-Leu bay makes for a cinematic flight above the lagoon, with the coral reef visible below.

Children can fly from age 6, and no skills are needed: the state-qualified instructor flies the wing, sitting behind you in the tandem harness. You get a few instructions for the take-off run (4-5 strides down the slope), then the air takes over. The instructor explains what's happening along the way (the wing, the currents) and often offers a few more thrilling moves towards the end for those who want them (wingovers, spiral descents, no pressure).

What sets it apart: Addict Parapente is the longest-established operator at Saint-Leu and does nothing but paragliding, so the instructors are 100% focused on it. €120 per person on Manawa, with photos and video taken by the instructor included, and flexible cancellation up to 24 hours before.

This flight is run by a different Saint-Leu operator, independent from Addict Parapente, with a different meeting point: you land on the north side of Saint-Leu, right next to Kélonia (the sea turtle observatory), D12 exit on the Route des Tamarins. It's handy if you want to combine paragliding with a Kélonia visit, as the two are 5 minutes' walk apart.

The flight lasts 20 to 25 minutes, also taking off from the cliffs, at about 1,200m. The route follows the west coast and gives a different view from the Addict flight: it stays lower, closer to the lagoon, for a better look at the reef and the coral heads in the turquoise water. At 4.8 from 28 Manawa reviews, it has fewer reviews than the leading offer, but the feedback is solid.

The minimum age here is 13, so it suits teenagers and adults rather than young children. If you're travelling with children under 13, go for the Addict Parapente flight at €120, which takes children from age 6.

€110 on Manawa, €10 more than Addict Parapente's entry-level flight. The difference is mainly down to the more convenient meeting point (Kélonia rather than Saint-Leu town centre) and the option to combine paragliding with the turtle observatory in the same half-day. Flexible cancellation up to 24 hours before.

This is the Funbooker option for trying paragliding at Saint-Leu: €120 per person for a tandem flight with an instructor. Saint-Leu is one of the most famous paragliding spots in the world, thanks to its steady thermals and its landing site facing the lagoon.

How it works: you meet at the take-off site for a briefing, gear up (harness, helmet), take off in tandem into the wind, then enjoy a panoramic flight above the lagoon and coral reef before landing on the beach. Depending on conditions, the flight lasts 15 to 30 minutes.

Who it suits: travellers who want to try paragliding at a world-famous site, families with children from age 8 (flying tandem with an instructor) and photographers after aerial shots of the lagoon. Who it doesn't suit: anyone with a heart condition or an extreme fear of heights, or anyone looking for a training course.

€120 per person on Funbooker, with free cancellation. Included: tandem instructor, full equipment, briefing. Not included: photos and video (optional extra), transport to the site. No reviews published at the time of the last update.